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Stage management paperwork isn't just bureaucratic busywork—it's the communication backbone of any theatrical production. You're being tested on your understanding of how information flows between departments, how productions maintain consistency across multiple performances, and how professional stage managers anticipate problems before they derail a show. These documents demonstrate core principles like organizational hierarchy, production communication protocols, and quality control systems.
Think of paperwork as your production's institutional memory. When you're juggling a cast of twenty, a crew of fifteen, and hundreds of technical cues, your documents become the single source of truth that keeps everyone aligned. Don't just memorize what each document contains—understand when each document gets created, who needs to receive it, and what problem it solves. That conceptual understanding is what separates competent stage managers from exceptional ones.
These documents establish the framework before rehearsals begin. They translate the script from a literary document into an actionable production plan, identifying resources needed and creating the master timeline.
Compare: Scene Breakdown vs. Production Calendar—both are planning documents, but the breakdown analyzes content (what's in the show) while the calendar organizes time (when things happen). Strong stage managers use the breakdown to build a realistic calendar.
These documents manage the daily work of building the show. They capture artistic decisions in real-time and communicate progress to team members who aren't in the room.
Compare: Blocking Notes vs. Daily Rehearsal Reports—blocking notes capture artistic decisions for future reference, while rehearsal reports communicate immediate needs to the production team. Both are created daily, but they serve different audiences.
These documents translate artistic vision into executable technical operations. They provide the precise instructions that allow complex technical elements to be repeated identically performance after performance.
Compare: Prompt Book vs. Cue Sheets—the prompt book is your document for calling the show, while cue sheets are operator documents for executing cues. The prompt book shows when; cue sheets show what. Both must align perfectly or chaos ensues.
These documents capture what happens once audiences arrive. They create accountability, track issues, and provide data for evaluating the production's success and informing future work.
Compare: Daily Rehearsal Reports vs. Performance Reports—same format and purpose, different phase of production. Rehearsal reports drive problem-solving during the building process; performance reports maintain quality during the run and document the production's history.
| Concept | Best Examples |
|---|---|
| Pre-production planning | Scene Breakdown, Production Calendar, Contact Sheet |
| Rehearsal communication | Daily Rehearsal Reports, Rehearsal Schedule |
| Artistic documentation | Blocking Notes, Prompt Book |
| Technical execution | Cue Sheets, Prop List |
| Performance tracking | Performance Reports |
| Living documents (constantly updated) | Contact Sheet, Rehearsal Schedule, Prop List |
| Archival documents (production record) | Prompt Book, Performance Reports |
| Cross-departmental communication | Daily Rehearsal Reports, Performance Reports, Contact Sheet |
Which two documents serve as the primary communication bridge between the rehearsal room and the production shops, and what distinguishes their timing and content?
If a replacement actor joins the production mid-run, which documents would you consult to bring them up to speed on staging and technical elements?
Compare and contrast the Prompt Book and Cue Sheets: who is the primary user of each, and how do they work together during a performance?
A director asks why the prop wasn't ready for rehearsal. Which documents would demonstrate whether the request was properly communicated, and what does this reveal about documentation as accountability?
You're asked to recreate a production five years later with a new cast and crew. Rank the documents by their usefulness for this task, and explain what each would contribute to the reconstruction.