1 of 17

Chicago

By John Kander and Fred Ebb

Stage Management

Elizabeth Ray, Troupe 1621

2 of 17

Pre-Production and Auditions

3 of 17

Role of the Stage Manager

3

  • Maintain the director’s vision.
  • Run auditions and rehearsals.
  • Facilitate technical work and production meetings.
  • Act as a liaison between the cast, crew, and directors.
  • Call cues during performances.
  • Be open and approachable.

4 of 17

The Director’s Vision

  • Focus on female empowerment
  • Romanticized scenes that occur in Roxie’s imagination
  • Colors connected to the story of each character

4

Roxie and Velma in “Hot Honey Rag”

Silk Artist/Saxophonist in “Razzle Dazzle”

5 of 17

Facilitation of Auditions

  • Formation of groups for dance audition
  • Distribution of paperwork

5

An In-Progress Copy of Paperwork Tracking Spreadsheet

6 of 17

Technical Process

7 of 17

Weekly Production Meetings

  • Run by stage manager and director
  • Attended by all designers

7

Excerpts of a Production Meeting Report from January 8th

8 of 17

Cell Block Tango

  • Romanticized scene from Roxie’s imagination
  • Coordination between set designer, lighting designer, costumer, and choreographer
  • Coordination through stage management

8

The Six Merry Murderesses and their Shadow Dancers in “Cell Block Tango”

9 of 17

Rehearsal Process

10 of 17

Communication

  • Daily rehearsal reports sent via email
  • Google Classroom to share dance videos during rehearsal process

10

11 of 17

Blocking

11

Blocking Pages from the Ensemble Scene Before “We Both Reached for the Gun”

Realized Scene from Blocking Diagram for “We Both Reached for the Gun”

12 of 17

Tech Week and Production

13 of 17

Cue Book: 234 GO Cues

13

Cue Pages for “Tap Dance” Mainly Consisted of Spot Cues

Realized Spotlighting in “Tap Dance”

14 of 17

The Backstage

14

Run Sheets for Deck Crew, Including Pre and Post-Show Duties (Posted in Both Wings)

Sign in Sheet for Cast and Crew During Tech and Performance Weeks and Spike Key for Deck Crew (Stage Right)

15 of 17

Challenges to the Process:

The DPS Teacher Strike

16 of 17

Post-Production and Reflection

17 of 17

Thank you!

Photos Courtesy of

Scott Hasbrouck

Yasiris Torres Photography

Dave Wood Photography

​