My Role in ‘The Wiz’

During my Stage Management Class last week, my fellow students and I were given our roles for the production of ‘The Wiz’ at Blatchington Mill in July.

I was granted a role that I was partly pleased with, partly dreading. I was given the role of Deputy Stage Manager (DSM), but not only would I have to do all the jobs of a DSM, I would also have to do most of a Stage Managers role also. For those of you who don’t know what the exact jobs these roles entail, here’s a list:

For DSM:

·        The Book (big deal!)

·        Call Cues

·        Rehearsal Room Management

·        Makes notes throughout Rehearsal (if a prop or line is cut)

For SM:

·        Issues Calls

·        Runs the Technical Rehearsal

·        Is the Leader (Technically the teacher is, however I am the leader within the students)

·        Communicates between all people and levels of the production.

·        Makes sure everyone else is doing their job

·        Schedule

·        Contact Sheet

·        Mark Up

·        Makes sure everyone turns up

I don’t think I am going to run the Technical Rehearsal, as I’ll be too busy doing ‘The Book’ I assume Tom the Theatre Technician will do it.

The Book

The Book is a broken down script that the DSM writes all the lighting, sound, props, effects, follow spot, tabs (curtains), scenery changes and any other change that happens on stage aside from the actors, cues into. The DSM has to sit with a headset on throughout the entire run of shows, telling (calling) each person who controls different things throughout the theatre to “Go!” An example of what would be said exactly is “Lx Q 13 standby” Lighting would reply by saying “Standing by” and a few second later the DSM would call “Lx Q 13 …. Go!” The DSM has to ensure that the word “Go” is exactly along side a word the actor says that signifies the Cue, the director points this out. No one throughout the show would change anything before they hear their cue being called, and they have to go exactly on “Go” funnily enough.

Rehearsal Room Management is not as important in the school production. As before the crew even get involved the actors have already been rehearsing for a few weeks, and we always have facilities to rehearse in open after school for the director to use.

A link to a better description of the roles: SM, DSM and ASM

This means that I have the largest work load than anyone else working on ‘The Wiz’ and I just know that I will be helping get props and build the set and many other jobs I’m not ‘supposed’ to do.

A lesson learned today:

Don’t be afraid of a hard job, look forward to the rewards!