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STAGE

MANAGEMENT

About

Participation in the Stage Management Fellowship offers students an excellent opportunity to engage with active industry professionals, showcase their talents, receive personalized feedback, and connect with fellow emerging stage managers. The fellowship is designed to provide additional tools to help you refine your stage management skills while expanding your professional network and building lasting connections.


Finalists for the Stage Management Fellowship are selected from across the region and will be invited to participate in the Region 8 Fellowship. Based on participation at the regional festival, one regional finalist will be awarded a fellowship to attend the national festival and take part in programming at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.

Selection will be based on the following criteria:

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  • Professionalism and completeness of the prompt script and other paperwork presented to the invited respondent

  • Personal demeanor and communication skills, as observed during interviews and workshops

  • Quality of written materials submitted, including:

    • Stage Manager's Prompt Book

    • Résumé: one page, preferably focused on stage management work

    • Letter of Intent

 

For additional information regarding the Fellowship, please refer to the National Stage Management Fellowship Guidelines.

National Stage 
Manangement
Fellowship

Each of the eight KCACTF regions will select one Stage Manager to be awarded a fellowship to attend the national festival.


Students will present a stage management project comprised of materials that clearly tell the story of the process, evolution, rehearsal, and realization of the project. A team of theatre stage management respondents will serve as selection panelists and respond to the projects.

  • We celebrate the diverse and innovative work being done nationwide in Design, Technology, and Management.


    All projects are eligible this year for participation in the National Stage Management Fellowship Program and will be considered for national and regional honors and awards.


    To be eligible, students must:

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    • Have stage-managed a project at their home institution in 2025. 

    • Be a bona fide student during 2025

    • Be registered for and attend the Regional Festival in order to showcase their project and participate in response sessions

    • Résumé

      • Submit a one-page résumé, preferably focused on your stage management experience. All references to your school must be redacted for this submission. You are welcome to bring an additional, non-redacted version to display with your prompt book after respondents have completed their review.

    • Letter of Intent (Cover Letter)

      • Your letter should include:

        • Your name

        • The play title and the playwright’s name

        • A brief description of your personal approach to stage management

        • Your reasons for wanting to participate in the regional festival

        • Your future goals as a stage manager

    • Paperwork Submission

      • Submit 3–4 pieces of paperwork that you feel really showcase your strengths as a stage manager. Think of this as a sneak peek—a little preview for respondents of the great work they’ll see in your full prompt book! Please compile and submit these materials as a single PDF packet.

      • The first page of the PDF should include:

        • Student’s Name

        • Title of Production

        • Playwright’s Name

      • The remaining pages should consist of paperwork selections that most effectively showcase your process and documentation. Examples of materials that have proven useful include:

        • A sequence or page excerpts from your call script

        • Blocking notations

        • Script analysis

        • Character or scene breakdowns

        • Performance and production reports

        • Checklists

        • Calendars

        • Rehearsal schedules

        • Daily schedules

        • Tech schedules

        • Sign-in sheets

        • Callboard materials

        • Contact forms

        • Emergency contact forms

     

    This list is not exhaustive—choose items that best communicate your approach, process, and the evolution and realization of the production. Your project should clearly illustrate the scope, complexity, and management of the show you stage-managed.


    Important: 

    • Do not include the name of your school on any submitted materials.

    • Do not include any personal information (yours or that of your cast and crew) on your supporting materials.

  • Each student is required to bring their prompt script/production book(s) from the entered production.


    The prompt script should be the genuine book the student used during the actual production. It should not be beautified or improved after closing night (though materials should NOT include personal cast/crew contact information. Such information must be expunged. A sample of contact paperwork will be accepted in lieu of the original).


    The prompt book should consist of all of the production's paperwork; these should include, but are not limited to:

    • The “Blocking Script” and the “Calling Script,” as one or more books, with blocking and cue-calling notation.


    • Rehearsal and performance notes, as presented to the production/design team.


    • Schedules, including rehearsals, tech rehearsals, etc.


    • Pre-show/post-show checklists, shift schedules, scene breakdowns, etc.


    • Forms, schedules, lists, and plots.


    • Important/necessary emails and communications.

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    All the above materials should be the bona fide working versions, created and used during the actual production process.

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    Please include in your prompt books:

    • Title card: Student’s Name, Stage Management, Title of Production by Playwright’s Name

    • Student’s Letter of Intent

    • Student’s redacted SM resume (can later be switched out with a non-redacted version after response is complete)


    Prompt scripts will be exhibited as part of the regional “Design Expo." Stage Managers, unlike their design counterparts, do NOT prepare a display along with their prompt scripts. The prompt scripts will be available in the DTM Gallery for examination by respondents and festival attendees.

    • Do not include the name of your school on any of your slides, and try to remove as much as you can from your other documents.

    • Do not include any personal information (yours or that of your cast and crew) on your supporting materials. Be sure to block out phone numbers, email addresses, etc. That is private information and is not to be shared.

    • Please include in your prompt books:

      • Title card: Student’s Name, Stage Management, Title of Production by Playwright’s Name

      • Student’s Letter of Intent

      • Student’s redacted SM resume (can later be switched out with a non-redacted version after response is complete)

    • Students will bring their stage management prompt book to be displayed at the festival and be reviewed by stage management respondents.

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    Students are responsible for their own festival registrations, DTM registration, and other forms.

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    Note: Each region has it’s own regional awards and honors in DTM.

Are you a faculty member interested in getting involved with running DTM or the National Stage Management Fellowship program at the Region 8 conference? Please let us know by filling out the General Board Member Application at the link below:

General Board Member Application
 

If you have any other questions or require additional information, please contact Andrew Sierszyn (DTM Chair) and/or Shay Garber (Stage Management Coordinator).

 

We can't wait to meet you!

Stage Management Coordinator

SHAY G_edited.jpg

Shay Garber

Stage Management Coordinator 

CSU Fullerton | UC Irvine | Saddleback College

shgarber@fullerton.edu

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