Stage managers are the mother hens of any show production, and absolutely must have all the tools in order to behave as such! Whether the show of interest is of broadway level production, or even one being put on by a middle school theatre group, stage managers are essential to the success of any performance. While it may be reasonable to think of a director as the key to all productions, the stage manager is, perhaps an even more viable position to be considered the “head honcho” of the stage, on and off production. This position is duly earned, as stage managers serve as a go-between, to communicate all information to and from the director, production crew, and actors all throughout production, as well as run everything during an actual performance. Therefore, it is totally imperative that a stage manager prepare a kit containing the works, or anything a director, crew member, or actor could possibly need during this time.
A great stage manager must fulfill each their ever changing roles of nanny, nurse, teacher, and general handyman at all times, which can only be done with the right set of tools on hand. To start, a swanky container of sorts is to be filled with as many possible items as suggested below. This water and shock resistant, LED lighted chest rig is sure to hold most of your essentials, keeping them well within reach, as well as handily protected from the elements of the stage and beyond. Although toolboxes don’t necessarily need to be portable, it can be of great service to stage managers and their patrons for rigs to be easily accessible and nearby at all times. To fill a kit with the most essential items is to fill it with every possible emergency quick-fix known to man, for every good stage manager keeps in mind that “everything which can go wrong, will go wrong”. This is the go-to person for any crew, directorial, or actor’s needs, so a stage manager must compile a list of basic tools, office supplies, tape, first aid supplies, electrical, and other personal items they deem necessary to the success of a show. For example, this stage manager keeps at least one of nearly every office supply item on hand, from highlighters to staple removers. Seeing as to the responsibility of the stage manager to assist with every value of production, each department must be covered in their “Marry Poppins bag of wonder”. Using this information, one might consider including extra scripts, stagehand tools, more gaffers tape, extra batteries, riggers gloves, and other crew necessities.
Next, comes the “costume repair” portion of the kit, with items ranging from clear nail polish, even more gaff tape (a hot commodity among crew), Tide To Go Pens, and lint rollers, to needles and thread of various sizes and colors. Stage managers take responsibility for each individual on and off the stage, acting also as a caretaker, where a complete first aid kit should be considered mandatory. Finally, personal hygiene is a must for all members of crew and staff, so carrying a few extra feminine care products, toothbrushes, contact solution, tissues, and other items of a similar nature can be imperative to the show, which must go on.
With each of these portions of the stage manager’s kit at hand, just about every department of a production is accounted for, and nearly every possible issue is sure to be remedied in no time. It should also be important to note that with each and every new show a stage manager commits to working on, their kit should be restocked and refined to fit the expectations of directors, crews, and actors, as this is what makes for a perfectly diligent and adaptable stage mother!
