Stage managers

During a performance, the stage manager's desk is the command control. Without the stage manager nothing can happen on the stage. On his or her cue artists come out to face the audience, scenery is set, lighting changes, and the curtain goes down. Everything is marked in the score. Stage managers say they have to be resistant as hippopotamuses and sensitive as butterflies. They watch over the performance as it progresses, make all of the decisions, can't forget about anything, and have to see to everything.