16.3 Creating an Effective Resume and Portfolio

Stage management resumes and portfolios are crucial tools for showcasing your skills and experience. A well-crafted resume highlights your education, professional experience, and technical proficiencies, while a comprehensive portfolio demonstrates your organizational abilities and attention to detail.

Tailoring your application materials to specific opportunities is key. Research the company or production, customize your objective statement, and strategically select portfolio samples that align with job requirements. Continuously updating and refining your materials ensures they remain current and relevant in the competitive theater industry.

Crafting a Stage Management Resume

Components of stage management resumes

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• Contact information includes name, phone number, email address, and location
• Objective or summary statement briefly outlines career goals and highlights key qualifications (3-4 sentences)
• Education section lists degrees earned, institutions attended, and relevant coursework (stage management, technical theater)
• Professional experience details stage management roles held, productions worked on, and responsibilities undertaken (rehearsal management, performance running)
• Skills and certifications showcase technical proficiencies (Qlab, AutoCAD), soft skills (leadership, adaptability), and industry certifications (OSHA, CPR)

Highlighting relevant experience and skills

• Prioritize relevant stage management experience by listing productions, roles, and responsibilities in reverse chronological order
  • Include notable achievements (successfully managed a large-scale musical) or challenges overcome (adapted to last-minute cast changes)
• Emphasize transferable skills that are valuable in stage management
  • Communication and collaboration skills demonstrate ability to work effectively with directors, designers, and performers
  • Problem-solving and adaptability skills highlight capacity to handle unexpected challenges and find creative solutions
  • Attention to detail and organization skills underscore ability to manage complex schedules, paperwork, and resources
• Quantify achievements when possible to provide concrete evidence of impact
  • Number of productions managed (coordinated 5 productions in a single season)
  • Size of teams coordinated (led a team of 12 crew members)
  • Budget or resource management (managed a props budget of $5,000)

Developing a Stage Management Portfolio

Curating a stage management portfolio

• Essential elements of a stage management portfolio provide a comprehensive overview of work
  • Table of contents allows for easy navigation and organization
  • Prompt books showcase ability to create detailed scripts
    • Annotated scripts include blocking, cues, and notes for each scene
    • Blocking and cue notes demonstrate understanding of staging and technical elements
  • Production schedules and calendars highlight planning and time management skills
  • Contact sheets and cast lists illustrate communication and organization abilities
  • Production photos and designs provide visual examples of past work (set designs, rehearsal shots)
• Digital and physical portfolio formats offer flexibility for different situations
  • Create a well-organized digital portfolio in PDF format or as a website for easy sharing and accessibility
  • Maintain a physical portfolio with printed materials for in-person interviews and meetings

Tailoring resumes for specific applications

• Research the company or production to tailor application materials
  • Understand their style (classical theater, experimental works), mission (community engagement, educational programs), and current projects
  • Identify key skills and experiences they may value (multicultural competency, youth theater experience)
• Customize the objective or summary statement to align with the position
  • Highlight relevant qualifications (extensive experience in musical theater) and career goals (seeking to contribute to innovative productions)
  • Demonstrate enthusiasm for the specific opportunity (passionate about the company's commitment to new works)
• Select portfolio samples strategically based on job requirements and company focus
  • Choose projects that align with the job requirements (showcasing experience in stage managing large-scale musicals for a musical theater company)
  • Showcase a diverse range of skills and experiences (including both classical and contemporary works in portfolio)
• Continuously update and refine materials to keep them current and relevant
  • Add recent projects and achievements (stage managed a critically acclaimed world premiere)
  • Remove outdated or less relevant information (college productions from several years ago)