Stage Management
I am a technical theatre major with a stage management concentration at Columbia College Chicago and have been working on theatrical shows since 5th grade. However, I did not start off stage managing. The first show I stage managed was Annabelle Broom: the Unhappy Witch the summer after my sophomore year in high school at a Performing Arts camp. Looking back at my stage management style then compared to how I stage manage now is interesting to say the least. I have learned an immense amount since that show and have grown as a stage manager. Over the years the lessons I have learned have ranged from proper headset etiquette when calling a show to how to write blocking down. The single most important lesson I have learned through stage managing would be one that I learned this past semester. That lesson is establishing a good relationship and attitude with your production team and cast is essential to a quality experience and production. A major part of this is achieved by the tone of voice and attitude of the stage manager. Positive attitudes portrayed by the stage manager more often than not result a positive response from the production team and cast.
My first project this semester was a Directing II project by Samantha McDonald called Stay Carl Stay. Only having a cast of five, it was easy to relate to the cast on a more personal level. I treated them as equals and not just as "talent" as I have witnessed many stage managers treat their cast in the past. I made a conscious effort to say thank you in a sincere tone whenever I would ask something of a cast member or designer. When the production was moved into the space and tech began my stress level naturally rose. I found myself coming across bossier and not always saying thank you. I realized people in the space had become generally colder towards me, not greatly but still a slight difference was there. I knew better than to just dismiss this as stressed out tension due to tech weekend. Shortly after I...
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