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It’s autonomous, it’s definitely behind the scenes, there’s no applause, the cast either likes you or they hate you, it’s a double edged sword, lots of responsibility and very little recognition from the outside world. But it has it’s moments. Stage Managing live theatre gives real meaning to “Putting it Together.” Working with a Director, Producer and a design team, gathering the pieces and keeping them part of the machine that will make a show GO is, at the same time, daunting, burdensome and exciting. No one really has a definition, that I have seen, of what a Stage Manager does. We are the caretakers of a show, the schedulers, the overseers of all the technical aspects and the cast. If we are lucky, we work with a crack design team and staff that supports the work that needs to be put into play to make theatrical magic every night, eight shows a week. No one does anything worthwhile alone, not really. But keeping track of a myriad of details can be daunting: Set, props, lighting, costumes, blocking, cast, drama, divas, tantrums, unions, breaks, understudies, facility, staff and the list goes on and on.
The satisfaction of a Stage Manager must come internally because applause is for the actors on the stage at the end of the day but, when a show runs well and you call a well tuned show, it is fantastic. When the elements come together and the cast and crew, and you, pull it off, that applause, though mostly for who is on stage, spills over to the Stage Manager and crew. We turn off our lights, and equipment and go home, passing the artists as they get mobbed at the stage door, no one really sees us but we know we had a big hand in that live performance that happened at that moment in time. Often I see people who work in the theatre take it for granted or become jaded because it can be difficult. It is a people business and people can be taxing. It is hard work doing a play or musical and a great deal is expected of everyone. Professionalism is hard to come by and artistic temperament is a very real term. A Stage Manager has to give notes and, in essence, critique the performances nightly in order to keep the show running as intended by the Director. Some artists take umbrage to that and don’t realize that it is for the good of the show and not a power play.
If an artist goes over the top, changes dialogue, intent, blocking or timing, it is the Stage Manager’s job to note that and bring the show back to what it was. Some artists can be petulant, angry and insecure while others welcome the help and are eager to work together to make it work. True, it’s just a job and has severe ups and downs. Every show can be different. A show in trouble is hell on earth but a show working well is heaven. The heaven is worth it so it’s worth each gamble. For surely as each show opens, it closes and, like dancers and actors, stage managers hit the gypsy road to find the next gig. There’s nothing like the theatre… and all the people in it!
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ERNIE FIMBRES is a Stage Manager in New York. He currently was Production Stage Manager on “The Deep Throat Sex Scandal” Off-Broadway working with David Bertolino and Jerry Douglas. Hailing from Los Angeles California, Ernie has stage managed plays and musicals in Los Angeles, on National Tours and in New York and surrounding areas. Ernie dabbles in graphic design and web page creation and is glad to participate Kim, Brian and Marcus in creating BroadwayBlogspot.com. Ernie is a proud member of Actor’s Equity Association.
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