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Stage Manager Manual
Overview
The stage manager is a major role and key to the success of the production. As the stage manager, you areresponsible for the general organization of the cast and rehearsals, and once the show opens, you areresponsible for the running of each performance. It is a time-consuming role but ultimately very rewarding.Before AuditionsCheck the GTCP website for the names of the people who will form the  production staff for your   performance. If there are positions vacant,contact the coordinators for each position and find out what the status is of recruiting someone. If there isn't a coordinator, contact the Technical Director.The GTcommunityplayers.com Web Master (currently Lori Williams) should be given all updates concerningthe Production Staff so the GTCP website information can be updated.Contact your production staff to verify their contact details - phone numbers and email addresses.Contact the Director. Give him or her your phone numbers. Talk about any schedule conflicts you may haveeven though you are expected to be here every day of the entire process. Discuss any help that will berequired during the audition process.Contact the audition coordinator who will be running the actual auditions, and gain an understanding of whatwill happen at auditions (if you don't already know). The audition coordinator runs the auditions, so your roleduring auditions may be to just watch the auditions and provide feedback to the director about potential castmembers.
Auditions
Auditions are run by the audition coordinator. Ask him or her what you can do to help. Greet nervous actorsgently, they might bite! Watch the auditions.After auditions, key production staff — the director, musical director, and choreographer — discuss who islikely to be called back for the second round of auditions. The stage manager and audition coordinator aren'tnecessarily directly involved in the discussion and this is up to the director. If you feel you have valuableinput (e.g. things you saw), don't hesitate to say something - your opinion is valued.Important: The results of this meeting are to be kept strictly confidential until the list is published.During Callbacks:Arrive early (up to an hour before callbacks is probably a good idea) and unlock the building. Check with thedirector to see if anything needs to be copied for the callbacks.If the audition coordinator is present then you may relax and enjoy the show, write down your favorites, look at the sunshine and imprint it on your mind so you can remember later what it looked like. Otherwise ask thedirector how he or she would like you to help out with callbacks - usually taking notes, handing them cards,following in the script.Sit in on the casting meeting (remember the note from the callback meeting)If the audition coordinator is present, it is her responsibility to deliver the cast list for official posting and tocall cast members after official posting time to insure that all cast members have been notified of role, firstcast meeting, and any script deposits. If the audition coordinator is not present, these things become your responsibility.Regardless of whether or not the audition coordinator is present it remains her responsibility to create thethank-you letters that will be mailed to those people who were not cast. Make sure you get the cards to her for those not cast.At the end of Callbacks and Before the first Cast Meeting:Contact office manager to help with assembling the packets for each cast member. These packets will includescripts, letters of agreement (2 copies), a set of "rules and regulations", character worksheets, initial rehearsalschedule (the director will put this together), ticket order forms for the cast, bio sheets, and any number of other things.Create a contact sheet of all cast members (ask the audition coordinator if she will be supplying this for you)and the technical support (you will need to get the proper names from the Technical Director. The contact listshould include name, role, home and alternate phone numbers. Make sure that all staff members get a copy of the contact sheet.
