Hey Triston - In reference to your question about what it takes to be a stage manager, it's one of those roles that evolves with the particulars of the show. In some cases you've got specific blackout cues and set/prop changes to make sure happen during the show, other times like with a reading, you just provide overall managerial coverage and a set of eyes in case anything goes wrong. If a chair or prop goes missing, make sure another is in place on time, water bottles, band aids, someone they can tell about a problem who they believe, doors locked or unlocked as they're supposed to be, lights and sound tested, if it's a reading: people staying quiet in the hall, lights set up, ac on or off, if its a full show: people not peeking around the curtain, actors in place to start the show, all walkies checked with batteries, flashlights gelled if in use, electricals are plugged in and ready to go, fog machine juiced, flash pots at the ready, pint of cheap vodka wretched from the hands of someone who shouldn't be having it, whatever. Basically being "the stage manager" means if someone drops the ball, you pick it up as the person people expect to know A. why it's happening and B. who will fix it when (often it's quicker if it's you fixing it, but headsets are invaluable and always in short supply so make sure you get one if you have other stage hands you're working with - also useful to have someone positioned back with the actors for walkie updates). It's not particularly awe inspiring to be a glorified grunt, but in the trenches you will learn an incredible amount very quickly about how to run a show, and you get to take pride in a show well done with a full view of what's going on. Have fun =)