Whodunnit?
Ground plans
(Who is it by, who is it for?)
By: scenic designer
For: director, stage manager, actors
What "movement" of props should be noted on a props tracking sheet?
An actor carries a prop onstage
An actor carries a prop offstage
An actor picks up a prop
An actor sets down a prop
A prop changes hands between actors
Whose responsibility is it to document choreography for actors?
If through video, the stage manager
If through blocking notation, the dance captain
A document that lists when actors and members of production staff who are typically at rehearsals are unavailable
Conflict calendar
What happens if the stage manager gets sick and has to miss a performance?
A form of shorthand that represents how actors move onstage throughout a scene
Blocking notation
Cast breakdown
(Who is it by, who is it for?)
By: stage manager
For: costume designer, sound designer, director, choreographer, actors
Tell me 4 pieces of information that should be included in a quick change list about a quick change. (50 pts per item, up to 200)
Actor, crew member, side of stage, what costume is being put on, what costume is being taken off, speed of quick change
There are two responsibilities that a stage manager should do every day that there is rehearsal, but these things should not happen at/during rehearsal. What are they?
Sending the daily call to actors
Sending the rehearsal report to production staff
What information should be in a rehearsal report? (50 pts per item, up to 200)
A breakdown of what happened in rehearsal with timestamps
Information about attendance, including who was called, absent, and late
Notes for designers and production staff that arose during rehearsal broken down by department
Schedule for the next rehearsal
What is the name of the script that a stage manager uses during performances?
Prompt book, show bible, calling script
What is the difference between a cast breakdown and costume plot?
Both are spreadsheets that indicate which actors are in which scenes. A costume plot necessarily contains information about what the actor is wearing, whereas a cast breakdown may only mention that they're in the scene or what role they play in the scene.
A cast breakdown is made by the stage manager, for the costume designer.
A costume plot is made by the costume designer, for the stage manager and/or wardrobe crew.
Scene shift plot
(Who is it by, who is it for?)
By: assistant stage manager (sometimes stage manager)
For: run crew, actors
You're making a scene shift plot. A set piece is moving onstage. What 3 pieces of information do I need to know about that transition? (100 per item)
What side of the stage the set piece moves on from
What color the spike mark it's going to is
Who is moving it
What does a stage manager do at performances?
Call the show (calling light & sound cues, calling scene transitions)
Communicate with other crew over headsets
Ensure that the cast and crew are ready on time
Make decisions about how to respond to problems as they arise
An aerial view drawing of the set for each different location in the play, including measurements
Ground plans
Give 3 examples of things that have to be done after a show is over. (100 pts per example, up to 300 pts)
Turn off lighting and sound consoles
Turn in headsets
Reset props and set pieces for top of show
Turn off running blues
Turn on the ghost light
Send a performance report
Take notes for tomorrow's work list
Collect mics
Clear dressing rooms
Turn off house lights
List three things that might be written in a stage manager's rehearsal script. (100 pts each, up to 300 pts)
Blocking notation, rough sketches of ground plans, actors' starting locations for each scene, a list of actors in each scene, ensemble line assignments, line changes, sound cues and prompt notes, tears
French scene breakdown
(Who is it by, who is it for?)
By: stage manager
For: sound designer or audio engineer
What is a French scene breakdown?
A document organized by progression through the show that lists every time an actor enters or exits stage and when they do so. Is about specific times in the scenes, not just a list of people in each scene. Only applicable for mic-ed actors.
List responsibilities a stage manager has during rehearsals. (100 pts per item, up to 400 pts)
Taking blocking notation
Writing rehearsal reports
Taking attendance
Keeping the rehearsal on schedule
Running music or sound cues
Taping out the set
Taking video recordings of musical numbers
Being "on book"
Saying lines for actors who are absent
A document organized by scene and then page number that notes every time a design or technical element is canonically mentioned in the script
Production analysis
Pt 1: List different types of cues that might be in a stage manager's performance script. (50 pts each, up to 200 pts)
Pt 2: For cues that the stage manager gives to someone else rather than takes themselves, there should be two pieces of information about timing on those cues. What are they? (100 pts each)
Pt 1: Light cues, follow spot cues, sound cues, projections cues, fly rail cues, scene transitions, special effects
Pt 2: Standby, GO
What kind of information is covered in production meetings?
Upcoming deadlines and important dates
Scheduling
Departmental check-in
Concepts and designs
Planning needs for crew
Casting requirements and needs (preliminary mtgs)
Budgets
Production analysis
(Who is it by, who is it for?)
By: stage manager, company manager, or production manager
For: director and designers
Tell me the following for one example of a cue sheet:
1) Who creates it?
2) Who is it for?
3) 3 pieces of information that should be included on the cue sheet
Cue sheets: light cues, sound cues, projections cues, follow spot cues
Ex: Follow spot cues. Created by lighting designer for stage manager. Includes: cue number, page number of cue, information on when cue is triggered, who spotlight should follow, size of beam, gels/filters needed
List as many people as possible who are under the authority of the stage manager. 100pts per person, up to 500.
Assistant stage manager, deck chief, run crew, wardrobe crew, board operators, follow spot operators, actors
List as many things as possible that should be in a master calendar for a production. 100 points per item, up to 500
Audition dates, production meetings, rehearsal dates and times, tech week dates and times, performance dates and times, designer run, load in, strike, dark days, holidays, deadlines, cue to cue date, off book date
Give 5 examples of things that need to be done before the top of a show. (100 pts per example, up to 500 pts)
Mic check
Fight call
Practice run on special effects or dangerous stunts/choreography
Sweeping the stage
Checking presets
Charging glow tape
Turning on and distributing headsets
Preparing real food props
Turn on running blues
Cast notes
Circle up
Put-in rehearsals for swings
List as many items that might be useful in a stage manager's kit as you can. (100 pts per item, up to 500 pts)
Pens, pencils, highlighters, sticky notes, rulers, spike tape, glow tape, gaff tape, painter's tape, scissors, tie line, basic multi-tool, small medical kit, small sewing kit, batteries, flashlight, mic tape