What are the roles of the stage manager?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The stage manager is the person with whom the director works most closely in preparing the production. He/she takes care of all pragmatic concerns by functioning as a liaison between the director and all other members of the theatrical team, including the actors. His/her major responsibilities include coordinating a production, managing the actors, running the show, and preserving the director's vision. The stage managers must be present at all rehearsals in a managerial role, organizing and maintaining discipline. He/she is responsible for keeping a precise and orderly prompt book, a copy of the performance text in which all rehearsal work—blocking, lighting and sound cues, and changes to the script—is noted. The stage manager attends production meetings to keep abreast of any new developments. He/she provides the information bridge between those who are present at production meetings and those who are present at rehearsals. The stage manager relays information from the director to the actors. He/she looks out for the actors, alerting the director when the actors need a break and making sure the theatre space is clean and safe for rehearsal and performance. During technical rehearsals, the stage manager makes sure that all of the director's cues are properly entered in the prompt book and executed. Once the show opens, he/she is in charge of calling cues—telling the lighting and sound operators and the stage crew the precise moment of all changes in light, sound, and set. He/she communicates with house managers about the state of readiness backstage and alerts them to any problems requiring a delay of the curtain, or starting time. After opening night, when the director completes an active role in the production process, the stage manager takes over the show and makes sure all the elements of production stay as close as possible to the way the director envisioned them.