The Back Stage Guide to Stage Management ─ Traditional and New Methods for Running a Show from First Rehearsal to Last Performance

The Most Widely Used Manual For Aspiring And Veteran Stage Managers - Now Revised and Expanded


The next best thing to shadowing a Broadway stage manager, this detailed, behind-the-scenes book as been brought completely up to date. First published in 1991, it is widely used and has been lauded as the most comprehensive, educational book on stage management available. From preproduction planning and first rehersals to opening night and final strike, all the essentials of the profession are presented here in a friendly, engaging style.

Blending how-to information with anecdotes from his own career, author Thomas A. Kelly explains the entire theatrical process, including:

- Organizing all rehearsals and performances
- Maintaining the working script, cue sheets, and daily records
- Supervising the technical aspects of the show
- Running shows outdoors and at other non-theatrical venues
- Dealing with performers and crew members on all levels

This new edition reflects all the latest developments and innovations in the industry and adds a totally new chapter on opera stage management, complete with an in-depth breakdown of the challenges this style of production presents. The text is supported by sample documents, diagrams, and charts that straddle time-honored approaches with what can be generated by today's computer software. All the latest stage machinery is discussed, along with tips on finding employment. This guide remians the first choice for anyone who works in any branch of the profession, whether amateur, educational, or professional.

Thomas A. Kelly has been a professional stage manager and production manager for over forty years. He most recently worked as Production Stage Manager for New York City Opera and before that on Broadway and major production venues in New York City and nationally. He has taught Stage Management at Rutgers, SUNY Purchase, and Columbia University and is the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from USITT.

Sir Peter Hall is an English theatre and film director who was knighted in 1977 for his service to the theatre. He founded the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1960 and served as its artistic director until 1968. He was director of the Royal National Theatre from 1973 to 1988. He is currently director of The Rose Theatre at Kingston upon Thames.