Stage Management Basics: A Primer for Performing Arts Stage Managers

Stage Management Basics, second edition, offers a deep dive into the basics of stage management for theatre, dance, and opera productions.

Without assuming any intrinsic prior knowledge of the theatrical field and its associated, specialized terminology, this book covers every aspect of stage management, from reading a script, meeting with a director and theatre staff, and running auditions to communication best practices and opening night protocol. This new edition features brand new chapters on opera, dance, and unions, information on working with intimacy and fight directors, updated tips and tricks, and vibrant color images.

Using simple language and detailed explanations, this book is the perfect primer for the beginning stage management student.

The companion website contains blank form templates, chapter comprehension tests, a suggested reading list, glossary flashcards, and more.

Emily Roth is a freelance AEA production stage manager currently living and working in New York City. She holds a BA from Coe College in Theatre with an emphasis in Design and Technology. Her career has taken her through a wide variety of experiences; from early beginnings in her local community theatre to six years of professional summer stock, from educational theatre to Off-Broadway and touring. She has found herself working on productions ranging between musicals, straight plays, new works, and theatre for young audiences. Like many, Emily discovered stage management somewhat by accident and, like many, is largely self-taught. Through this experience, she felt the need for a text that breaks the job down into its bare-bones basics and guides new stage managers step-by-step through a production.

Jonathan Allender-Zivic, MFA, is a lifelong educator and theatrical artist who has been teaching and working in the industry for over 18 years primarily as Professor, Lighting, Projection and Sound Designer, as well as Technical Director. Jonathan has been mentoring stage managers as part of his academic responsibilities since 2010. Jonathan is Associate Professor of Theatre heading the lighting, sound, and stage management emphases at the University of South Dakota. He has over 125 professional and academic credits in the past 5 years, keeping an active hand in the professional arena; designing regionally when he is not teaching. Jonathan received his MFA from Western Illinois University. He maintains an active role in the United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) and the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF). In 2018, he branched out into product development when he invented and patented the Cable Munkey® and founded Cable Munkey LLC.

Katy McGlaughlin has been working in and around theatre her whole life; mostly stage managing and a little bit of everything else. She has worked all across the United States on productions ranging from new works to large-scale musicals and dance. Katy holds a BFA from Webster University, where she specialized in stage management and technical direction, as well as an MFA in stage management from the University of Iowa. She is currently the production manager for the theatre department at the University of Northern Iowa. She is a proud member of the Actors’ Equity Association, the Stage Managers Association, the Association for Theatre in Higher Education, and USITT.