stage-managern.
One whose office it is to superintend the production and performance of a play, and to regulate the arrangements of the stage. In modern usage, restricted to mean: one who is in charge of the technical side of a production (see quot. 1961). Also transferred and figurative.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > the theatre or the stage > the staging of a theatrical production > people concerned with theatrical productions > [noun] > stage manager
stage director1782
stage-manager1805
regisseur1828
stage-manageress1900
1805 R. W. Elliston Let. 20 July in G. Raymond Life & Enterprises of Robert William Elliston, Comedian (1857) i. ii. 113 If to my office, as stage-manager, the term officious be applied.
1817 J. A. Williams Mem. Kemble 21 His appointment to the situation of stage manager..in 1788.
1837 T. Carlyle French Revol. I. iii. vii. 138 The world shall see one other Historical Scene; and so singular a man as Loménie de Brienne still the Stage-manager there.
1885 J. K. Jerome On Stage 35 I don't know why stage managers are always surly, but they are.
1905 G. B. Shaw Let. in Times 3 July 8/2 My language was fairly moderate considering..the respectful ignorance of the dramatic points of the score exhibited by the conductor and the stage manager—if there is such a functionary at Covent Garden.
1906 E. Dyson Fact'ry 'Ands x. 121 Every woman in an astonishing frock is at heart a stage-manager.
1961 W. P. Bowman & R. H. Ball Theatre Lang. 349 Stage manager,..the head of the production staff, who assists the stage director, during rehearsals, in technical matters.., and who, once the production opens, takes complete charge of the stage, the actors.., and the crews.
1982 S. Brett Murder Unprompted ii. 21 The Stage Manager's calming voice came over the loudspeaker, ‘Beginners, Act One, please.’
Derivatives
stage-manager v. rare. transitive to stage-manage.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > the theatre or the stage > the staging of a theatrical production > stage [verb (transitive)] > stage-manage
stage-manage1879
stage-manager1902
1902 G. B. Shaw Let. 9 Aug. (1972) II. 281 It is..very important to get the last scene well stage managered, with a big surging crowd.
stage-manageress n. a female stage-manager.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > the theatre or the stage > the staging of a theatrical production > people concerned with theatrical productions > [noun] > stage manager
stage director1782
stage-manager1805
regisseur1828
stage-manageress1900
1900 M. Beerbohm Let. 11 Dec. (1964) 138 As stage-manageress she has been absolutely intelligent and sweet and charming.
1926 E. F. Crosse Let. in Times 13 Apr. 15/5 There was no shyness and the stage manageress explained to me all details.
stage-managership n. the post of stage-manager.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > the theatre or the stage > the staging of a theatrical production > [noun] > stage management
stage direction1790
stage-management1812
stage-managership1817
1817 S. T. Coleridge Let. to J. Murray in Lett. (1895) 667 Mr. Dibdin..was likewise removed from the stage-managership.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1915; most recently modified version published online September 2019).
<
n.1805