Stage Management Research Paper

959 Words2 Pages

Stage Management Stage Management is one of the most important jobs when it comes to live productions in theater. These managers work alongside the directors, actors, set designers, and stage crew. They make sure that everyone is on task and on the same page so the show can continue as planned. Stage managers assist the directors in instructing the actors where to stand or how to say certain lines during rehearsals. In smaller productions, stage management can be performed by one person, while in larger productions, it is usually performed by a team of managers consisting of a head stage manager, or Production Stage Manager, and one or more assistant stage managers. In the sixteenth century, before Stage management became a widely used term, …show more content…

First, you must go through at least four years of college and earn a Bachelors in Stage Management. A bachelor's degree program in stage management provides individuals with the necessary skills and experience to work in the field. These types of programs allow students to explore different areas of theater, from costuming to scene design and stage management. A Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree program in stage management typically consists of academic coursework combined with hands-on theater experience (Study.com 2016). The first year usually covers subjects in general education, production and design. During the last few years of the program, students have the opportunity to participate in the school's stage productions. Graduates may want to consider an internship or assistant stage manager positions to obtain work experience. Schools and independent theaters may offer paid internships to graduates from stage management programs. Internships typically require full-time work for a certain period, from several weeks to months. Assistant stage managers may find work on larger production and help the production stage manager or director with cuing actors, assisting with rehearsals and keeping the production process running …show more content…

Geography and tenure each impact pay for this group, with the former having the largest influence. Most Live Performance Stage Managers like their work and job satisfaction is high. Men are slightly outnumbered by their female counterparts who answered the questionnaire, who make up a slight majority at 51 percent. Although more than a third lack health benefits of any kind, more than half do enjoy medical insurance, and more than two-fifths get dental coverage, too. Live Performance Stage Managers with more experience do not necessarily bring home bigger paychecks. In fact, experience in this field tends to impact compensation minimally. Individuals who have worked for fewer than five years bring in approximately $35K on average. Those in the five-to-ten-year range can expect an average that is only a touch bigger at $38K. On average, Live Performance Stage Managers make $42K following one to two decades on the job. Survey participants who have spent more than 20 years on the job report a predictably higher median income of $52K, demonstrating that compensation is roughly commensurate with experience in the

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