Date of Defense

12-9-2015

Date of Graduation

4-2016

Department

Theatre

First Advisor

Cheryl Bruey

Second Advisor

Matt Knewtson

Abstract

Communication through documentation is a large part of what stage managers do. Knowing what works and what doesn’t is essential to producing effective documentation. Not only does the work created have to communicate to the current production, but usually in theatre the prompt book is put away into the archives in case the show is going to be remounted. The prompt book contains design information, rehearsal reports, meeting minutes, the script with all blocking notation, contact information, rehearsal schedule, and anything else relevant to the production. My thesis is a compilation of documents that I have had to create in my career as a stage manager. For each document there is a blank template as well as one that has been filled out, and is accompanied by a description of what the form is used for, why it is needed, and who sees it. It is arranged into documents for pre-production, rehearsal, tech period, and performance just as a stage management sourcebook would be arranged for quick reference. A stage manager could just use forms they find in books or find online but creating your own documents, I feel, shows you are more organized, have put thought into it, and that you care about your work. It doesn’t take much brain power to fill out some pieces of paper handed to you, but figuring out how to organize the information you need to put on the paper uses a lot of brain power. Making the format flow between each different document takes even more work. You could just make the form as basic as possible, but you should put your own creative stamp on it whether it’s with your headers, your font, what program you use, or something else. All of these things are what I have considered when making my stage management documents and I feel they are great examples for up and coming stage managers to look at in their research of creating their own documents.

Access Setting

Honors Thesis-Restricted

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