Stage Management

Curriculum guideline

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Course
STGE 1320
Discontinued
No
Course code
STGE 1320
Descriptive
Stage Management
Department
Stagecraft & Event Technology
Faculty
Language, Literature and Performing Arts
Credits
2.00
Start date
End term
Not Specified
PLAR
Yes
Semester length
15 weeks
Max class size
25
Contact hours

Lecture: 2 hours/week

and

Seminar: 2 hours/week

up to a maximum of 48 hours

Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Seminar
Learning activities

Students will receive a combination of lecture and small group-based instruction, as well as independent work culminating in the creation of a sample prompt script for a show. Guest lectures and field trips will be included where possible.

Course description
This course introduces students to the role and responsibilities of the Stage Manager. Students will be introduced to the rehearsal process, moving from rehearsal to stage, technical and dress rehearsals, and the run of shows. The focus will be on leadership and management skills, as well as developing a theatre production prompt script.
Course content

Pre-Production

  • The Production Hierarchy and Intercommunication
  • Production Schedules and Paperwork
  • The Prompt Script
  • Rehearsal Room Prep
  • Scene Breakdown

Rehearsals

  • Blocking Notation
  • Prompting
  • Rehearsal Calls and Schedules
  • Rehearsal Reports
  • Managing the Rehearsal Room
  • Canadian Actors Equity and the Canadian Theatre Agreement

Technical Rehearsals

  • Levels and Dry Tech
  • Cue to Cue
  • Tech and Dress Rehearsals

Running the Show

  • Calling Cues
  • Backstage Supervision and Etiquette
  • Show Reports
  • Call Sheets
  • Cast Morale
Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

  • Describe the role of the Stage Manager within the organizations team;
  • Understand the duties and responsibilities of the stage management team for theatrical events;
  • Utilize the techniques employed by the Stage Manager during pre-production, run and post-production periods;
  • Demonstrate leadership, professionalism, and work ethic appropriate to the stage management role;
  • Describe the various unions, organisations, and agreements pertinent to the Canadian theatre industry;
  • Create a theatre production prompt script that follows industry accepted norms.
Means of assessment

Assessment will be based on course objectives and will be carried out in accordance with the 51Ç鱨վ Evaluation Policy. An evaluation schedule will be presented at the beginning of the course. This is a graded course.

Students are expected to be self-motivated and to demonstrate professionalism, which includes active participation, good attendance, punctuality, effective collaboration, and ability to meet deadlines.

Instructors may use a student’s record of attendance and/or level of active participation in the course as part of the student’s graded performance. Where this occurs, expectations and grade calculations regarding class attendance and participation will be clearly defined in the instructor’s course outline.

Sample Grading Scheme: 

Blocking Assignment 15%
Cue Calling Assignment 15%
Quizzes 10%
Production Prompt Script 40%
Professionalism and Attendance 20%
Total:   100%
Textbook materials

A list of recommended textbooks and materials is provided on the Instructor’s Course Outline, which is available to students at the beginning of each semester.

Examples:

Morgan, Winston. Stage Managing the Arts in Canada. 1st Ed. Toronto: Scholarly Book Services Inc., 2000.

Kincman, Laurie. The Stage Manager’s Toolkit: Templates and Communication Techniques to Guide Your Theatre Production from First Meeting to Final Performance. 4th ed., Routledge, 2025.

Prerequisites

Registered in the Stagecraft and Event Technology Program or permission of the instructor

Corequisites

None

Equivalencies

None