Stage Manager Resume Example & Writing Guide
- What should your stage manager resume include?
- How can you create a professional summary?
- How should you describe your work experience as a stage manager?
- Include a fitting stage manager resume education and certifications section
- Which key skills are relevant for a stage manager resume?
- How to select the most impactful stage manager resume template
- Key takeaways for writing a stage manager resume
A stage manager makes a production run smoothly from the first rehearsal to the final performance. A well-written resume can highlight your experience with running stage productions and your event management skills. Knowing how to write a professional resume can help you land your next role on a stage crew.
A stage manager makes a production run smoothly from the first rehearsal to the final performance. A well-written resume can highlight your experience with running stage productions and your event management skills. Knowing how to write a professional resume can help you land your next role on a stage crew.
Our example and guide will show you how to prepare a stage manager resume. We’ll cover:
What information to include on your resume
How to describe your core strengths, experience, and education
The top skills to list on your resume
The right resume format to use
What should your stage manager resume include?
Your stage manager resume should reflect your ability to manage the day-to-day operations of a production, whether you work in theater, dance, or live music. It should include essential details about your stage management experience and your knowledge of the performing arts.
Your stage manager resume should have the following sections:
A resume header with your contact information
A resume summary
An employment history section
A skills section
An education section
How can you create a professional summary?
At the top of your resume, a professional summary tells a hiring manager why they should hire you as a stage manager for their production or company. Typically, a summary provides a brief overview of your experience with live events and your core strengths related to the technical aspects of a production.
In a few sentences, your resume summary should describe the value you can bring to a stage crew. For example, you can emphasize your ability to anticipate a director’s needs or your experience working with different departments.
Highly organized theater professional skilled in overseeing all aspects of stage production and theatrical performance. Well versed in collaborating with directors, designers, and performers to ensure a smooth production. Able to create and maintain detailed schedules for rehearsals and performances, supervise backstage areas, and ensure that props, costumes, and set pieces are in their proper places. Effective communicator with ability to issue clear instructions to the production team while troubleshooting any technical issues that may arise during rehearsals or performances. Dedicated to maintaining a safe working environment for all cast and crew members.
Expert Tip
Highlight your areas of expertise
A stage manager has a diverse role on a production, and they manage a variety of tasks. You can convey your strengths by adding a bulleted list of your areas of expertise underneath your summary. Consider categorizing this list with titles above each column, like we’ve done in the example, to make it easy for a hiring manager to scan.
How should you describe your work experience as a stage manager?
In your work experience section, describe the work you’ve done with other theater companies, productions, or events. Include specific details about your past roles on stage crews and your contributions to successful productions.
List your work experience in reverse-chronological order. Provide your job title, employment dates, and the company’s name. If you worked as a freelancer on multiple projects, you can include this experience as one job on your resume. In bullet points, include the names of the productions you worked on or the events you managed.
A stage manager often serves multiple roles in a company or organization. In this case, include both job titles on your resume and describe your duties in each position using separate paragraphs, as we’ve shown in the example. This way, you can explain the scope of your role to a hiring manager.
If you have older work experience that’s not directly relevant to a stage manager role, you can include those jobs in a separate section for additional work experience. This format makes the hiring manager aware of your other work experience. It can also provide potential talking points during an interview.
Stage Manager & Marketing Director at McLaughlin Studios & Theater Co., Loomis, CA 2021 - 2023
As Stage Manager, supported directors, actors, stage crew, costume designers, choreographers, makeup artists, set builders, and technicians to meet performance and production needs.
Scheduled and facilitated rehearsals, created production packets for all members, acquired necessary props and supplies, coordinated costume designers and makeup artists, and maintained venue cleanliness and safety. Readied younger cast members for curtain call.
As Marketing Director, oversaw development and production of compelling marketing materials to promote theater performances and sell tickets.
Utilized Constant Contact and social media to promote performances, sell Playbill ad space, and initiate both corporate and community partnerships.
In dual roles, provided seamless logistical, organizational, administrative, and marketing support to deliver highly successful theatrical experiences.
Orchestrated the theater company’s largest production to date, raising over $1,500.
Senior Creative Producer at Freelance Event Planning, New York/Canada/Hawaii 2017 - 2021
Produced stylish events for diverse, high-end clients. Designed sophisticated menus and prepared event proposals in line with clients' varying needs, schedules, and budgets.
Liaised with clients, vendors, caterers, and event staff to meet contractual obligations.
Produced digital design decks, revisions, and final event look and feel.
Generated 20% in extra revenue in one design project by avoiding rush fees.
Organized Bloomberg Company Picnic in New York City, spending only $8K of a generous $60K budget.
Clients included Tiffany & Co., Bank of Hawaii, Queen Kapiolani Hotel, CNN, Tastemade, Moet Hennessy, Laudurée Maison NYC, and Angel Salazar Design.
