THEA 2403 Stage Management
- Division: Fine Arts, Comm, and New Media
- Department: Theater Arts
- Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 3; Lecture: 3; Lab: 0
- Semesters Offered: Spring
- Semester Approved: Fall 2024
- Five-Year Review Semester: Summer 2029
- End Semester: Summer 2030
- Optimum Class Size: 8
- Maximum Class Size: 10
Course Description
This course is an introductory course in production management designed to instruct students in the methods and practice of proper stage management and prepare them to execute the responsibilities of stage management in professional, educational, and community spaces. The course embraces the intersection of theory and practice and will provide opportunities for both.
Justification
The course carries the same course number as a similar course at The University of Utah and Weber State University. All theatre programs at USHE institutions have a similar course.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate appreciation for the art of working as a stage manager.
- Identify and demonstrate fundamental skills and techniques for being a successful stage manager.
- Communicate effectively with others in ways that are appropriate for interaction between actors and technicians with the stage manager. This involves both individual and group/team contexts.
- Manage and coordinate information from multiple sources and members of a production team. Develop problem-solving, decision-making, and leadership skills.
Course Content
Students will be given opportunities to learn and develop skills in the following areas of stage management: preproduction tasks; leadership; collaboration; safety; receiving, implementing, assessing and giving feedback; rehearsal management; running auditions and meetings; book creation and maintenance; running/calling a show; finding work; worksheets; checklists; online sourced videos of live productions being called; preproduction tasks; and leadership tactics.
Key Performance Indicators: Exams 10 to 20%Production Book 20 to 30%Critiques 10 to 15%Attendance/Participation 20 to 30%Exercises & Assignments 20 to 25%Representative Text and/or Supplies: Stage Manager: The Professional Experience Refreshed, by Larry Fazio, 2nd edition or later
Stage Management Handbook, by Daniel A. Ionazzi. Pedagogy Statement: The course will provide opportunities for theoretical and practical experiences. Students will be given opportunities to learn and develop skills in stage management. The course is intended to develop competent stage managers for the Snow College theatre season that follows the semester the student completes the course. Students will review case studies of possible stage management problems along with mock production meetings. Students will develop useful production materials for effectively completing assignments as a production stage manager and/or resident stage manager. High impact practices will be employed by using hands-on experiences in recording blocking and cue calling. Students will have individual opportunities to experience working firsthand with the theatre sound and light systems.Instructional Mediums: Lecture
