– Regiduría –

Characteristics of a good Stage Manager January 17, 2006

From the book by Muriel Resnick, The Son of Any Wednesday
In the quote above, playwright Muriel Resnick praises her stage manager as, "unobtrusively but meticulously organized, highly efficient, funny, warm, and caring." Are these the highest attributes? Let's examine some of the qualities of a good stage manager.

Proposition 1
A good stage manager assumes responsibility.He says to himself, "I am the one who must make things fun smoothly on stage and backstage. Beyond me the buck does not pass." This is an active role, not passive. It is not merely coordination. It is not merely doing what one is told. it is not merely the sum total of the myriad little duties. It is taking charge. It is accepting responsibility.

PROFESSIONAL ATTITUDE

The significant difference between a professional and nonprofessional stage manager is not whether Of not he is paid, or whether or not he is a member of a union. The significant difference is whether Of not he is witling and able to accept responsibility for making the production run smoothly on stage and backstage in pre-rehearsal, rehearsal, performance, and post-performance phases.
Your professionalism will make a significant difference in your relationship to the theatre staff. The producer, director, technical director, and other staff members are also concerned that things run smoothly. But they have higher priority responsibilities. You are the only one on the staff for whom this is the primary responsibility.
If you can and will accept this responsibility, you are a coequal of the producer and director on the team that makes theatre. If you do not accept this responsibility, and simply carry out a number of assigned tasks (pulling the curtain, giving the actors their calls, etc.), then you are a subordinate of the producer and director. Which are you? (more…)