--- title: Stage Production description: Stage production covers the technical and organizational aspects of bringing a theatrical performance to life. Learners will understand scenic design, lighting, sound engineering, stage management, and the collaborative workflow required to execute live theatrical events. category: music-audio subcategory: theater-and-acting difficulty: beginner, intermediate, advanced url: /subject/stage-production --- # Stage Production Stage production covers the technical and organizational aspects of bringing a theatrical performance to life. Learners will understand scenic design, lighting, sound engineering, stage management, and the collaborative workflow required to execute live theatrical events. ## Available Resources 3 Books • 1 Courses • 5 Websites ## Websites ### 1. Toastmasters International Toastmasters International's free hub of public speaking guides covering how to write, practise and deliver a speech, manage stage fright, and prepare for specific occasions such as business presentations, wedding toasts and eulogies. Suited to first-time speakers wanting practical, structured advice. **Difficulty:** Beginner | **Price:** Free **Link:** https://www.toastmasters.org/resources/public-speaking-tips **Tags:** public-speaking, speech-delivery, stage-fright, speechwriting ### 2. HowlRound Open-access journal and livestream platform from a non-profit theatre commons, publishing essays by working theatremakers on production practice, labour conditions, and equity in the field. Useful for tracking current debates in non-profit theatre. **Difficulty:** Beginner | **Price:** Free **Link:** https://howlround.com/ **Tags:** theatre, performing-arts, production-practice, theatre-criticism, essays ### 3. Theatre Crafts A UK reference site for technical theatre, with a searchable glossary of backstage terminology, topic guides on lighting, sound, rigging and stage machinery, and an archive of historic shows and venues. Useful for decoding jargon encountered backstage. **Difficulty:** Beginner | **Price:** Free **Link:** https://www.theatrecrafts.com/ **Tags:** technical-theatre, stagecraft, lighting, rigging, glossary ### 4. usitt.org USITT (United States Institute for Theatre Technology) is a professional association for theatre designers, technicians, and educators that provides education, standards, publications, resources, and events to support stage production. **Difficulty:** Intermediate | **Language:** English | **Price:** Free **Link:** https://usitt.org **Tags:** websites, arts-design, creative-arts ### 5. stagemilk.com StageMilk is an acting resource hub offering tutorials, tips, and articles on technique, audition preparation, monologues, and scene work. **Difficulty:** Intermediate | **Language:** English | **Price:** Free **Link:** https://stagemilk.com **Tags:** websites, arts-design, creative-arts ## Podcasts ### 1. Theatre Buzz **Author:** A Public Fit Theatre Company A Public Fit Theatre Company presents, Behind the Buzz, a podcast exploring the behind-the-scenes processes that led up to the production of your favorite APF shows.Featuring honest interviews and stories from theatre designers, performers, and even the occasional surprise guest, Behind the Buzz pulls back the curtain on the fascinating process of making live theatre in Las Vegas, Nevada - the entertainment capital of the world.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. **Difficulty:** Beginner | **Language:** en | **Price:** Free **Link:** https://apublicfit.org **Tags:** theatre, behind-the-scenes, interviews, theatre-production, regional-theatre ## Books ### 1. Technical Theater for Nontechnical People **Author:** Drew Campbell Drew Campbell explains scenery, lighting, sound, props, costumes, and stage management for actors, directors, and playwrights who work alongside technicians. After reading it you can follow a technical rehearsal, read a light plot, and talk to crew in their own vocabulary. **Difficulty:** Intermediate | **Language:** English | **Price:** Paid **Link:** https://www.amazon.com/dp/1581153449?tag=edmonddante07-20 **Tags:** books, arts-design, creative-arts ### 2. Stagecraft Fundamentals **Author:** Rita Kogler Carver A survey textbook covering scenery construction, lighting, costumes, sound, rigging, and safety, plus the history of stagecraft and career paths. Illustrated step-by-step procedures let a student build and run basic productions and understand how a theatre shop operates. **Difficulty:** Intermediate | **Language:** English | **Price:** Paid **Link:** https://www.amazon.com/dp/0240808576?tag=edmonddante07-20 **Tags:** books, arts-design, creative-arts ### 3. The Backstage Handbook **Author:** Paul Carter An illustrated almanac of technical reference data for theatre, film, and television crews: tools, hardware, materials, electrics, shop math, and architectural terms. Use it on the job to look up screw sizes, rope loads, lamp bases, and rigging specifications. **Difficulty:** Intermediate | **Language:** English | **Price:** Paid **Link:** https://www.amazon.com/dp/0911747397?tag=edmonddante07-20 **Tags:** books, arts-design, creative-arts ## Courses ### 1. Introduction to Public Speaking This course offers a proven framework for crafting and delivering impactful presentations. In the professional world, academic settings, or public life, we're frequently asked to "share some thoughts." Many individuals struggle in these situations. This course aims to make you excel where others stumble. We'll explore how to structure speeches coherently, write memorably, and present confidently. Upon completion, you will diminish your public speaking anxiety, leverage rehearsal methods to develop a robust, engaging speaking voice, and execute speeches with dynamic movements. The speech model we'll practice is versatile for briefings, elevator pitches, interviews, and even as a blueprint for hour-long presentations. Whether you're a novice or an experienced speaker, this course will help you master speaking fundamentals or elevate your public speaking skills to new heights. As a bonus, you'll gain access to an immersive VR experience that lets you perfect your presentation skills in a simulated auditorium or conference room, complete with a virtual audience. You will receive real-time feedback, empowering you to refine your abilities through practice in a realistic setting. **Difficulty:** Beginner | **Language:** English | **Duration:** 5 weeks of study; 2 hours per week. | **Price:** Free **Link:** https://www.coursera.org/learn/public-speaking **Tags:** courses, personal-development, life-skills --- *This content is part of Dantes.io - Your Treasure Map to Knowledge* *Curated by humans at Dantes.io. Personal study use welcome; republishing this curation requires permission (team@dantes.io).* View this page online: https://dantes.io/subject/stage-production