The Stage Manager provides practical and organizational support to the director, actors, designers, stage crew and technicians throughout the production process. The role of the stage manager is especially important to the director in rehearsals. Here the director and the stage manager work side by side, with the stage manager recording the director's decisions about blocking and notes for the actors, keeping track of logistical and scheduling details and communicating what goes on in rehearsals to the rest of the team. This enables the director to concentrate his or her full attention on directing.
The Stage Manager has several key responsibilities and tasks to perform including:
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Coordinating the work of the stage crew
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Calling cues and possibly actors' entrances during performance
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Attending Production Meetings
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Overseeing the entire show each time it is performed
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Helping the producers manage strike
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Along with the technical director, work out a smooth and efficient plan for the stage crew to follow during set changes
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Once the show opens, the director's work is essentially complete. Now it's the stage manager's job to make sure that every aspect of the production runs just as the director intended time after time, until the production closes.
