An important piece of any theatrical production is the stage management team behind the production. Second in the chain of command behind, only the directors of the performance, stage managers hold a lot of responsibility in the shows that they produce. Stage managers control scene shifts, line notes, lighting, props, stage safety, and the list goes on.
At Saint Joe, early on into the year interviews are held for technical positions in the productions. These roles include two assistant Stage Managers (ASM’s) and one stage manager (SM).
Before production week, stage management’s main role is to take notes on blocking (where the actors move around in a scene). These notes are composed of how the actors enter, cross the stage, what they are holding, etc. The notes are intended to help actors remember how each scene is staged if they were to forget.
During the week prior to the production when complete act run throughs are happening, the stage management team performs the scene shifts, and takes line notes. Stage managers are most busy during tech week (or the week of the performances). During this time the ASM’s go backstage and facilitate set preparation, costume changes, and props while the SM over sees this. The SM goes up to the booth (where lights and sounds are controlled). The SM also controls the timing for the show, calls the light cues (there were 137 of them in Fiddler on the Roof), calls the spot and scene shift cues, oversees the ASM work, and makes sure the actors are ready.
All in all, without a stage management team a production could not function. They facilitate a stage so that actors can shine on it.