Include a fitting stage manager resume education and certifications section
In most cases, a hiring manager will care more about your production experience than your education. However, you should still include your education on your resume to show you meet the requirements for the role. It can also be beneficial to include your education if you went to a well-known performing arts school or graduated with a relevant degree, such as theater studies.
Provide the full name of your academic degree or diploma and the school where you received it. If you have multiple degrees, list them in reverse-chronological order.
While there are few relevant certifications for stage managers, some roles may require you to have first aid training, a driver’s license, or similar credentials. You can include this information below your formal education.
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theater at Emerson College, Boston, MA
Concentration in Leadership & Management
Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts at Sierra College, Rocklin, CA
Which key skills are relevant for a stage manager resume?
A hiring manager will review your resume to see whether you have the right skills for the role. A stage manager needs to be familiar with event management and know how to manage technical parts of a production, such as calling cues.
When creating your skills section, review the job description closely to determine other skills an employer has deemed useful for the position. If you have similar skills to those listed in the job description, include them on your resume. Adding the same keywords or phrases can help your resume rank highly if an employer uses an applicant tracking system (ATS) to scan resumes. (For more information on how to master the ATS, check out our guide on resume ATS optimization.)
While the top skills for a stage manager can vary, some skills to consider adding to your resume include:
Stage and theater management
Production planning
Ticket operations
Scheduling
Calling cues
Budget management
Collaboration
Stage & Theater Management
Client Relations
Budget Control & Funding
Planning & Production
Contract Negotiations
Vendor Management
Ticket Operations
Budget Control & Funding
Data Analytics & Reporting
Regulatory Compliance
How to select the most impactful stage manager resume template
A hiring manager will review your resume quickly, so make sure you keep it simple and streamlined. Use a well-structured format with sections for your summary, experience, education, and skills. Bold each section header in a large font so a hiring manager can easily look for your top qualifications.
Unless you have many years of experience, keep your resume to one page. You don’t need to list every production you’ve worked on, as long as you provide a broad overview of your professional experience.
If you’re unsure how to format your stage manager resume, use our resume builder to create a resume with a customizable template. You can also get more inspiration with over 100 resume examples we have available.
Summary example
Highly organized theater professional skilled in overseeing all aspects of stage production and theatrical performance. Well versed in collaborating with directors, designers, and performers to ensure a smooth production. Able to create and maintain detailed schedules for rehearsals and performances, supervise backstage areas, and ensure that props, costumes, and set pieces are in their proper places. Effective communicator with ability to issue clear instructions to the production team while troubleshooting any technical issues that may arise during rehearsals or performances. Dedicated to maintaining a safe working environment for all cast and crew members.
Employment history example
Stage Manager & Marketing Director at McLaughlin Studios & Theater Co., Loomis, CA 2021 - 2023
As Stage Manager, supported directors, actors, stage crew, costume designers, choreographers, makeup artists, set builders, and technicians to meet performance and production needs.
Scheduled and facilitated rehearsals, created production packets for all members, acquired necessary props and supplies, coordinated costume designers and makeup artists, and maintained venue cleanliness and safety. Readied younger cast members for curtain call.
As Marketing Director, oversaw development and production of compelling marketing materials to promote theater performances and sell tickets.
Utilized Constant Contact and social media to promote performances, sell Playbill ad space, and initiate both corporate and community partnerships.
In dual roles, provided seamless logistical, organizational, administrative, and marketing support to deliver highly successful theatrical experiences.
Orchestrated the theater company’s largest production to date, raising over $1,500.
Senior Creative Producer at Freelance Event Planning, New York/Canada/Hawaii 2017 - 2021
Produced stylish events for diverse, high-end clients. Designed sophisticated menus and prepared event proposals in line with clients' varying needs, schedules, and budgets.
Liaised with clients, vendors, caterers, and event staff to meet contractual obligations.
Produced digital design decks, revisions, and final event look and feel.
Generated 20% in extra revenue in one design project by avoiding rush fees.
Organized Bloomberg Company Picnic in New York City, spending only $8K of a generous $60K budget.
Clients included Tiffany & Co., Bank of Hawaii, Queen Kapiolani Hotel, CNN, Tastemade, Moet Hennessy, Laudurée Maison NYC, and Angel Salazar Design.
Education example
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theater at Emerson College, Boston, MA
Concentration in Leadership & Management
Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts at Sierra College, Rocklin, CA
Skills example
Stage & Theater Management
Client Relations
Budget Control & Funding
Planning & Production
Contract Negotiations
Vendor Management
Ticket Operations
Budget Control & Funding
Data Analytics & Reporting
Regulatory Compliance
Key takeaways for writing a stage manager resume
A stage manager resume should include information about your previous production experience, your technical skills, and your education.
Use keywords throughout your resume, like “theater management” and “production planning,” to ensure your resume ranks highly when scanned by an applicant tracking system.
Keep your resume simple and professional, so a director or hiring manager can focus on reviewing your qualifications.
