The Stage Management Handbook

This book, written by a top professional in the field with years and years of experience, was everything one could expect to understand the critical role a stage manager plays in mounting, running and closing a production. The role of the stage manager is critical, straddling the line between the creative side of theater and the production side of theater.One aspect of the author's assertions I will moderate (but not dispute at all) is the role the stage manager plays as "confidant, counselor and confessor to all involved in the production" - while it may be accurate, is a little overly dramatized in it's import, and I suspect may be contextualized by the author's vast experience in university theater settings, where the majority of the cast and crew are students of not quite full adult age, and may have a higher incidence and engagement rate than in other theatrical settings outside of major academic venues.That however, is based only on my comparison of having been in student theater in high school and college, and my professional experience mounting a one man show and having to do it all myself. That of course is not the same as a full scale production, but mainly speaking, only theater people who tend to keep to their own because of the tradition have a socialization context unlike non-theatrical people.Outside of that, buy this book you'll be hard pressed to find better data for the price. We are all lucky Daniel A. Ionazzi not only wrote it, but continues to teach and practice this rare and challenging critical theater production skill.The Lone Comic TMDefender of Creativity and Entertainment SM

This book was very helpful in understanding the various roles of the backstage crew. I've always appreciated them and their work, but the book gave me a very clear understanding of their roles. The book was a great buy, not only because of its very reasonable price but also for its wealth of information.

So you want to be a Stage Manager, huh? Well, this book is a great first time book, and your introduction how what your jobas Stage Manager will be like! Also has several Stage Management forms, like Contact Sheet, and Sign in Sheets for those ofus who are not exactly computer savvy. This was my first book in College, and along with actual experience, I have a pretty goodcareer in Stage Management.

Very clear instructions on how to build scenery. I had forgotten the names of parts of a flat (it's been over 50 years since I've had a stagecraft class) and this made it very clear--and backed my instructions on how to build a flat!

This was one of my college textbooks as a Theater major in college and as a highschool theater teacher now I STILL use this book! (mostly for the organization sheets/handouts found inside which are perfect for my student directors and even my own rehearsal process)

The description claims no highlighting but there is from pages 9-18. Not many pages. But still highlighted. Otherwise the description is accurate.The book is perfectly helpful for beginning Stage Managers but I thought it left out a couple of things, such as taping out the set design for rehearsals. Other topics could have been expanded as well, i.e. managing disputes/confrontations among company members.

I taught myself to SM with this book in HS. Then it was the textbook for my SM class in college.It is the most comprehensive, useful, clear book on Stage Management I've ever read. I must-own for any SM in my opinion

When I purchased this product, it was for a friend of mine, who really wanted it. Upon getting it in the mail, it looked interesting. When I gave it to my friend for Christmas, she was uber happy and excited. That--is a great thing. She's told me that she's referred to it on occasion while she was an assistant manager recently.