Stage Manager's Manual

Welcome to one of the most challenging—and rewarding—roles in theatre ministry. Being a Stage Manager means more than calling cues or organizing props. It means becoming the heartbeat of the production, the bridge between vision and execution, and often, the first to arrive and the last to leave.

You may not get the spotlight, but your fingerprints are on every moment that takes place on stage.

The job is tough:
You’ll juggle schedules, calm nerves, coordinate chaos, and deal with every “little thing” that no one else saw coming. You’ll hear every complaint and catch every dropped line—and at times, you’ll feel invisible until something goes wrong. But in the midst of it all, you’re holding things together.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.”
—Colossians 3:23

Sample of what you will find in this very useful manual

• Who is the stage manager and what does s/he do?
• What happens and when?
• Rehearsal Reports
• Performance Reports
• Stage Manager Checklist
• Crew Evaluation
• Production Meeting Notes
• (even) Costume Repair Reports
• AND much more

These aren’t rigid rules—they’re guides to help you serve more effectively. Adapt what you need. Simplify where you can. What matters most is how you carry yourself: with clarity, kindness, and a heart for ministry.

You’re not just managing a stage.
You’re creating a space for God’s message to come alive.

Manual Sample:

Having someone to serve as a stage manager is almost mandatory. The job of a stage manager is hard. It is one of the most time-consuming and important positions in drama, either in church or in the theatre. As a stage manager, you will hear all the complaints, have to deal with all the problems, receive the blame for everything that goes wrong, and typically receive little of the glory. The stage manager is frequently forgotten, until something goes wrong, then everybody is looking for you. Yet, with all of this, the position of the stage manager is one of the most important and rewarding in the theatre.

As a stage manager, you will have generally begun work long before rehearsals ever begin, and more than likely will be the last person out of the theatre on closing night. In between those times, you are the lifeline, the communications hub for the entire production team and the performance ensemble. Organization is your key to success and the success of the production. This is a guideline for assisting you in your job of stage manager. These are only guides and are not intended to be "rules" for stage-managing. If you have a way of working that is more practical for you, by all means use it. Remember, keep track and make lists; if you don’t write it down, it didn’t happen, and worse yet, more than likely won’t happen.
Now, let’s take a look at some characteristics, attributes and responsibilities.

Key Characteristics of a Strong Stage Manager

1. Take Responsibility and Delegate Wisely
   While the Director leads the vision, much of the day-to-day responsibility for keeping rehearsals and performances running smoothly falls on your shoulders. Embrace that responsibility. Just as importantly, learn to delegate. Recruit capable assistants, train them well, and trust them with tasks—you can’t be everywhere at once, no matter how hard you try.
2. Stay Organized, Efficient, and Alert
   Keep your paperwork in order and accessible at all times—scripts, forms, schedules, cue sheets, and notices. You’ll need to track down props, schedule meetings, and juggle multiple moving parts. Problems will arise; expect them. When they do, respond quickly, adapt as needed, and keep the production moving forward.
3. Maintain Professionalism—Especially Under Pressure
   Stress is inevitable, but don’t let it get personal. As stage manager, you’ll often be privy to sensitive conversations, behind-the-scenes challenges, and contingency plans that are not meant for general cast or crew discussion. Handle these matters with discretion and integrity.
4. Be Reliable and Prepared
   Show up early, stay late, and always be ready for what’s next. Your dependability sets the tone for the team and builds trust across the entire production.
5. Stay Calm and Courteous
   Keep your cool—even when things go sideways. A calm leader can steady an entire team. Never underestimate the power of a kind word; make “please” and “thank you” part of your regular vocabulary.

TASKS

 - Script
Your first responsibility as stage manager is to obtain a copy of the script. Read it thoroughly and learn all cues and technical requirements. Coordination with the Director and Technical Director will help define the remaining responsibilities.

Use a color-coding scheme for script changes and maintain consistency in the Prompt Book. The typical color order for updates is:

Blue → Pink → Yellow → Green → Goldenrod → Salmon → Cherry (Red) → Buff → Tan

This method helps ensure everyone is working from the same version.
For example, if your script has pink pages and someone else’s is green, you know yours is outdated.

Avoid simply marking up pages—instead, assign a new change color. The technical crew may not notice a quick change in dialogue that affects cues. Color changes make these updates visible to everyone, not just the cast.

Want to see how the Manual unfolds? DramaShare members get this Manual — and access to our entire library—free! Not a member? You can still grab this individual script and bring it to life.