Recently, I had the pleasure of being a columnist as part of the apprentice blog for American Stage Theatre, where I am proudly the Stage Management Apprentice. I figured I would also share it on here so you all can get a glimpse of just how cool and crazy an assistant stage manager's life is, and how some of that stage magic is brought to life.

Here we go!

The Production and Stage Management Apprenticeship is something that is new to American Stage, and I am so honored to be a part of its inaugural year! I am the assistant stage manager on all six of American Stage’s mainstage productions. So far, each production has brought me something memorable that I wouldn’t have experienced elsewhere. I also get the opportunity to be immersed in many production elements of each show. So, what does a day in the life of a stage management apprentice look like? Let’s dive in.

Most of my duties center around what a typical assistant stage manager would do. There’s a week before the first rehearsal, known as prep week, where I get to help the stage manager tape out the rehearsal space, prep actor scripts, outline paperwork, and get dressing room spaces ready. To better understand what prep week is, think of the weeks leading up to Christmas.

You wrap presents, put the tree up, and bake cookies for the special night. When it finally arrives, it’s a joyous occasion, and totally worth all of the prep. The joyous occasion in this metaphor is, of course, the rehearsal period. During rehearsal, I am responsible for creating the blocking script. This means that I am keeping track of the actors’ every move and interaction within the play.

I also sometimes serve as an actor stand-in when a particular actor is absent, and provide actors with line notes at the end of a rehearsal run. During rehearsals, I start keeping track of entrances and exits, costume changes, and major scene shifts to make tech week run smoother. When it comes time for tech week and the actual run of the show, my role becomes the deckhead, which means I am responsible for all transitions and changes within the show.

Those scene shifts and changes that I took note of in rehearsal are transferred to a piece of paperwork known as a deck sheet, which assigns crew members to certain tasks to perform during the show in order to make sure the transitions run smooth and are properly executed. This is probably the most tedious piece of paperwork I make during the show because it changes so often depending on what happens within the show.

My duties during the run of the show usually revolve around making sure actors are in places at all times, aiding in major scene shifts, and sometimes, performing crucial duties that pertain to the show. That’s my favorite part of the job because it breaks the stereotype that assistant stage managers are never seen because they’re always backstage. For example, during "THE ROYALE", I was the honorary percussionist, meaning during Round Six of the show, I was playing the drums backstage to aid in the action. In" MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING", I get to wear a comfy dress, aid in major transitions and take care of a rooster named Prospero. There’s never a dull moment at American Stage, to say the least.

The cool thing about my apprenticeship is that I have the ability to be immersed in other parts of theatre. I help during strike (taking down the previous show’s set) and load in (building the new show’s set), I sometimes get to paint and help with props, and I get to work with lighting calls. My favorite (and most unique) lighting call was for "THE ROYALE". Those individual lights on the center walls were made in part by me running around the grid with wire that connected the clip light on the wall to the dimmer in the grid. I love being able to do many things during my time here because it allows me to still do the things that made me fall in love with technical theatre in the first place, all while letting me pursue my passion in stage management. It’s truly the best of both worlds, all “Hannah Montana” puns intended.

The best part of my job is not the fact that I’m living my dream, or the fact that I get to work in various parts of theatre. The best part of my job is the people that I’ve met along the way. Being an assistant stage manager allows you to be exposed to so many theatre professionals, be it actors or designers. Everyone I’ve met treats you like family, which totally coincides with everyone at American Stage. Here, I don’t feel like I’m going to work, I feel like I’m going to a family member’s house for a few hours, and honestly, that’s how work should be anyway, right?

So the next time you find yourself in the audience at American Stage, keep your eyes peeled. You never know, you might see your friendly Production and Stage Management Apprentice in disguise.