written by Taylor Massey
With every theatre performance, there are a myriad of jobs that help the production behind the scenes. These jobs can range from being a costume designer to being a part of the lighting crew, but some of the most important responsibilities belong to the head stage manager.
During mid-November, the Tiger Theatre performed two plays in repertory, and there was one stage manager for each of the two shows. Junior Olivia Barnette was the stage manager for “See How They Run”, and Senior Hailey Gold was the stage manager for “Blithe Spirit” – then again for the recent production of “The Mousetrap.”
Both stage managers were key in ensuring that each production went smoothly. There are also assistant stage managers to aid in the process and work with each manager.
“During rehearsals, stage managers make sure that everything needed for rehearsal is prepared. We also take director’s notes, line notes, and blocking notes to make sure the actors are both memorizing lines and performing their blocking correctly. Head stage managers run the show while seated in the booth and wearing a headset that allows them to communicate with his/her assistant stage managers,” said Barnette.
As for the actual production, trying to perform two plays in two weeks last fall was a difficult enough task. However, there were other challenges that had to be overcome this year. The pandemic sometimes made rehearsals more difficult than usual, especially with quarantines. This called for new solutions that wouldn’t have to be used under normal circumstances.
“During the production process, it was challenging dealing with different quarantine situations and absences. We had some rehearsals where actors were unable to be there, so we either had to skip the scenes they were in or fill their part. Fortunately, we were able to use Google Meet, which allowed us to easily communicate with people who were vital to the show,” said Gold.
Regardless of any initial hiccups in each production, both Barnette and Gold said each play ended up running without any major inconveniences. They also both said being a stage manager is an incredibly rewarding and unique experience.
“Something I enjoy about being a stage manager is being able to experience both the highs and the lows of the process. Getting to watch the show grow from the time we are taking line notes as the actors struggle to get off-book to opening night when they have fully developed their character is very rewarding and satisfying,” said Barnette.
“I enjoy watching the show progress from start to finish as the characters evolve and we add in technical effects,” said Gold. “I am so grateful that the directors, administration, and school board allowed us to put on shows this school year. It would not have been the same without theatre.”
