Sample stage management paperwork rocky mountain usitt. The lady can only break the spell by being betrothed to a. This is a great structure to work with when youre training your student stage managers and this is what i. The lady can only break the spell by being betrothed to a man that has never lain with a female before. Once an actor is off book an asm should be following along in the script in case a. Most stage managers use some combination of written out blocking with drawings. Closeup of a stage managers score for donizettis don pasquale. Choose from 17 different camera angles and three different sound mixes or follow the prompt book which is used to cue the technical crew and artists. The member of stage management often the dsm cueing the show is said to be on the book. They pick up props, sit in chairs, lean on desks, drink excessive amounts of alcohol the fake kind. The book started as a project of the stage management course taught by associate.
For a refresher on the characteristics of a good stage manager, take a look at the book stage management by lawrence stern. Stage management is a broad field that is generally defined as the practice of organization and coordination of an event or theatrical production. The union for opera performers, chorus members, ballet dancers. They are the lines of communication between actors, director, designers, technical staff, and front of house exc. But the guild lost a major constituent when the 75 dancers and stage managers of american ballet theater broke away in june and then voted this. Another option is to insert dance counts into the script, to give you the correct beat for a cue. Johanna adamsfarley and sarah woodward, who are currently preparing for manon, speak to anna winter. It has been globally influential and has defined the foundational techniques used in many. The stage managers toolkit provides a comprehensive account of the role of the stage manager for live theatre with a focus on both written and verbal communication best practices.
The prompt book is the master copy of the script or score, containing all the actor moves and. Manager generally follows contract verbiage such as this example from agreement. On sunday, february 16th, stage managers from around the country gathered for photographs commemorating the stage manager centennial, including over 120 stage managers in new york citys times square. May 16, 2018 the stage manager should also compile a onepage document, called the call sheet, with just the name of the cast or crew member, his or her phone number and his or her role in the production. Samples should show how the same information can be organized in three distinct ways. Sometimes the performance will be of a ballet, swan lake, for example, that has already been choreographed, but sometimes the performance is of a completely new ballet, the royal winnipeg ballets production of dracula, which opens fall 98, for example. The stage manager is to meet with the director prior to the first production meeting, auditions or the first readthrough in order to establish an early positive relationship. A ballets stage manager must be up for anything, from cueing the score to handling ponies. The ballet stage manager long before black swan made ballet cool, johanna adams farley was sleeping on pavements to get.
Stage management jobs in dance public group facebook. The opera machine presents an extraordinary multiangled view of the intricate theatrical process behind the scenes during a performance. With the stage management staff, theres often a production stage manager, an assistant stage manager, and production assistants. The kent state university school of theatre and dance stage management handbook had. Peter martins, left, in 1978, long before the recent scandals at city ballet.
Our faculty will be recruiting at the urta audition and interviews. The primary prompt book should have any and all information about a production in it incase the director, producer, anyone needs information. Follow these steps and your stage manager will be ready to go in no time. Accept responsibility keep their cool keep their eyes and ears open and know when to share their opinions. Far more than just calling cues, the stage managers position starts months before rehearsal and continues at 110% throughout the run, maintaining the. Dance documentation, it seems, is a very personal document, with each stage manager creating a method that works for them. In stagecraft, a spike is a marking, usually made with a piece of tape although some theatres use paint pens, put on or around the stage.
Stage management handbook wvu theatre west virginia. Ultimate beginners guide to theatre jobs 2016 the stage. Feb 29, 2012 for example, ch is a circle is charles, vn in a circle is vinnie, and so on. Rehearsal report template report template, rehearsal, stage. Stage management handbook v4 home school of theatre. The sm survey has proved that we do not all call cues or set up our books the same way. On the union side there are only sm and asm contract the title of production stage manager is one that is negotiated. Stage management may encompass a variety of activities including the overseeing of the rehearsal process and coordinating communications among various production teams and personnel. Blocking is another one of those things that every stage manager does a bit differently. Below are the layout samples presented in the text. Like music, therell be points in the script when you turn a lot of pages quickly, and spots when you sit on the same page for a while. See more ideas about teaching theatre, stage and theatre stage.
Oct 27, 2018 the prompt book or show bible is a master copy of the script and contains everything pertaining to the show. The sm should be one of the most informed and knowledgeable people in the production staff. Please note that job descriptions vary considerably from theatre to theatre. I am very interested to see some of the forms that are being used for calling dance performances. This one is based on an actual job description for a community theatre stage manager, and should be edited to match thetherefore needs of a particular company.
Compare three samples of the following types of forms used by stage managers. The prompt book or show bible is a master copy of the script and contains everything pertaining to the show. This marking is used to show the correct position for set pieces, furniture, actors and other items which move during the course of a performance and are required to stop or be placed in a specific location. Apr 02, 2018 a ballets stage manager must be up for anything, from cueing the score to handling ponies. Sm log book template a place to write down notes throughout the production process. They would immediately say, heres how to make a clouds move across the moon. Stage management is an art that is learned through extended study, mentoring, and experience. I choose to create a page with lines down one half of it and miniature floor plans of the set on the other half.
