Theatre Design & Technology - Fall 2021 - 29

veteran Broadway stage managers and
early career stage managers alike have
taken courses, received certificates,
and been hired to work as COVID-19
safety supervisors, another term for
CCOs. However, there is too much
work required to combine the CCO and
stage manager roles into a single job.
Combining them will only compromise
both positions. Our process is served
best when stage managers can be stage
managers. Working with a COVID-19
safety supervisor ensures company
safety, and allows the stage manager to
focus on their duties to manage the production
process.
Employers must hire a separate
new people-centered processes and
a more equitable future, " says Chaira
Klien, artistic producing director of
Baltimore Center Stage.
Shea King
from Columbia Basin College adds, " I
can say with confidence that it has reinvigorated
my spirit. The tech process
is just as energetic and enjoyable as
the five-day rehearsal weeks due to the
healthy conditions and efforts to respect
everyone's time. "
As makers and managers of the
COVID-19 safety supervisor, and stage
managers, union and non-union alike,
should support this need. Stage managers
will always keep a look out for health
and safety, but in this new era, stage
managers need to be clear about their
need to collaborate with a COVID-19
safety supervisor to ensure they can
stage manage effectively. In fact, the
USITT reopening guidelines are quite
explicit in this regard, stating: " The
Health and Safety Coordinator (HSC)
will work with stage management and
producers to adhere, implement, and
oversee the production's overall health
and safety plans. The HSC is not a
stage manager and does not perform
any stage management tasks. "
If a stage manager is tasked with
COVID-19 health and safety duties, it
puts them in a difficult position with the
creative team they are supporting, and
both jobs will suffer. The separation of
duties will provide the best adherence
to safety protocols and allow stage managers
to do their best job managing the
production process.
COVID-19, however, isn't the only
health concern that stage managers
will face in this new era. Awareness
and understanding of mental health issues
have moved to center stage as well,
particularly mental health challenges of
the 10 out of 12 rehearsal days and the
6-day work week.
We've seen a rise in the movement
to end the practice of 10 out of 12s (10
hours of rehearsal in a 12-hour span),
which are incredibly draining on a company,
both mentally and physically. The
website,
nomore10outof12s.com
describes
them this way: " A 10 out of 12
Black Theatre United held a summit and worked for six
months with representatives from across the theatre
industry to create this document which outlines
commitments to create more equitable, diverse,
inclusive, and accessible theatre. Read the document
here at: https://www.blacktheatreunited.com/newdeal/
day
is not just a 12-hour day for most
theatre workers. For designers, technicians,
stage managers, and other theatre
workers, it can easily be a 16-hour
day or longer. " In addition, a growing
chorus is advocating to move toward a
five-day work week, instead of the more
typical six-day week, to alleviate mental
health, safety, and quality of life issues.
" When we release ourselves from
10/12-the-show-must-go-on mentality,
we gain the opportunity to build
the
schedule, stage managers are in a position
to propose changes to the old
ways of scheduling and promote better
practices. Options like those mentioned
here support mental health and safety
and focus, not on the number of hours
rehearsed, but the quality of the time
spent in rehearsals. By demonstrating
to directors and producers the value
to both the production and the people,
stage managers can advocate for these
positive changes.
The use of sick days is another
health and safety issue to address. Sick
days have typically always been used for
physical ailments, so the way a stage
manager responds if someone calls out,
citing the need for a " mental health day "
instead of a typical " sick day, " can greatly
affect a company. A compassionate
response will go a long way to maintain
the positive and safe work environment
we value.
The next challenge may be the most
difficult for stage managers-caring for
our own mental health. Maintaining
work/life balance is something many
The May 2021 Broadway Stage Management Symposium featured a panel of stage managers and social
workers focused on the mental health of stage managers.
FALL 2021 | THEATRE DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY | 29

https://www.blacktheatreunited.com/new-deal/ https://www.blacktheatreunited.com/new-deal/ http://www.nomore10outof12s.com

Theatre Design & Technology - Fall 2021

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