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. Stage management is a broad field that is generally defined as the practice of organization and. Follow these steps and your stage manager will be ready to go in no time. 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. Assistant stage manager department of theatre and dance. Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples log in dictionary. Manager generally follows contract verbiage such as this example from agreement. Multiple cast list many dance productions are likely to be double or triple cast. Writer and director preston sturges, for example, was employed as an asm on isadora duncans production of. Discover more about the support team behind the performances on stage. Dancers will learn all about music, movement, coordination, spatial relations, and the basics of ballet that will hopefully lead to many funfilled years of dancing and selfexpression. The best part about the book was the anecdotes this veteran stage manager shared about the times things went horribly awry, or the times he came up with an innovative solution to a problem.
Horn book guide 19990701this comprehensive guide, written by a teacher at canadas national ballet school, helps youngsters who love ballet to understand the hard work and commitment involved in classical dance training. The book started as a project of the stage management course taught by associate. Sample stage management paperwork rocky mountain usitt. In order to achieve this goal, ballet west created the internship program. Please note that job descriptions vary considerably from theatre to theatre. Dance performance is usually supported by a set of music and can be a part of theatrical performance. The kent state university school of theatre and dance stage management. A great stage manager is typically a calm, professional, and organized person with a good base knowledge of stagecraft, and an ability to courteously manage others. Theatre stage manager job description allaboutcareers. Classroom focus will be on appropriate etiquette, respect for others, and selfconfidence, as well. With this question at the heart of all your actions as a stage manager, you will not only. Stage manager description the stage manager has a wide number and variety of responsibilities, which can be broken down into three primary categories.
Also, we identify tips and tricks to perfecting your stagemanagement skills. A list of basic stage management 101 ideas and best practices. Below are the layout samples presented in the text. The back stage guide to stage management, 3rd edition. This is a great structure to work with when youre training your student stage managers and this is what i try to do in my program. Outline the change you purpose and the reason for this proposal. How to make a prompt book, paperwork, prompt book, prompt script, rehearsal reports, show bible, stage managing.
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. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. This call sheet should then be attached as the first page. Prompt book layout, including cueing notation preshow check list performance report 4. Ballet west academy is utahs premier source of dance training providing the highest caliber of ballet instruction to the preprofessional student as well as those who wish to gain a deeper understanding of this beautiful and demanding art form. How to prepare a stage managers prompt book kayla e decoration how to prepare a stage managers prompt book one of the stage managers most important tasks is to create and maintain the prompt book sometimes known as the show bible which is a master copy of the script and contains everything pertaining to the show. Included are the european operetta and its american form, the musical. If you have your heart set on becoming a stage manager, the most important thing to do is get relevant work experience in a theatre. Music breakdown sample template to keep everyone literally on the. Production stage manager the head stage manager, in charge of making sure the production goes smoothly and the supervisor of the other stage managers. Mar 28, 2010 if you are like me and grew up a dancer danced in college as well, but did not major in dance and are now teaching, this is an excellent resource for the basic structure of ballet class. Another option is to insert dance counts into the script, to give you the correct beat for a cue. This term refers to a group of dancers that performs together on stage in a ballet.
Traditional and new methods for running a show from first rehearsal to last performance kindle edition by thomas a. How to make a prompt book resources for stage managers. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Because there are so many specific positions and variations, it helps to know the definitions. Stage manager on broadway, the second in command after the production stage manager. The prompt book or show bible is a master copy of the script and contains everything pertaining to the show. Accept responsibility keep their cool keep their eyes and ears open and know when to share their opinions. This book covers ballet history, different ballet teachingtraining methods, basic anatomy, class structure, music for class, and much more. To help you in honing your skills and approaches for that next upcoming production, following is a brief list of commandments to follow to ensure proper stage management. The prompt book is the master copy of the script or score, containing all the actor moves and. 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.
Stage manager definition and meaning collins english. 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 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. If you are like me and grew up a dancer danced in college as well, but did not major in dance and are now teaching, this is an excellent resource for the basic structure of ballet class. Compare three samples of the following types of forms used by stage managers. For a refresher on the characteristics of a good stage manager, take a look at the book stage management by lawrence stern. Ballet is about physics, about advanced coordination and muscle control, but theres a metaphysical element, too. You may use the sample production calendar as a guideline. The emphasis is on the joy of moving to music and the lifetime benefits of studying. Once a show goes up, i keep my prompt book at the theatre. The australian ballet is one of the worlds premier ballet companies and has delivered extraordinary performances for over 50 years. You will have to scour the internets for samples and templates and examples until you find or amalgamate a system that works for you. 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.
Trish causey is a resident blogger at theatreface and has written a series on the role of the stage manager. Note the use of multiple excel sheets for the first sample, the second is all in chronological order. The member of stage management often the dsm cueing the show is said to be on the book. Choose styles that clearly indicate specific advantages or disadvantages of each document. Stage management handbook wvu theatre west virginia. Now, this may look a bit intimidating, but i will show you how i write down blocking. A commitment to artistic excellence, a spirited style and a willingness to take risks have defined the company from its earliest days, both onstage. The sacramento ballet was founded in 1954 through the efforts and leadership of barbara and deane crockett, who came to the capital of california from the san francisco bay area. Aug 17, 2015 student stage managers are team players. I am very interested to see some of the forms that are being used for calling dance performances. Stage management is an art that is learned through extended study, mentoring, and experience.
