Stage Management

If the director is the architect of a production, the stage manager is the general contractor who makes everything actually happen. The stage manager is the most organized person in the building — they track every detail, manage every rehearsal, coordinate every department, and during performances, they call every single cue. Without a good stage manager, even the most talented cast and crew would be lost.

This is one of the most challenging and rewarding roles in theater. If you are detail-oriented, organized, and good under pressure, stage management might be your calling.

What a Stage Manager Does

Before Rehearsals Begin:

• Create a contact sheet with everyone’s information
• Prepare a rehearsal schedule and distribute it to the cast and crew
• Set up the rehearsal space (tape out the set on the floor, arrange furniture)
• Prepare a prompt book (your master copy of the script with room for notes)

During Rehearsals:

• Take attendance and manage sign-in sheets
• Record all blocking (actor movements) in the prompt book
• Track props — what is needed, where it goes, and who carries it
• Note any changes the director makes
• Keep rehearsals running on time
• Communicate director’s decisions to designers and crew

During Technical Rehearsals:

• Coordinate lighting, sound, and set change cues with the technical crew
• Write every cue into your calling script with exact timing
• Run “cue-to-cue” rehearsals where you practice transitions without the full performance in between

During Performances:

• Call every cue over headset (“Standby lights cue 12… Lights cue 12, go.”)
• Manage backstage traffic — actors and crew moving in darkness
• Handle emergencies calmly and decisively
• Ensure the show runs identically every night

The Calling Script

The calling script (also called the prompt book) is the stage manager’s most important tool. It is a copy of the script with every technical cue written in the margins. Here is how to build one:

Set Up Your Book:

1. Print the script single-sided with wide margins
2. Place each page in a three-ring binder
3. Add blank facing pages for notes, blocking diagrams, and cue lists

Recording Cues:

For each cue, note:

• Cue type — LX (lights), SND (sound), FLY (fly system), SPOT (follow spot)
• Cue number — Sequential within each department (LX 1, LX 2, SND 1, SND 2)
• Warning — Mark where you will call “standby” (usually half a page before the cue)
• Go point — The exact word, action, or moment when you say “go”

A typical cue sequence in your script margin might look like:

WARN LX 15, SND 8

(Actor crosses to the window)

LX 15 GO (on “I never thought I’d see you again”)

SND 8 GO (on door slam)

Calling Cues: The Language

Stage managers use a precise verbal protocol when calling cues. This ensures that operators know exactly what is coming and when:

1. Warning: “Warning, lights cue 15 and sound cue 8.” (Operators prepare.)
2. Standby: “Standby, lights cue 15 and sound cue 8.” (Operators hover over their buttons.)
3. Go: “Lights cue 15… go.” (Operator executes.)

Staying Organized

The Stage Manager’s Mindset

Great stage managers share certain qualities:

• Calm under pressure — When things go wrong (and they will), you are the person everyone looks to. Stay calm, assess the situation, and make a decision.
• Detail-oriented — You track hundreds of details. Nothing is too small to notice.
• Diplomatic — You work with every department and every personality. Tact and professionalism matter.
• Prepared for everything — Have backup plans. What if an actor is late? What if a prop breaks? What if a cue is missed?

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