stage manager

American  

noun

• stage managers
  plural

1. a person responsible for the technical details of a theatrical production, assisting the director during rehearsal, supervising the lighting, costuming, setting, prompting, etc., and assuming full responsibility for the stage during a performance of a play.

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stage manager British  

noun

1. a person who supervises the stage arrangements of a theatrical production

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• stage managership
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• stage managers
  plural

Etymology

Origin of stage manager

First recorded in 1810–20

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

stage manager

By the early 1970s, my sister Adele was a stage manager at the Theater for the New City.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

In 1967, he met Mary Tyler Moore while serving as an assistant stage manager for a production of “Holly Golightly,” which turned out to be a flop.

From Salon ● Jun. 20, 2026

He worked years as a stage manager with his father, a playwright and director, assisting on shows such as “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” starring Moore and Richard Chamberlain.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 19, 2026

He’s been a studio sound engineer, a studio manager, a stage manager, a drum tech and a crew chief.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 8, 2026

I slip on one shimmering ruby shoe and, tugging on the other one, hop over to the control panel, where the stage manager is calling cues into her headset.

From "Shine!" by J.J. and Chris Grabenstein