[The Stage Manager's Toolkit] provides an articulate and detailed guide through the stage management of a traditional theatrical production, complete with useful paperwork samples and up-to-date considerations of technology. [It] is a welcome addition to the small cannon of stage-management texts, building on previous works while providing a unique focus on the early career experience and the systematic development of strong communication skills.
This book will be beneficial to student stage managers engaged in production work and would make an excellent resource for introductory stage-management courses and early career professionals working without access to a full-time advisor...There is enough information in this book to support a novice through the basics of stage managing a full production. Additionally, The Stage Manager's Toolkit provides a good overview of stage management for interested nonspecialist staff and faculty members who teach or supervise young stage managers. No single book can ever completely encompass the possible permutations and idiosyncrasies of production that a stage manager navigates on a regular basis. Stage-management training requires practical experience working on productions. Theatre will always be a live and collaborative art; we all learn how to do it from one another, face-to-face, and in real time. But a guide such as Kincman's is a particularly accessible and supportive resource for novices to consult along the way. Jenny Slattery, Professional Stage Manager, Theatre Topics
''This aptly named toolkit is not just a how-to book on stage management. Kincman effectively draws on communication theory and practical experience to address effective organizational and communication strategies in the day-to-day duties of the stage manager in academic and professional venues. The text is concise in its survey of the stage manager's tasks - from preproduction to initial meetings with the director and staff, to auditions, rehearsals, previews, and opening night through to the final performance....Summing Up: Recommended.' R.A. Naversen, CHOICE
Kincman leads you through the process from preproduction to performance, providing examples of challenges you may be presented, forms you can use, and useful insights from her experience as a professional stage manager and educator...One standout strength of Toolkit is its wealth of great examples of forms. High school and college stage managers often create all their paperwork from scratch, so having these templates is very helpful. From rehearsal reports to scene-shift plots, blocking notation guides to run sheets and cue lists, Kincman describes how each works and why each is used...Another highlight is the beginning of this book, where Kincman discusses communication. I love that Toolkit starts with communication. It is the base of everything I do as a stage manager and effective collaborator...this book gives you exactly what you need to better understand the role of a stage manager. Don Corathers, Dramatics
Like an air traffic controller, the stage manager must juggle multiple responsibilities and communicate quickly and clearly. That's the idea behind Laurie Kincman's exceptional book...Kincman covers pre-production work, rehearsals, the tech period, performances and post-production duties. To this she adds strategies for sharing information in person, in writing and online, as well as customizable paperwork templates (via the book's accompanying website), and tips on improving the effectiveness and accessibility of essential reports, charts, and lists. Stephen Peithman, Stage Directions
Stage managing can be an overwhelming job, so all the better to have techniques to tame it. This toolkit not only gives you the tools to do the job, but also illustrates exactly how to use them to become a proficient stage manager. Linda Apperson, Theatre Design & Technology
This toolkit not only gives you the tools to do the job, but also illustrates exactly how to use them to become a proficient stage manager...It would be appropriate for undergraduates who have some experience stage managing and could certainly be useful as a text book. It would also be very helpful for an early career stage manager. - Linda Apperson, Theatre Design & Technology
