Week One: (two weeks before Rehearsals begin)
Meet with Director
Discuss:
Audition Dates & Requirements
Rehearsal Schedule
S.M.’s Responsibilities
Production Meetings
Scripts (Copies / Availability)
Read Script
Make prop plot (list).
Make light & sound plot.
Note any potential technical pitfalls.
Make a Prompt Book
Sturdy note book.
Extra Paper.
Pocket Sections.
Divide Acts/Scenes using tabbed pages.
Get Production Staff’s Schedule (on Time Cards)
Schedule a first Production Meeting.
Use a mutually free time.
Avoid nights & weekends.
These are organizational meetings (Design Meetings occur as scheduled by
the Director & the Designer).
Discuss potential design ideas / commanding image.
Establish design due dates.
Establish design presentation dates.
Establish properties request deadlines & due dates.
Establish production & technical rehearsal schedule.
Discuss audition times & dates.
Discuss rehearsal space guidelines.
Discus potential pitfalls.
Establish date of next Production Meeting (should be consistent & weekly)
Follow A Weekly Order:
Director, Music / Conductor, Choreography, Scenery, Costumes
Lights, Properties, Public Relations / Box Office
Week One: (two weeks before Rehearsals begin) Continued
Arrange a CallBoard
Section of a space of an existing callboard or make & mount one.
Make a header with the show name.
This is an excellent communication device, training may be required.
Post a Production Calendar.
Keep the call board current daily.
Make & Post Audition Notices
Include:
Date / time / place.
Script availability.
Proper attire and type of audition.
Contact number (usually SM’s).
Make one nice poster announcement for the callboard.
Distribute less formal flyers to prospective Actors.
Find an Assistant Stage Manager & Delegate Work
Week Two
Keep in Contact With Production Staff
Set up meetings with the Director & others as needed.
Establish yourself as the communications link.
Ask questions & find out answers.
Get to Know the Theatre / Audition Space
Get the keys for the building & find out how to turn on the lights.
Locate brooms, flashlights, first aid, fire extinguishers, phone, tools, etc.
Make or Get Audition Forms
Include:
Actor’s name, address, phone # & schedule (day & night).
Age, height, weight, & sex.
Role auditioning for & preferences.
Ask Director for anything else He / She wants to be included.
Make Master Calendar
Sometimes done after casting (to incorporate conflicting actor schedules).
Get firm commitments from everybody including Director.
Week Three
Auditions
Arrive early & set up space.
Hand out audition forms.
Control scripts.
Be organized & take up all tasks so the Director can concentrate on the
Actors & their auditions.
Give opinions when asked for, never volunteer an opinion.
Clean up & Lock up.
Post call back and/ or cast list on main callboard.
Make Phone List
Give copies to the cast & crew.
Do not post in a public space especially a public callboard.
Contact Costume Designer
Establish times & methods of fittings for the actors.
Chalk Or Paint Out the Floor Plan (Talk To or Do With the TD)
First Rehearsal
Be early.
Sweep floor & check for hazards.
Repair or remove hazards.
Call anybody who has not shown up by five minutes before rehearsal begins.
Tardiness should be dealt with firmly and efficiently.
The SM and the Director must set a positive example by being on time.
Start warm ups if Director is late.
Distribute scripts to actors who need them.
Pass out copies of phone list & master calendar.
Announce times available for costume fittings.
Establish routine.
Aid Director & Take Notes.
Clean up & Lock up.
Rehearsals In General
Unlock & Lockup.
Clean Stage.
Set up furniture & props.
Convey messages from production staff to actors.
Write down blocking.
Take notes (problems) and copy them to the parties who might be interested.
Ride book and give lines when called for.
Read roles of absent actors.
And anything else as assigned.
Week Four through Tech Weekend
General Duties
Contact members of production staff on a regular basis
Update Call Board
Go to rehearsals.
Attend production meetings.
Collect and report program information.
Check on publicity.
Set up a paper tech.
Set up in house communication system.
Schedule & organize light level settings and / or scene shifting rehearsals.
Keep your ears and eyes open as you will be running this show all by yourself.
Tech
The Stage Manager Organizes & Conducts all Technical Rehearsals (Not TD)
Schedule the day realistically.
Technical rehearsals are for technical considerations; it is not a rehearsal
for crafting or blocking.
Actors should be alert to where props are placed, light cues happen, etc.
The S.M. calls go and stop.
The S.M. and the Lighting Designer are the only people who should be
on headset.
Use the A.S.M. to help control the actors and backstage activities, props,
flying scenery, etc.
The Run of the Show
Opening Night
The Directors job is done, and they should be in the audience, never allow
the Director into the control booth.
The S.M. working with the House Manager decide when the show is going
to begin.
The S.M. is responsible for the safety of the audience.
The S.M. calls the cues & keeps the show in hand
Strike
The T.D. organizes the strike and the S.M. helps the T.D. especially when it comes
to the cast.
Individuals should be assigned tasks to their abilities.