 
Put together the call board with a sign-in sheet, copies of important papers - schedules, important notes.....Examples of technical roles that you are responsible for including:Artistic Director, Scenic Designer, Technical Director, Musical Director, Choreographer, Costume Designer,Sound Engineer, Lighting Designer, Stage Manager, Assistant to Director, Assistant Stage Manager, RunningCrew Chief, Sound Crew Chief, Light Crew Chief, Props Crew Chief, Dressing Crew Chief, MakeupDesigner/Chief, Concessions Coordinator, Box Office Manager, Costume Apprentice, House Manager andUsher Coordinator, Assistant to the Director Apprentice, Theatre SecretaryFirst Rehearsal Week - Week 2On the first cast meeting:Your first meeting with the cast will also involve distribution and collection of all sorts of paperwork. The packets you have assembled will be distributed at this meeting. You will be responsible for collecting scriptdeposits if the office manager has indicated that deposits are being collected. Do not give a script to anyonewho does not pay the deposit. They can borrow the script for the evening only and you must collect it beforethey leave until the deposit is paid. As the director goes over the "rules and regulations", collect the letters of agreement. These are turned in to the office manager at the end of the evening. Have cast members check over the contact sheet for any phone number corrections. Explain the Voice Mail system. Explain that you donot have the ability to excuse someone from rehearsal, that is the prerogative of the director. You areavailable for emergency calls and questions. Either the stage manager or the Assistant to the Director followsalong in the script during a read through. Check with the costumer about how to send cast members for fittings.Production Meetings:It is the responsibility of the Assistant to the Director to invite the entire technical staff to the weeklyProduction Meeting, however, you are the host! Be there on time, take notes on who is there and lead themeeting by inviting individuals to discuss any concerns, accomplishments, or questions. Make sure thateveryone is invited to speak, but be aware of people's time. Write down decisions and keep the flow moving.Remind crew chiefs to get you crew names by the next meeting and schedules of workers by Tech Saturday.Give out rehearsal schedules, Crew Ticket requests, Bio sheets, and contact sheets. Remind crew chiefs of Crew Photo call and Crew Watch night.Character Study and Dialogue Study:Check with the director but, except for unlocking and locking up, you may be able to miss this.Blocking Rehearsals:Blocking rehearsals move slowly. Both the Assistant to the Director and the Stage Manager write blockingnotes in their scripts. There are examples of blocking notes included later. Blocking notes also generate Propnotes. Keep a pad of paper for writing down prop notes handy and notify the prop master about these propnotes.Music Rehearsals:Usually the musical director is in charge of these evenings and you are not really needed. Use this time tocatch up on meetings with the scenic designer, costumer. Artistic director....Every day:Check your mailbox and your voice mail. Check the sign - in sheet and call if someone is late.Blocking Week - Week 3 
 
Blocking for excused cast members:Absent cast members will need to get their blocking notes from you the first day that they return. This should be done before rehearsal. When a cast member is absent, you will need to "walk" the part as you take downthe blocking notes. This way the other cast members get the physical feel of the absent person. Non-cast blocking: Noises from offstage, bells, whistles, knocks, horns, phones, crashes become the responsibility of the StageManager to indicate as the rehearsal period progresses. As the rehearsal progresses you should get used toshouting "Ring, Ring" at the appropriate place."Run" Rehearsals:During this evening you are "on book" and will supply lines when the cast members call "LINE". Don't givea cast member a line without him calling for it, that might be a dramatic pause. Sit close to the stage andmake sure you project your voice. Don't try to do something else, you will get distracted and they will call for a line as you are digging in your briefcase. Notes: Notes are given after a run. The stage manager takes the notes for all technical staff and makes sure that theinformation is transmitted to the appropriate person or corrected immediately. The proper reply to a note is"Thank you". Any clarification should be handled after the general note session, not while everyone iswaiting.Setting up every day:It is the responsibility of the stage manager to set up the stage before each rehearsal. Furniture placement,sweeping the stage, setting rehearsal props, closing the shop doors, putting out rehearsal costume pieces areall part of this process. It is great if you can get someone to help you. but it is ultimately your responsibility.Likewise, it is your responsibility to make sure that everything is put away after the rehearsal and that thearea is ready for the next activity scheduled in that space.Bios:Remind the cast and crew to turn in their bios and keep track of who has done so. Submit bios to themarketing director.Working Rehearsal:Working rehearsals spend a lot of time on the essence of the nuance. This means that it moves slowly and thatthere isn't a lot for you to do except to stay on book, and to correct improperly learned lines. Be ready tohandle specific blocking questions and to make detailed prop notes. Notice any "quick" change needs that become obvious and make sure that the costume running (dresser) crews know of this.Choreography Rehearsals:If you are working on a musical, you will have choreography rehearsals where you may not be needed. Youmay also be needed to video the rehearsal to serve as a study tape for the dancers. Be ready for either event.Lost. Found and Hurt:Cast members will leave things and you are the one who picks them up and returns it to the desperate owner.You might also familiarize yourself with the medicine chests for headaches, upset tummies, smashed fingers,cuts, scrapes, bee stings, and really big things like broken legs. If you are by yourself and need to call the police, remember to tell them you need the PARK POLICE, if available.
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