Stage management is the essential practice of organizing and coordinating theatrical productions, with a stage manager or team overseeing rehearsals and ensuring smooth execution by managing communications among various production teams. While the specific title "stage manager" emerged in 18th-century England, the role's core functions date back to Ancient Greece, where playwrights like Sophocles often managed their own productions. Over centuries, specialized positions evolved, with "bookkeepers" in Elizabethan theatre handling scripts, cues, and licenses, and "prompters" assisting performers with lines.
The 18th century marked a significant shift as a dedicated individual, distinct from actors or playwrights, was first hired to manage the stage. As theatre grew increasingly complex with advancements like mechanized scenery and controlled lighting, the broad management role eventually split into the separate, specialized positions of director and stage manager. This demanding job requires considerable skill, a challenge vividly illustrated by writer and director Preston Sturges's early experiences as an assistant stage manager.