If you would like to propose a revision to this handbook, please email the production manager. In the world of professional theatre, the stage manager is one of the most important players. It has since become a widespread, highly technical form of dance with its own vocabulary based on french terminology. The production manager, will have audition cards that everyone auditioning needs to fill out. With this question at the heart of all your actions as a stage manager, you will not only.
He or she must have a working knowledge of how the various technical aspects of the theater work scenery, props, costumes, lights and sound, be part director, part playwright, part designer and part producer, and be prepared to act as confidant, counselor and confessor to everyone else in the company. Angela mitchell is a writer, columnist, and book author who has promoted theatres, studios, and artists through her own pr firm since 1995. Theatreuni stage management handbook the supplies for auditions are relatively simple, but they are not always simple to track down on a moments notice. My personal style has evolved a lot over the past seven years. Artistic director and executive director job purpose. The stage manager has a wide number and variety of responsibilities, which can be broken down into three primary categories.
Stage manager victoria frank deserves the first helping of christmas pudding for calling an impeccable showthe pitch. The assistant stage manager asm looks after the props, the deputy dsm takes notes in rehearsal and cues the show in performance and the stage manager is in overall charge. Essentials of stage management by peter maccoy, the stage management handbook by daniel a. It must be prepared in advance of the first rehearsal, so the stage manager is ready to go right away. Examples of recent department show prompt books are available from the. The information in the prompt book also allows the stage manager to run the technical rehearsals, calling each technical cue in turn to determine precisely how it needs to be timed to. Serving as a stage manager is an invaluable experience for a student at the. The director of production and lighting coordinator doplc oversees and ensures the successful operations of the production department, directly supervises the production stage manager, assistant production manager, production staff, costume shop staff, stage management staff, all designers, and the iatse local crews. Josh neckels was named executive director of eugene ballet in july of 2016 after serving in the positions of stage manager, tour technical director, tour manager, finance manager, educational outreach. Rehearsal report template report template, rehearsal. Amid allegations of sexual harassment and violence, the company is reckoning with its tone on and off the stage. Choose styles that clearly indicate specific advantages or disadvantages of each document. For example, ch is a circle is charles, vn in a circle is vinnie, and so on.
The stage manager should also compile a onepage document, called the call sheet, with just the name of the cast or crew member, his or her phone number and his or her role in the production. This call sheet should then be attached as the first page of the folder that contains all completed contact forms. When stage managing dance i think it is absolutely essential to have a basic knowledge of dance terminology so when the director or choreographer says lets pick it up from the girls jete battu you know what hes referring to and can easily find the part in the music where this happens. The ballet stage manager long before black swan made ballet cool, johanna adams farley was sleeping on pavements to get into performances. It is a story about impact, about the value of that impact, and about this book and i, weve known each other for a.
What went wrong at new york city ballet the new yorker. It contains clear explanations and concrete examples, serving as a tool to both teach and reinforce the basics. For dancers and stage managers with ballet theater, a new. The stage manager can take this home with all pertinent information to. You may use the sample production calendar as a guideline. Dec 21, 1994 but the guild lost a major constituent when the 75 dancers and stage managers of american ballet theater broke away in june and then voted this month to ratify a contract negotiated by a new union. Jun 24, 2011 its created as notes for the stage manager or, in dire instances, a substitute to follow, and not as a resource for teaching the choreography to a dancer thats someone elses job. Sep 22, 2010 blocking is another one of those things that every stage manager does a bit differently.
Stage management handbook v4 west virginia university. Johanna adamsfarley and sarah woodward, who are currently preparing for manon, speak to. The stage manager is to have read the play at least twice prior to the meeting and be knowledgeable about the play and its basic needs. What is the difference between a stage manager and a. Stage manager on broadway, the second in command after the production stage manager. How to become a good stage manager with pictures wikihow. Descriptionthe stage manager has a wide number and variety of responsibilities, which can be broken down into three primary categories. Actors also do more than cross from one side of the stage to the other. You can become a stage manager through onthejob training by starting as an intern and working your way up on theatrical productions but increasingly, stage managers have a bachelors or masters degree in theater arts, often with a specialization in stage management. In rehearsals the stage manager also records all blocking, plus all the light, sound and set change cues, in a master copy of the script called the prompt book. Ballet shoes is beautiful, iconic in its way, a story of stage and screen and of destiny. Outline the change you purpose and the reason for this proposal. Behind the scenes at wicked with marybeth abel part 1 duration. Stage managers not only have a multitude of jobs to navigate on an ongoing basis, but also have a huge amount of supplies and materials to oversee, as well.
Swan lake is an epic tale about a beautiful young princess placed under a spell by an evil sorcerer, which makes her a swan during the day and a woman by night. The book outlines the duties of the stage manager and assistant stage manager throughout a production, discussing not only what to do but why. Assistant stage manager members of the stage management team who may have specific responsibilities for some aspect of production, such as crew, or serve as overall assistants, doing what the stage manager assigns. February 16th, 2020 marks the 100th anniversary of a. A flaming helix, trap doors and a twoton spinning wall feature in this performance of. The audition cards have a place for actors to put any scheduling conflicts as well as. The stage manager is the renaissance man of the theater. Assistant stage manager department of theatre and dance. Descriptionthe assistant stage manager assists the stage manager in completing a wide number and variety of responsibilities, which can be broken down into three primary categories. His eight points explain perfectly what makes a good stage manager the best.
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