Ppt stage management powerpoint presentation free to. It must be prepared in advance of the first rehearsal, so the stage manager is ready to go right away. Good qualities and responsibilities of a stage manager. The stage manager and the technical director, designer, and properties master work out a smooth and efficient plan for the stage. Chapters are laid out to reflect the order in which stage managers experience and perform their work. Traditionally, the stage management roles in theatre have been viewed as supportive, without the opportunity to make an obvious creative contribution to the output. The essential handbook, together with partner and software developer iain, have created callq simulation software that teaches the user how to call a show. 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. Whats in a stage managers prompt book aka sms bible duration. Blocking is keeping track of the actors movements across the stage.
Posts about prompt book written by awesomestagemanager. In modern theatrical productions, the prompt book is generally maintained and kept by the stage manager, with differences in the specific construction and. In 2010 it was in vancouver and these are my notes from. Virtual stage manager handles all your time consuming theatre management tasks. Students will demonstrate their understanding of the basics of a stage managers duties by taking a written final and presenting their final prompt book.
The production paperwork provided below will provide insight into my stage management process from auditions to performances, and illustrate the various templates i use depending on specific requirements of a production. Stage management prompt book prompt book format should include. To qualify, you must be registered for the festival as an individual and separately, register each of your stage management entries, exhibit your materials prompt book, participate in an interview, and complete a festival assignment which may include one of the following opportunities. This unit is built for flexible 3060 minute lesson plans in order to allow stage crew members time to work on set construction and lighting work for school. Keep a key in the front of the prompt book so that others can decipher the notation. In regards to paperwork, most stage managers borrow other peoples templates to start, and then customize as preferences develop.
The stage manager can take this home with all pertinent information to the production regarding schedules, conflicts, future fitting and meeting requests and todos, and leave the blockingcall scripts at the theatre. Gail pallin, stage management teacher and author of stage management. Below are some paperwork templates that i have created, all are designed to be customizable. 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. Once a show has opened, the stage manager is in charge of overseeing the integrity of the performance.
Assistant stage manager asm usually shortened to asm, the assistant stage manager is the most junior member of the stage management team, and is often in charge of sourcing and running properties during the run of a show. The prompt book the prompt book is a working document that organizes lists, schedules, notes, reports, script, etc. If for any reason you find yourself unable to call a show, the assistant stage manager or any other qualified person should be able to pick up your prompt book and call the show in your absence. Not just to remind you, but in case something happens, someone else will be able to read and understand your blocking notations. What we need is the moment somebody gave the stage hands a boss that functioned backstage as well as in management really the stage managers power to walk on both sides of the curtain.
Students will learn how to create a prompt book and will receive handouts covering the responsibilities of a theatrical stage manager. The prompt book should be neat, organized, and kept up to date. They are the lines of communication between actors, director, designers, technical staff, and front of house exc. Check out why its good to keep these for future jobs and why its such an important tool for a. The sm should be one of the most informed and knowledgeable people in the production staff. How to make a prompt book stage manager, theatre stage. This gives students a great idea of the type of workdocuments necessary, as well as all the many ways to complete them. One of the stage manager s 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. The lesson contains standard forms, language, and models for stage management. Prompt book layout, including cueing notation preshow. 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. Make notations concerning any props or costume pieces an actor needs to enter with or leave with, or leave behind on stage.
The information in the prompt book 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 coordinate with the onstage action. The prompt book should be sectioned off with the following tab dividers, with the listed information under these headings. The professional experiencerefreshed takes the reader on a journey through all aspects of the craft of stage management in theatre, including the technological advancements that have come to theatre and the stage mangers job. Management books stage management theatre stage musical theatre stage crew teaching theatre drama class school scripts. Prompt book the copy of a production script that contains the information necessary to create a theatrical production from the ground up. The primary prompt book should have any and all information about a production in it incase the director, producer, anyone needs information. The art of stage management the view from prompt side.
