The world has changed. A global pandemic, the rise of Black Lives Matter and social justice movements, and the intensifying climate crisis have altered how we live and work. This includes the theatrical industry. These changes, however, have been happening while theaters have been closed. It’s been an opportunity for us to reflect and look critically at our own industry. As live performance returns, it is crucial that theatre makers address how these issues affect our process of theatre making. We are re-opening in a new era, it’s not the world of 2019, this is 2021.

By Matthew Stern at Broadway Stage Management Symposium.

During 2020, we experienced historical challenges that cannot be understated. A global pandemic, intense political division, a rising social justice movement, and the closing of theaters across the country, have made 2020 the most taxing and difficult year I have ever known. As I look back over the grueling months of shutdown, this cock-eyed optimist sees some positive takeaways. So here’s the top 10 lessons from 2020 about stage management and theatre. 

When we start looking at “re-opening” our economy, there is a lot to unpack and figure out. When you look specifically at show business, it gets even more complicated. We work in an environment that requires close contact, touching, even kissing. We share tight quarters, eat, drink, and sometimes live together (anyone ever do a bus and truck tour?).

There are many front of house issues that need to be addressed, but as a stage manager, I’ve been ruminating on what adjustments we may need to make behind the curtain in order to re-open in a responsible and functional way which is no easy task!

The ten items below are food for thought. It's not a top ten list, but rather, ten ideas for how we can return to work in the theatre in the COVID era. I’m not a healthcare professional, but as a stage manager, these ten ideas are top of mind to care for our company and get the best show possible onstage every night.

Let’s dive in and see what COVID life backstage could look like:

"As a stage manager, your main job is to achieve the impossible." Author and experienced stage manager, Liam Klenk shares insights on how to maintain calmness and balance in a challenging environment. 

This week we hand the blog over to internationally-acclaimed VJ Spetto, founder of United VJs, who reflects on life before and after a pandemic, with a candid look at the downsides and (unexpected) upsides of life in lockdown.

Additive color mixing, Newton's Theory of Color, subtractive mixing, CMY fixtures… Las Vegas-based lighting designer and technical manager Michael Cassera examines the theory behind color and light.

Sound engineer Arica Rust takes a look at some of the challenges in the world of live audio and discusses the value of a scientific approach to system optimization to create the ultimate sound experience. 

During this difficult time due to the coronavirus outbreak, many people are turning to podcasts in order to find alternative forms of entertainment. In this blog, regular broadcaster and audio tech aficionado, Nevil Bounds, explains why it has never been easier to create your own podcast and on an economical scale.

As a media server operator and content manager, John Mims, J3Consulting.org, is the go-to guy for leading producers and brands in the US. In this blog, he looks at the role of the operator, and offers practical advice to ensure your next show runs even more smoothly. 

Have you been there? Done an event that starts at 6 am but doesn’t end until 3 or 4 am. Afterward, you go home, get some sleep, but you still have to get up at a reasonable time to function that day? Then you wake up feeling like you spent the night drinking way too much?

I call this the event hangover. It’s close to the same feeling as a hangover, but you missed the entire section of the night that was enjoying a few drinks and hanging out with friends.  There’s the headache, body aches, your feet hurt, and you don’t exactly remember what time you got home. Does any of this sound familiar?

As I do more and more shows each month with hours like this, I strive to avoid the event hangover as much as I can. Here are the tips and tricks I have found that help me avoid feeling terrible after a long event.

By Heather Holm writing for SoundGirls.org