Calling the Show: A Backstage Conversation
Editor's Note: The following is a fictional educational interview designed to explore backstage careers in theater arts.
When the house lights dim and an audience quiets down, the actors on stage get most of the applause. Yet hidden away in the shadows or tucked inside a control booth, a stage manager works tirelessly to ensure every single performance runs like clockwork. Today, fifth-grade student reporter Maya Lin sits down with Jordan Rivera, a professional production stage manager, to find out what it really takes to manage a live theatrical show.
Maya Lin: Many people imagine theater work starts and ends on the stage. What does a stage manager actually do each day?
Jordan Rivera: It is a huge job that combines organization, clear communication, and quick thinking. Before rehearsals even begin, I build master schedules so actors, directors, and designers know exactly where to be and when. During rehearsals, I record every movement an actor makes, which we call blocking. Once the show opens to the public, the director's job is complete, and I take full control of running the performances from behind the scenes.
Maya Lin: You mentioned running the show. How do all the lights, sounds, and scenery know when to change?
- blocking:
- The precise movement and positioning of actors planned during rehearsals.
- cues:
- Signals given to trigger a specific technical action, such as a light change or sound effect.
- technicians:
- Skilled workers who operate backstage equipment, including lighting, audio, and scenery.
- monitors:
- Video screens backstage that allow the crew to watch the live stage action.
- improvise:
- To invent dialogue or actions spontaneously without a rehearsed script.
- collaboratively:
- Working cooperatively together with a team toward a shared goal.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1What is the main role of a stage manager once a theatrical show opens to the public?
- 2How does Jordan Rivera define what a 'cue' is in theater?
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About this interview / q&a passage for 5th Grade
“Calling the Show: A Backstage Conversation” is a interview / q&a reading passage about theater stage management, written for 5th Grade. It takes about 4 minutes to read (591 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.