Unit 3 ASM Task #3 Comparative Report

Research ASM duties for a Repertory Theatre, West End production and an Opera House and write a comparative report.

The basic Assistant Stage Manager (ASM) duties stay the same across all types of theatre: Repertory Theatre, West End production and Opera House. This involves setting up and assisting rehearsals, assisting the stage manager with risk assessments and mark outs. They also produce running and setting lists and assist with scene changes, sometimes even costume changes. ASMs do, however, have certain specific duties depending on the theatre.

Repertory Theatres produce their own show which tends to run between two to three weeks. The ASM has standard duties, assisting the Stage Manager with clerical work, making props lists, running and setting lists, as well as setting up and attending rehearsals, sourcing props for the show. During the Tech Week, the ASM will help with the stage management get-in, set up the wings and help with the mark out. They will assist with the fit-up, masking, focusing (walking the lights if needed) and finally plotting. Once the show is up and running, the ASM will be backstage ensuring everything runs smoothly and may assist with any complex scene changes and costume changes. After the show is finished, they will ensure the return of any hired items. The typical call for an ASM in Repertory Theatre will be from about 9h30 in the morning until about 22h, 6 days a week. Their daily activities will either involve resets for performances or rehearsals for the next show. 

In West End productions, which tend to be long running shows, the ASM will be on an annual contract. They may take on more of a marketing role and attend publicity events to promote the whole show with the team. In West End productions, ASMs are mostly in rehearsals meaning they don’t always have the time to do the propping. One thing to note with West End productions is that the team will only be full once the show is in the theatre. Therefore some ASMs will only join the team later on in the production process. Because of the endurance of a West End production, Tech Week can take up to 6 months (sometimes starting before the show is even in rehearsals). During this lengthy process, and because of the musical nature of most West End productions, the ASM has more responsibilities. Not only do they help out with the technical things such as those in a Repertory Theatre, but they must also organise band calls as well as piano stage and stage orchestra sessions. These rehearsal sessions are essential to calibrate the sound to the location but also to the performers voices. The ASM aids in the set up of these sessions as well as aiding in the communication between the Musical Director and stage management team. During showtime, the ASM assumes typical duties backstage however may have a more specific task depending on the number of ASMs hired. That is because the bigger the production, the bigger the budget and therefore more people hired. ASM calls will vary depending on what is needed of them. For resets and repairs on a show, their call would be 17h30. However, they may be called at other times if they are needed in rehearsals during the day or of course any of the marketing events they are asked to attend.

In an Opera House where there is a repertoire of two or three shows (a different one playing every night), an ASM’s contract will be more seasonal and dependent on the show. Although, each show has one specific “head” ASM while the other ASMs will work on all the shows in the Opera House. As it is a repertoire of two or three shows, rehearsals are constantly happening and therefore that is mainly where the ASM will be. Unlike West End productions, in an Opera House there is the requirement of a full time team presence simply to make the rotation of the shows coherent to everyone. Tech Week in an Opera House usually last for about two to three weeks, however the show is not onstage everyday. This means that ASMs are often busy assisting with the change over of set. Like a West End production, ASMs organise piano stage and stage orchestra sessions as well as, more specific to an Opera House, a sitzprobe. A sitzprobe, literally translated from German as a “seated rehearsal”, is essentially the first meeting between the cast and orchestra. During this rehearsal they sing a play through the show together without any staging. The sitzprobe ensures the orchestral and vocal balance. As in West End productions, the ASM aids in the set up of these sessions as well as communication between the orchestra’s conductor and the stage management team. During the Opera show, the ASM is backstage for usual roles but may also need to follow the score to give the performer their cue to go on stage. ASM calls in an Opera House are often 12h, to set up for the next show. They may be called earlier if they are in rehearsals, but this is only until the shows are opened.