Rehearsal reports. Production meetings. And more reports.
The life of a stage manager is anything but an easy one. You have to be on top of your game, 24/7. You're the director's right hand man. You're a confidant to the actors and the backstage crew. You're a messenger.
I didn't go seeking stage management. It sorta just happened. All through high school, I was backstage, working with props, the set, even costumes. I didn't become an assistant stage manager until college, and even my first year, I didn't do that much. I was actually terrified to stage manage.
The thought of being responsible for everything with a show, seemed a bit too much pressure than what I had signed up for.
Then I took a year off from educational theatre. I did more improv my second year in school. It was beautiful, but I missed working on shows, I missed working on sets and being at rehearsal. That was my "sophomore" year of college.
My third year, which just ended this past May, was a whirlwind. I started the year as a scared transfer student that was thrown into a theatre department where I didn't know anyone. Not a single person. Again, I came in as a stage manager, but only because I didn't think I could pull off being a designer. I still didn't think I could pull off being a stage manager either.
But then I was assigned to a show, as an assistant stage manger. Great! Right?
The show was a month from opening and they've already had 15 rehearsals before I was assigned to it. Small cast, which meant I didn't have to learn a whole bunch of names. But this is the show that I learned probably the most. I learned from the mistakes. Most importantly, I learned that I can do this. And the next show was the musical, again, I was assistant stage manager. it was the first show at this school I was on from start to finish. The musical showed me why I stuck with stage management.
I was always asked, "What is it that you want to do in theatre?"
My answer? Everything.
I want to know every department in theatre. Lights, sound, scenic, costumes, and even marketing. Everything.
With stage management, you get that. You get have close bonds with the designers, and with the actors. You get to see this show from auditions, to final bow.
It's a lot of work. A lot of paperwork. But it's all worth it.
Every little report. Every single prompt book. Every cue.
It's worth it. It's always been worth it.