Its just like following along in a script, but you do have to. The prompt book is the master copy of the script or score, containing all the actor moves and technical cues, and is used by the deputy stage manager to run rehearsals and later, control the performance. Multiple cast list sample many dance productions are likely to be double or triple cast. Dance documentation, it seems, is a very personal document, with each stage manager creating a method that works for them. Samples should show how the same information can be organized in three distinct ways. It must be prepared in advance of the first rehearsal, so the stage manager is ready to go right away. If you would like to propose a revision to this handbook, please email the production manager. The royal ballet is committed to enriching peoples lives through ballet. That said, directors and actors dont have to be faithful to stage directions if they think a different interpretation would be more effective. Stage managementproduction crew a good stage manager is crucial to the arc of a show, from rehearsals to closing night. Laying out these landing lights is one of the smaller tasks on the daily ticklist of johanna adams farley, the royal ballets senior stage manager.
A ballets stage manager must be up for anything, from cueing the score to handling ponies. The story and emotional content of a musical humor, pathos, love, anger are communicated through words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an integrated whole. The union for opera performers, chorus members, ballet dancers. Oct 27, 2018 the prompt book or show bible is a master copy of the script and contains everything pertaining to the show. The stage manager is the first line of communication and serves as the hub that holds the.
Stage manager definition and meaning collins english dictionary. You dont need a degree to become a theatre stage manager. The 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. This term is also understood as a rank inside a ballet company. Stage management handbook v4 west virginia university. Feb 29, 2012 not just to remind you, but in case something happens, someone else will be able to read and understand your blocking notations. Stage management is a broad field that is generally defined as the practice of organization and coordination of an event or theatrical production.
The book keeper was responsible for the stage script, obtaining necessary licenses, copyingproviding lines for. Its sometimes known as the book, prompt copy or prompt script. If you have good attention to detail, enjoy overseeing people, and are good at problem solving in a crisis, you might be the type of person the dance world needs to run their shows. Templates and communication techniques to guide your theatre production from first meeting to final performance the focal press toolkit series 1 by kincman, laurie isbn. His eight points explain perfectly what makes a good stage manager the best. It contains clear explanations and concrete examples, serving as a tool to both teach and reinforce the basics. The kent state university school of theatre and dance stage management handbook had. In other productions, the head stage manager is usually just called the stage manager. Stage directions are the playwrights chance to shape physical and emotional space through effective blocking. In this episode, we explore one of the many ways to build a stage management book.
The primary prompt book should have any and all information about a production in it incase the director, producer, anyone needs information. The australian ballet exists to inspire, delight and challenge audiences through the power of its performances. In your own words, on a single typewritten page for each document, decribe the features of each document and how it might be better organized, more functional, or better formatted than other examples. The official production book prepare the production book so that it is an accurate record of the production. At a theatre, a stage manager is the person who is responsible for the scenery and. Laying out these landing lights is one of the smaller tasks on the daily ticklist of johanna adams farley, the royal ballet s senior stage manager. With the stage management staff, theres often a production stage manager, an assistant stage manager, and production assistants. The book started as a project of the stage management course taught by. Blocking is keeping track of the actors movements across the stage. Examples of recent department show prompt books are available from the. Johanna adamsfarley and sarah woodward, who are currently preparing for manon, speak to. Another is turning on the industrialsized heaters at the back of the stage.
Stage managers do make coffee is an article written by carissa dollar that is often used as a text book for beginning stage managers and is free online. Charles heightchew, boston ballets manager of costumes and wardrobe, is overseeing the costume refurbishment for the upcoming production. Music as an art of the theatre has its roots in primitive ritual and. Ballet terminology is very important to learn for anyone starting with this form of dance. Ballet terms a to z dictionary of basic ballet moves. 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. Musical theatre is a form of theatrical performance that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance. Like their designs, the costumes and sets have a rich history. The book outlines the duties of the stage manager and assistant stage manager throughout a production, discussing no. Stage management handbook v4 home school of theatre. Apr 02, 2018 a ballets stage manager must be up for anything, from cueing the score to handling ponies. How to make a prompt book stage manager, theatre stage.
Stage manager definition is one who supervises the physical aspects of a stage production, assists the director during rehearsals, and is in charge of the stage during a performance. You can break into the theatre business straight out of school by working in a junior position and then gradually climbing your way up the career ladder. They are the lines of communication between actors, director, designers, technical staff, and front of house exc. The competitive world of ballet stage the guardian.
Boston ballet behind the scenes deconstructing the. Under the directorship of kevin ohare, the company unites tradition and innovation in worldclass performances at our covent garden home. What interested me the most were the appendixes of paperwork examples. Theatre music, any music designed to form part of a dramatic performance, as, for example, a ballet, stage play, motion picture, or television program. Director, ashley wheater along with the joffrey staff brings a unique, inclusive perspective on dance, proudly reflecting the diversity of america with its company, audiences, and repertoire. In the world of professional theatre, the stage manager is one of. Jan 10, 2018 a great stage manager is typically a calm, professional, and organized person with a good base knowledge of stagecraft, and an ability to courteously manage others. The stage manager has a wide number and variety of responsibilities, which can be broken down into three primary categories. For ballet, i always call from a score, and put colorcoded post its in the score for the various cues.
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