Live Theater Show Day Checklist for Stage Managers and Crew
Holiday productions, from pantomimes to seasonal classics, fill theaters from late November into January, often with long runs and two shows a day. Every performance depends on the same routine being done exactly the same way: props in place, cues checked, the stage safe, the house ready. Stage managers live by checklists for good reason.
Crew Call
- Sign in all crew and cast according to call times
- Unlock and check fire exits, exit lights and emergency lighting
- Check the stage for hazards: loose cables, spike marks, debris
- Check fly system, rigging and any moving scenery according to your procedures
Technical Checks
- Lighting check: run through each fixture and key states
- Sound check: microphones, playback, monitors, comms headsets
- Check special effects, haze and pyrotechnics only by trained staff and as permitted
- Check projectors and screens
Props and Scenery
- Preset all props on tables, labelled by scene
- Check breakable or consumable props are replaced
- Preset scenery for the top of the show
- Check quick-change areas are set and lit
Front of House
- Clean and check the auditorium, foyer and toilets
- Check accessible seating and routes
- Brief ushers on house rules, late seating and evacuation routes
- Confirm the house opening time with the stage manager
Half Hour and Beginners
- Call half hour, quarter and beginners on time
- Confirm all cast and crew are present
- Final stage safety check before the house opens
During the Show
- Run the show from the prompt book
- Log timings, cue issues and any incidents
- Keep wings and crossovers clear
Post-Show
- Reset props and scenery for the next performance
- Collect and secure valuables and props
- Turn off equipment in the correct order
- Write the show report: timings, issues, repairs, notes for the director
- Lock up and check exits are secure
For a related live-event routine, see the music venue show night checklist, and the place of worship weekend service checklist covers a similar weekly rhythm.
How MyTeamTasks Helps
A long holiday run is many identical show days in a row, which is exactly when steps get skipped. In MyTeamTasks, crew call, presets and post-show resets are checklists for each performance, the show report notes can be text tasks, and the production manager can see whether every check was done before beginners were called.
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