We actually discussed this at the cast party on Saturday night, but I want to throw this out there for other people to see.
The only reason I know how to stage manage is that my best friend (charlotteb_ majored in it in college and taught me how. (Via some very panicked phone calls, if I recall correctly, and I do.) So many directors/producers offer stage management as a booby prize to the one person who came out to auditions s/he couldn't manage to cast. Interest in theater isn't enough. These are very specific tasks and skill sets that not everybody has. And your SM is probably completely clueless as to what s/he is supposed to be doing. Hopefully, s/he's completely frustrated, as well. (I say hopefully because it would denote a desire to do the job correctly.)
Some good places to get information on stage management are as follows:
1. Your friendly neighborhood SM. That's not necessarily me. I can put people in touch with any number of qualified stage managers.(Just not charlotteb_; she has come to the conclusion that she doesn't miss it. Although she'd probably be more than willing to answer questions.)
2. The Stage Manager's Handbook, by Bert Gruver (latest edition revised by Frank Hamilton). It even goes so far as to give some advice on politicking and schmoozing. I strongly suggest you ignore those, but otherwise, it's an outstanding guide.
3. Stage Management and Theatre Administration, part of the Theatre Manuals series put out by Schirmer Books, by Pauline Menear and Terry Hawkins. Very spartan, but chock-full of information.
4. Stage Management (fourth edition) by Lawrence Stern. Stern tends to subscribe to the "SM-as-Doormat/Martyr" theory, but if you ignore that part, it's a helpful book.
5. Stage Mangement Forms and Formats: A Collection of Over 100 Forms Ready to Use by Barbara Dilker. Pretty much exactly what it sounds like: audition and character forms, prop plots, costume plots, schedules, etc. I'm not willing to loan out the book, but I'll happily make copies for anyone who asks.
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chiming
no subject
Date: 2006-05-11 08:49 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2006-05-11 09:05 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2006-05-15 06:22 pm (UTC)From:The only reason I know how to stage manage is that my best friend (
Some good places to get information on stage management are as follows:
1. Your friendly neighborhood SM. That's not necessarily me. I can put people in touch with any number of qualified stage managers.(Just not
2. The Stage Manager's Handbook, by Bert Gruver (latest edition revised by Frank Hamilton). It even goes so far as to give some advice on politicking and schmoozing. I strongly suggest you ignore those, but otherwise, it's an outstanding guide.
3. Stage Management and Theatre Administration, part of the Theatre Manuals series put out by Schirmer Books, by Pauline Menear and Terry Hawkins. Very spartan, but chock-full of information.
4. Stage Management (fourth edition) by Lawrence Stern. Stern tends to subscribe to the "SM-as-Doormat/Martyr" theory, but if you ignore that part, it's a helpful book.
5. Stage Mangement Forms and Formats: A Collection of Over 100 Forms Ready to Use by Barbara Dilker. Pretty much exactly what it sounds like: audition and character forms, prop plots, costume plots, schedules, etc. I'm not willing to loan out the book, but I'll happily make copies for anyone who asks.