In The News - May 2018

I hope May was great all around!

There was a LOT of stage manager news this month - here are the highlights -

There is a NEW stage management book called Whenever You're Ready written by Shawn DeSouza-Coelho, following the career of Canadian stage manager Nora Polley.

The Chicago Tribune featured a short interview with Illinois stage manager Helen Lattayk and News-Herald in Michigan featured stage manager Jenn Jacobs and her work on The King and I.

London stage manager Phil Barrett gives excellent advice on The Stage:

“My advice to anyone starting out is if you keep a calm, cool and professional head, you can operate and stage-manage a show of any size even at short notice. Use what you learn, be kind and everything will be fine. ”

— Phil Barrett

Dany Guy wrote an wonderful production manager job description on Whyy.

And, Broadway World posted a video of Pretty Woman stage manager Thomas Recktenwald discussing his work on the production!

In the News - April 2018

Hello and happy end of April!

Here's some news from the past month -

Broadway SM Matthew Stern writes on common stage management misconceptions in Theatre Art Life.

The Stage interviews Royal Ballet stage managers and they highlight some key differences between stage managing ballet and stage managing opera!

Stage-Directions talks about all the bells and whistles that stage managers dealt with before modern technological advances.

And, for your rehearsal room pleasure... now anyone can download sound effect samples from the BBC database!

And, as a reminder,  both the Broadway Stage Management Symposium and Broadway Basics will be held in NYC in early June.

In the News - March 2018

Hope everyone had a good March! Welcome April & SPRING!

There's a new site on the Job Search page - Mandy Theatre Professionals (formerly Stage Jobs Pro)

The Broadway Stage Management Symposium will be in NYC from June 2-3, 2018, featuring an abundance of Broadway stage management speakers.

Stage managers from Wicked on Broadway will be conducting a two-part stage management intensive on June 4-5, 2018 in NYC called Broadway Basics.

Check out the 2018-19 season announcements from across the country at American Theatre

And, finally, Q2Q Comics' "Glitter Removal"

In the News - February 2018

Hello and happy February!

Stage Management from the past SEVERAL months is below! (Yes, I've been lax on updates.)

First of all - the 2017 SM Survey Report is available!

The Oscars are implementing 6 new rules to avoid... a mistake... like 2017.

By July 2018, all of Broadway will offer a closed-captioning app for hearing-impaired patrons.

In the aftermath of the Parkland shooting, The Washington Post highlights the benefits of theatre for students.

Bryan Cranston won an award and thanked the stage management team in his acceptance speech! 

“They not only keep the trains running on time, but they do so with such enthusiasm and aplomb that we all look forward to going into work”

— Bryan Cranston

And, best of all - glitter is bad for the environment! Three cheers for quick post-show clean-ups!

Have a good March!

In the News May 2017

Here's a round-up of some stage management news for May 2017!

Actor’s Equity members vote to make non-performers more “visible and valued.”

Broadway World has been showcasing PSMs (whilst generally explaining stage management) with their “Thank You, Places” series. Read about Tennessee stage managers Cecilia Lighthall and Shannon Spencer

Blogger and stage manager Jess Gow, of the UK theatrical website “The Stage,” writes about giving people second chances.

At an award ceremony in the Philippines, actor and director Baby Borredo recognizes the passion required to work in theatre, saying,

“Theater and passion walk together hand in hand so whether you’re on stage, whether you’re (at the) back stage, whether you’re a stage manager, lighting, there has to be that passion because it is passion that keeps theater alive.”

— Baby Borredo

SM Hack 2: Turn the Page

A quick SM Hack for today -

When working on a script that is still receiving updates/changes from the creative team, print new pages on a different color of pastel printer paper. Monday's new pages can be on pink paper, Tuesday's on green, and so on. This allows for a quick, visual way to ensure everyone is working off the same, updated script. Keep a log of what colors went with what days and, as always, remember to add the date to the bottom of the script!

Always Have a Pen

Be Prepared - it's a song in The Lion King, the motto of the Girl Scouts, a popular safety mantra - and, it's one of the MOST IMPORTANT tenants of stage management!

We all know the benefits of thinking ahead - carefully planning out your routes, expertly packing for any surprise situation, and so on - but oftentimes, time gets in the way. A busy schedule can cause people to forget or forego even the most important necessities (phone, keys, wallet), putting them in a rough spot. That's where you, the awesome stage manager, comes in!

When you're stage managing a show, you'll have your entire kit, so you'll be able to supply most of the room with whatever they need (top requests are usually pencils, band-aids, and Advil).

BUT - when you don't have your kit, you should still strive to carry some basic, small items like a pen, a pencil, a Sharpie, a pack of wet wipes, hand sanitizer, a few travel Advil/Tylenol packets, a safety pin, a couple bobby pins, and phone charger. Then, when someone needs something, whether it be at an interview or during drinks at a bar, you'll be the person to save the day. You'll come across as reliable, forward-thinking, and considerate - all great qualities of someone that gets jobs!

So - go forth - and have a pen!