How to Become a Stage Manager

A stage manager is a person who controls all the activities that take place before, during and after a TV or theater show. Other technical crews also give report of their activities to stage manager who remains in-touch with them through a wireless headset or phone. Do you also want to become a stage manager? If yes then you will first need to fulfill some requirements and then you can enter this field but before describing those requirements, I will explain stage manager duties for you so that you can easily understand the nature of work.

Duties and Responsibilities of Stage Manager

A stage manager has following duties and responsibilities:

• Working with directors and technicians in order to create set and its design
• Maintaining props being used in the program
• Working with assistant director and other technicians to make sound arrangements
• Planning and leading show rehearsal
• Maintaining strong relationship with theater manager and house staff
• Ensuring a safe working environment
• Responding to emergencies that happen during show
• Working in coordination with other departments like that of wardrobe and set design
• Ensuring that director’s vision has been communicated to all the actors and stage crew members

Education Required Becoming a Stage Manager

There are no hard and fast rules about the education required becoming a stage manager but if you want to become a stage manager, you need to have a Bachelor’s degree in theater related management. A stage manager having a Masters degree in Fine Arts is always preferred over those having Bachelor’s degree. To gain experience in this field, you can also do internship in professional theaters.

Skills Required

• Ability to maintain professionalism under stress
• Ability to solve a problem quickly and effectively
• Ability to coordinate with crew members
• Ability to communicate well with others
• Organization skills
• Ability to work well with peers

These were some basic requirements that a person needs to fulfill if he/she wants to become a stage manager. I hope that the information provided above will help you a lot in understanding what a stage manager does and what is required to become a stage manager.