Stage Manager - Theatre

Job Description: High School Theater Stage Manager Position Type: Seasonal / Production-Based (Stipend or Extracurricular) Reports To: President-Principal, Theater Arts Director / Drama Instructor & Technical Director Summary: The Stage Manager (SM) serves as the logistical backbone of the high school theater production. They act as the primary communication link between the Director, the student cast, and the technical crew. The Stage Manager oversees organization from auditions through final wrap-up, shifting into absolute leadership of the backstage area and cue calling once tech week and performances begin. Key Responsibilities • Manage the Calendar: Help maintain the master rehearsal calendar, track daily student attendance, and log any planned or unexcused absences. • Build the Prompt Book: Keep a meticulous master copy of the script containing all actor blocking (stage movements), prop cues, and technical requirements. • Maintain Rehearsal Space Safety: Arrive at least 30 minutes before call times to prep the room. Sweep and clear the stage of potential hazards like loose screws or splinters. • Issue Rehearsal Reports: Complete and distribute a clean summary report after every rehearsal, noting what scenes were covered, what needs to be prepped for the next day, and any specific notes for technical designers (e.g., a newly added prop or costume change). • Assist Actors: Keep rehearsals moving on schedule. Prompt student actors with forgotten lines once they are "off-book". Tech Week & Performances • Transition to Show Leadership: Step into the main leadership role as the production shifts onto the main stage. Coordinate paper tech and step-by-step cue building with designers. • Call the Show: Sit at the master console and accurately call all light, sound, projection, and fly-rail cues into the headset system in real-time during live performances. • Supervise the Deck Crew: Delegate backstage assignments to the Assistant Stage Manager (ASM) and run-crew to ensure safe, quiet, and efficient set changes. • Enforce Safety and Protocol: Conduct pre-show safety sweeps. Hold final authority to safely halt a tech rehearsal or performance if a dangerous emergency situation arises on deck. • Post-Show Lockdown: Ensure the stage, dressing rooms, and backstage areas are cleaned, restored to a neutral state, and safely locked up at night with the "ghost light" turned on. Required Skills & Qualifications • Strong Leadership & Collaboration: Proven ability to direct peer groups or students with a calm, assertive, and respectful authority. • High Organizational Literacy: Excellent multitasking skills and precision in keeping schedules, forms, and notes organized. • Technical Theater Familiarity: Broad foundational knowledge of basic lighting, sound, scenic, and prop design vocabulary. • Composure Under Pressure: Ability to think critically, troubleshoot mechanical or human mistakes instantly, and keep a cool head during high-stress live performance windows. • Adhere to Archdicese of Milwaukee policies and procedures