Hello! I'm a theatre teacher who's teaching tech to kids for the first time - as a long-time actor and someone who got thrust into the job of director/producer, sometimes I feel like I'm not sure how to teach my kids how to do all these tech jobs! I have one amazing student who is chomping at the bit to stage manage, and I've invited her to be an ASM with an SM who was never trained by the previous teacher on how to do the job. What's the best advice or resource I could point either kiddo to?
oh my gosh what a wonderful challenge! Theatre teachers are so important and you're awesome for doing everything you do.
I've gotten questions like this before and it's prompted me to pull together a book list of books that I personally recommend. It's mostly stage management books, with some that are more about tech and design and general theatre history, since that's good to know too. It's here.
But honestly books are such a small part of how most SMs learn. Work and example is a lot of it. If you can, reach out to local theatre companies big and small, they've all got stage managers and I'm willing to bet most of them would be totally flattered that someone is interested in what they do and would be open to letting them shadow them at the theatre or at least chat with them over coffee. I know I would. Also see if they or any local colleges with a summer stock do internships for high school students...the two direct reasons I became a stage manager were both internships, one with a local theatre during the school year and one with a college across the state the summer after my junior year.
The SM Network, which is as old as the internet itself, is a great resource, both with show-specific questions and with career things like BA vs BFA and internships and stuff.
And of course, the Stage Managers of Tumblr are always here if you or your students have any questions. levianity, thankyoufive, kkchai, endlessly-fascinating/lights-one-go, lifebackstageright, lipscopperwire, promptsidestory, and thegirlwithcrayons are the first to come to mind as late college/young professional SMs, and there are at least twice as many more I could add.
I wish you and your students all the best and I hope you make good work, entertain, and inspire your students and your audiences.
-Katie
