ABSTRACT
Communication is one of the foundations of a stage manager’s work. The methods by which stage managers offer intentional and well-framed communication practices, contributes to identifying the needs and the requirements of the production. This chapter includes multiple approaches to communication including listening, speaking, writing, and working with body language. Intentional communication skills and strategic choices and the benefits of direct communication are explored in service to the overall needs of the production. Tangible and tactile practices are offered as a way to explore authenticity, boundaries, conflict navigation, and identifying defaults. Developing a collective mindset around communication enables the stage management team to navigate environmental factors, diverse circumstances, and unclear authority structures.
