STage managers

Eligibility

Only students who have stage managed a production for a school that has entered at least one show in either a participating, or associate KCACTF entry, during the Festival year, and are bona fide students in a college or university at the time of the KCACTF production response, are eligible. For the purpose of the KCACTF Stage Management Fellowship, a bona fide student is:

  • an undergraduate student* registered for at least six semester, or equivalent, quarter hours;
  • or a graduate student* registered for at least three semesters, or equivalent quarter hours;
  • or a continuing part-time student* enrolled in a regular degree, or certificate program.

*Undergraduate, graduate, and continuing part-time students must be matriculating and pursuing a degree at the time of the KCACTF official response.

THE EVENT

Students will present a stage management project comprised of materials which clearly tell the story of the process, evolution, rehearsal, and realization of the project. A team of theatre stage management respondents will serve as selection panelists and respond to the projects.

Supporting materials that have proven most useful include combinations of the following: call script, blocking notation, script analysis, actor/character breakdown, performance & production reports, checklists, calendars, rehearsal schedule, daily schedule, tech schedule, sign-in sheets, callboard materials, contact form, emergency contact form, and photos from the show. This is in no way meant to be a definitive list. Choose elements that best articulate and document the conceptual approach, process, and the production.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

DEADLINE for registering for DTM exhibit is December 18, 2023.

We are thrilled to be returning to an in-person event for Festival 56!  Students will be presenting their work as part of our Design, Technology and Management Expo.

We would also like to present student’s work digitally, to give greater opportunities for respondents and attendees to view student work A Link to work will be due January 10, 2024.  Exhibit registrants will be emailed instructions for providing the link.

For project websites, Region 2 of KCACTF provides these recommendations:

  • Create a presentation slides file with Google Slides or Microsoft PowerPoint or a presentation slides software and all presentations will be limited to 12 slides. Submit the shareable link to the digital design or project presentation submission form (The link will be available after December 18th). Please see the DTM EXPO SUBMISSION PROCESS SPECIFICS section for your reference.
  • All submissions should include: Student’s name, student’s discipline/design title, event/play/piece title with playwright’s name, and other designers/collaborators clearly labeled; A design statement somewhere in your materials; Do not include the name of your school on any of your school on your website or Expo display.
  • Clearer simpler website options are preferred.
  • The site should only contain the student’s submitted project.  Do not include any previous work.
  • Stage Managers may include work that gives a thorough presentation of the scope and complexity of the project they stage-managed.
  • If showing a call script and/or blocking notation, please include 3-4 pages as a single PDF. Choose pages that show off your strongest work.
  • A letter of intent (AKA Cover Letter) including: your name, event/play/piece title with playwright’s name, a brief statement of your view of the “stage manager’s approach” that includes the following information: a brief statement about how you approach stage management, why you wish to participate in the regional festival, and your future goals as a stage manager. Do not include the name of your school on any of your slides and try to remove as much as you can from your other documents.
  • The site should only contain the student’s submitted project.  Do not include any previous work.

Students are responsible for their own festival registrationsDTM registration, and other forms.

Each student is required to bring his or her prompt script from the entered production. The prompt script should be the genuine book(s) the student used during the actual production. It should not be beautified or improved after closing night. If the original prompt script is in digital format, a printed copy of the Prompt Script must be generated for display at the Expo.

The prompt script is not required to include ALL of the production’s paperwork; these should include, but are not limited to:

  • The “Blocking Script” and the “Calling Script”, as one or more books, with blocking and cue-calling notation.
  • Rehearsal and performance Log.
  • Schedules, including rehearsals, tech rehearsals, etc.
  • Pre-show/post-show checklists, shift schedules, French scenes, etc.
  • Forms, emails, communications, schedules, lists and plots.

All of the above materials should be the bona fide working versions, created during the actual production process. Prompt scripts will be on display as part of the regional Design Expo. Production photos that help to illustrate the show, and its challenges, may be included at the back of the prompt script, but are not required.

Materials should NOT include personal cast/crew contact information. Such information must be expunged.

Each participant in the KCACTF Stage Management Fellowship program has the opportunity to be assigned a festival event (10-minute plays, Irene Ryan Scholarship Auditions, Musical Theatre Initiative auditions and performances, Fringe productions, DTM Expo presentations, etc.) to manage, alongside the regional faculty coordinator. After you have registered for your regional festival, contact John Burgess at dtmchair@kcactf2.org for volunteer opportunities at the Festival.

During the regional festival, the participants in the KCACTF Stage Management Fellowship program must meet with the Respondent(s) in any or all of several ways, coordinated by the Regional Stage Management Coordinator:

  • A walk-through response to the stage manager’s prompt script as part of the Design Expo response process;
  • Individual Interviews;
  • A series of workshops, wherein designated stage managers are the focus of a predetermined time period, and other stage managers are encouraged to observe;

The Respondent will likely have other workshop and/or response duties in addition to their work with the Festival Stage Managers.