Stage Manager Resume Examples & Format

Stage Manager resume examples by experience level

All three samples are illustrative: the people, employers and every figure are made up.

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What does a stage manager do?

In the US, stage managers work in regional and touring theatre, Broadway and off-Broadway, opera, dance, theme parks, cruise lines and corporate live events. Professional stage managers can join Actors' Equity, the US union for actors and stage managers, and many theatre job ads ask whether you are an Equity member. A stage manager resume lists productions, venues and your role on each, then shows scale: cast and crew size, cue counts and performances called.

Stage Manager duties to put on a resume

• Schedule and run rehearsals, and record blocking and cues in the prompt book.
• Write rehearsal and performance reports for the director and design team.
• Coordinate the cast, crew, designers and venue staff.
• Call light, sound, fly and scenery cues during performances.
• Keep the show as directed after opening and run understudy rehearsals.
• Keep the backstage area safe and handle emergencies during a show.

Best resume format for a stage manager

• Use a credits section: production, venue or company, your role, year.
• Give scale for each show: cast and crew size, cue count, performances.
• Keep theatre and live events credits in separate groups if you have both.

The section order and what goes in each are on the how to write a resume guide; the resume format guide covers every format by type and country.

Summary examples by level

• Entry-level: Stage management graduate with 9 credits who called 160 cues over 10 performances and keeps a clean prompt book and next-morning reports.
• Mid-level: Equity production stage manager with 34 productions and up to 420 cues a show, who opened every show on its first scheduled preview.
• Senior: Head of stage management leading 6 stage managers and crews of 80, who called 3 televised award shows with zero timing overruns.

Work experience bullet points

• Called up to 420 light, sound and fly cues a performance across 11 musicals.
• Ran 1,100 performances with no curtain held more than 5 minutes.
• Wrote daily rehearsal reports for 9 department heads across 6-week rehearsal periods.
• Led tech rehearsals for crews of up to 30 and opened every show on its first scheduled preview.
• Managed load-in and load-out in under 3 hours in 140 tour cities.
• Scheduled rehearsals for casts of up to 28 within union break and hour rules.
• Called 3 televised award shows with zero timing overruns.

Key skills to list

Hard skills: Prompt book and blocking notation, Cue calling, Rehearsal and performance reports, Rehearsal scheduling, Tech rehearsals, Show control software such as QLab, Reading ground plans and paperwork, Crew and cast supervision, Touring and load-in logistics, Backstage safety and first aid.

Soft skills: Calm under pressure, Diplomacy, Clear communication, Attention to detail, Time management.

Education and certifications

• Many stage managers hold a B.A. or B.F.A. in theatre or stage management, but credits matter most; check the job ad for what it asks.
• List Actors' Equity membership if you hold it, since many theatre ads ask for it.
• Add first aid, CPR or other safety training if you hold it.

Sources

Checked on 5 October 2026.

• Actors' Equity Association: About Equity (the US union representing professional actors and stage managers)