ABSTRACT

Stage managers are responsible for establishing the communication systems within a production. Communication defaults refer to the unconscious and habitual ways each person has learned to express themselves. Effective communication is communicating with a clear intention and an understanding of one’s audience. Based on self-awareness and vulnerability, authentic communication is being genuine, honest, and clear, taking responsibility for opinions, ideas, mistakes, and aesthetics. Establishing a work culture where feedback is freely given and received can be an effective communication tool. Considered responses can contribute to open dialogue amongst collaborators, which can result in changes in service to the production. Technology platforms have replaced many traditionally face-to-face forms of communication, and the stage manager’s role in shaping this aspect of the process is complex. Developing a collective mindset around communication enables the stage management team to navigate environmental factors, diverse circumstances, and unclear authority structures.