Im currently working as a production assistant and have done stage management work in the past, but as we know in theatre. Unfortunatly, there is no accepted format for the distribution of scripts electronically, which basically means that there is no dedicated stage management tool. The move from rehearsal room to stage is a huge one, but both a number and still life with iris had a very smooth transition into tech. The needs of a sm also vary between shows, which means that 910 stage. Stage managers also use this master script it contains to prompt actors if they forget lines during rehearsal. The culminating project which has students designing a set for a song, book or play. The key stage management positions are stage manager sm and assistant stage manager asm. Stage management came about in the 18th19th century with the rise of technology. A crashcourse in american stage management history. These things rarely pay the bills at the beginning. Auditions a preaudition b auditions and callbacks c post auditions pre first rehearsal 3. Stage managers handbook emerson college 120 boylston street boston, ma 02116 production office 6th floor, tufte performance and production center 10. In this episode, we explore one of the many ways to build a stage management book. How to prepare a stage managers prompt book theatrefolk.
The stage manager is the renaissance man of the theater. Rehearsals a read through first rehearsal b subsequent rehearsals c moving to the mainstage 4. 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. In 1576, the first playhouse was built in london, shifting theater from a recreational or religious pastime to a professional event.
Promptside recently got in contact with gail to find out more about callq and what it can do for stage managers. As for making a calling script, cues were laid on the page and typed or written in. Convey the directors wishes to designers and stage crew. Sure, theres probably much better stuff out there, but. Cte online lesson planner stage management for theater. Also, we identify tips and tricks to perfecting your stagemanagement skills. This contribution was inherent, but not necessarily recognised or encourageda stage manager is constantly engaged in problem solving and seeking new ways to achieve the goals of. Stage manager responsibility check list, all responsibilities assigned to the psmasm 10 pts crew jobs. Students will learn how to analyze a script and live show. Prompt books come in all shapes and sizes, designed for slightly different purposes or for use by people in different roles within the theatre. Follow these steps and your stage manager will be ready to go in no time. And make sure you keep a copy of your blocking key in your prompt book. Once a show goes up, i keep my prompt book at the theatre. As with many aspects of stage management, consistency is key.
Whats in a stage managers prompt book aka sms bible. Stage management by briana shipley byu theatre education. Stage management software top 10 list controlbooth. The prompt book or show bible is a master copy of the script and contains everything pertaining to the show. Brooke enjoyed using color in ways she hadnt done before, tagging. The respondent may have other workshop andor response duties in addition to hisher work with the participating student stage managers. Pass around the stage management binder if you have one it should be complete with examples of all the different necessary forms stage managers need for a show. Use of theatre during rehearsals in the rehearsal hall guidelines for stage management.
There is a lot to be said for the old way of making a prompt book. See more ideas about teaching theatre, stage and theatre stage. Included are samples of scene breakdowns, audition forms, prop lists, rehearsal schedules, rehearsal reports, scene changes, line notes, checklists, and performance reports. As actors are struggling to get off book, you or your asm will have to be on book, available to prompt them. David found he didnt need as much time for the usual pretech work, such as cleaning up his prompt book. The vancouver smarts conference 2010 smarts is a canadian stage management conference that occurs every year in toronto and one other major canadian city. I am looking for a fulltime position and want to find a way to explain my stage management skills to a hiring manager easily and quickly as i have found not all of them. Whats in a stage managers prompt book aka sms bible youtube.
Depending on the show and the crew, our notebooks contain anything from just scribblings through to a draft prompt book, every single note ever made about lxcostumeset, rehearsal reports. 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. Sm log book a place to write down notes throughout the production process. But essentially they all have one function in common. Its sometimes known as the book, prompt copy or prompt script. Its been requested, so i go through what i have in one of my prompt books for a show. It is a compilation of all blocking, business, light, speech and sound cues, lists of properties, drawings of the set, contact information for the cast and crew and any other relevant information that might. Compare three samples of the following types of forms used by stage managers. Stage management and facility operations stage management software top 10 list. A walkthrough response to the stage managers prompt script as part of the design expo response process.