Job descriptions for Stage Management

• A lot of the work is office-based, with similar timings to the rest of the company both in rehearsals and show call.
• Reports to a General Manager or Producer.
• Manages the company of performers, stage management and production teams. The Company Manager is usually responsible for all these departments, not just for the performers.

Responsibilities (mostly in conjunction with the producers/general managers):

• Overall communication with the company about anything that might affect them in relation to the production.
• Liaising with producers on a daily basis about all elements of the production, to do with the company and the daily practicalities of running and/or rehearsing the show.
• Providing pastoral support for all member of the company (performers and technical teams), as well as maintaining the health and well-being of the company.
• Ensuring Equity rules and other union contractual agreements are correctly adhered to.
• Distributing relevant venue information to parties.
• Input into the creation of rehearsal & tech schedules and ensuring they are followed.
• Ensuring weekly and daily calls are distributed (often in conjunction with the stage manager).
• Monitoring timesheets for all departments, in conjunction with the HOD’s (Heads Of Departments).
• Creating weekly payroll and ensuring any overtime, additional payments, per diems and/or subsistence are paid.
• Monitoring petty cash in conjunction with HOD’s for each department. Arranging payment of petty cash “floats” for these HOD’s in conjunction with the producing office (more commonly now HOD’s arrange this directly with the producing office).
• Supporting with the logistics of any touring such as accommodation/travel plans, touring packs, digs lists etc.
• Liaising on marketing/publicity/press requests and supporting scheduling of any calls for these purposes.
• Ensuring any near misses and/or accidents are reported correctly.
• Communicating with the Front of House team to ensure show specifics are well managed.

• Can be based in or out of the rehearsal room dependent on the needs of the production.
• Runs the deck (onstage) during shows.
• Reports to Company Manager, General Manager, Production Manager.
• Manages the team of stage managers.

Responsibilities:

• Managing the stage management team to ensure they are equipped to deliver the responsibilities of their roles.
• Collaborating with the Company Manager on the pastoral support of the company, and flagging any health or well-being concerns as early as possible.
• Coordinating flow of information between production departments, ensuring distribution of rehearsal notes and show reports.
• Input into the creation of rehearsal & technical schedules and ensuring they are adhered to where possible.
• Ensuring weekly and daily calls are distributed (this can also be the responsibility of the Company Manager - it can vary dependent on the production).
• Ensuring Equity agreements are correctly implemented.
• Manage the stage management team to create a mark-up in the rehearsal room, source any rehearsal furniture and props (if the production does not have a Prop Supervisor or Props Department).
• Liaise with the Production Manager about any actual or rehearsal scenic elements that are required.
• Overseeing rehearsal and show calls for cast and stage management team.
• Managing the stage management teams hours, and submitting timesheets to the Company Manager in a timely manner as required, with all necessary information included within the timesheets.
• Working with the Props Supervisor and/or Designer to source, buy and maintain show props/furniture/set dressing.
• Tracking/organising any storage or returns at the end of the run with the Production Manager and/or Props team.
• Running technical rehearsals with close support from the Deputy Stage Manager, Director and Production Manager.
• Running the stage once the show has begun performances. Managing any show stops or emergency situations.
• Contributing to detailed show reports, and ensuring these are distributed (often in conjunction with the DSM and/or Company Manager).
• Ensuring Health & Safety protocols are followed by the company, and having an overall view of H&S procedures.
• Contributing to and adhering to any risk assessments created for the production.
• Ensuring any near misses and/or accidents are reported correctly. 
• Managing stage management budgets and petty cash where required.
• Ensuring show paperwork is completed and archived both digitally and with hard copies (if needed).
• Ensuring production meeting minutes are taken - only if this is not done by the production manager or production office (which is the norm).

This role is a combination of the Company Manager and Stage Manager roles listed above. Often, this role will need more support from the producing office and technical teams to be able to fulfil this role successfully. 

• In rehearsals full time, calls the show in tech and once open.
• Reports to the Stage Manager.
• Supports in management of Assistant Stage Managers.

Responsibilities:

• Creating a prompt copy (also known as the Book), which notes all blocking and cues.
• Setting up and managing the rehearsal room with support from Assistant Stage Managers (in conjunction with the Stage Manager).
• Taking detailed rehearsal notes for any production departments, as well as script/score changes, and ensuring these are distributed (in conjunction with the Stage Manager).
• Supporting the Director with timekeeping on the daily calls, and documenting any deviations for timesheets.
• Creation of show paperwork such as Entrance/Exit plots, scenic breakdowns, running plots where necessary.
• Creation of props lists and setting lists (often in conjunction with the ASM).
• Calling the show throughout technical rehearsals, dress rehearsals and the performances.
• Supporting on any show stops (very much in conjunction with the Stage Manager), finding appropriate places to stop and start the show, and ensuring all departments are standing by to begin again when the Stage Manager is ready.
• Contributing to detailed show reports, and ensuring these are distributed.
• Teaching the show to any book covers (also known as “book school”).
• Communicating with creatives when show quality or content changes (often in conjunction with the Stage Manager and Company Manager).
• Considerately noting performers on lines or blocking that they are doing differently than originally created (this is often done via the Director, Assistant or Associate Director or Resident Director).
• Supporting the stage management team with rehearsal room mark up and sourcing rehearsal/show props and furniture where necessary (this is often mostly left to the ASM’s and SM to manage, but DSM’s will assist where needed).
• Ensuring Health & Safety protocols are followed in rehearsals and flagging any concerns as soon as possible to the Stage Manager.
• Supporting the Stage Manager in archiving the show paperwork, both digitally and with hard copies, including the prompt copy.
• If the Stage Manager is not present - deputise as needed.
• Where contracted as such, learning the SM show track from the SM.

• Can be based in or out of the rehearsal room depending on the needs of the production.
• Reports to the Stage Manager and Deputy Stage Manager.

Responsibilities:

• Supporting the stage management team to create a mark up in the rehearsal room, and source any rehearsal furniture and props (if the production does not have a Props Supervisor or Props Department).
• Supporting the Deputy Stage Manager to set up and run calls in the rehearsal room.
• Deputising for the DSM if they are not present.
• Working with the Props Supervisor and/or Designer to source, buy and maintain show props/furniture/set dressing.
• Supporting the Props Team and Production Manager with the tracking/organising any props storage or returns.
• Building or creating props and maintaining them throughout the run (in conjunction with any Props Supervisor, if there is one working on the production).
• Maintaining and updating the props list.
• Creating a Props Bible in conjunction with the Props Supervisor.
• Writing and maintaining up-to-date cue sheets for their own plot.
• Resetting the stage during technical rehearsals and any other rehearsals, in conjunction with the Stage Manager and any production staff.
• Having a show plot, including setting of props and furniture.
• Where contracted as such, learning the showcalling track from the DSM.
• Where contracted as such, learning the SM show track from the SM.