Theater
Resource Hub
Practical guides for community theater producers, directors, and stage managers. Learn how to run auditions, confirm casting, and publish usable rehearsal calls. Track costumes and props, then coordinate volunteers for the production. Follow the season planning guide for the handoffs between auditions, opening night, and strike.
Community theater guides by topic
14 GUIDES / READY TO READ-
FIELD NOTE / 01
Stage Manager Checklist for Community Theater
A practical stage manager checklist for community theater, from the first rehearsal through tech, performances, and strike. Adapt it to your company.
READ THE GUIDE -
FIELD NOTE / 02
What Does a Stage Manager Do?
Learn what a community theater stage manager does before, during, and after rehearsals and performances—and where the role's boundaries are.
READ THE GUIDE -
FIELD NOTE / 03
How to Start a Community Theater
Start a community theater with a practical plan for local listening, a founding team, finances, venues, rights, volunteers, and a first production.
READ THE GUIDE -
FIELD NOTE / 04
How to Build a Theater Tech Week Schedule
Build a practical tech week schedule for theater with a backward-planned timeline, clear calls, cue work, dress rehearsals, and safety-aware handoffs.
READ THE GUIDE -
FIELD NOTE / 05
Theater Strike Checklist: How to Run Strike
A practical theater strike checklist for planning crew roles, clearing the venue, returning inventory, documenting damage, and handing off unfinished work.
READ THE GUIDE -
FIELD NOTE / 06
How to Manage a Theater Season from Auditions to Strike
Plan a community theater season with an accessible month-by-month timeline for auditions, casting, rehearsals, production, opening, and strike.
READ THE GUIDE -
FIELD NOTE / 07
How to Create a Rehearsal Schedule
Learn how to make a rehearsal schedule for a play or musical: plan calls, account for conflicts, share updates, and use a rehearsal schedule template.
READ THE GUIDE -
FIELD NOTE / 08
The Best Tools for Community Theater Management
Compare theater management software and other tools for 2026: production workflows, ticketing, spreadsheets, and purpose-built options—with clear trade-offs.
READ THE GUIDE -
FIELD NOTE / 09
How to Manage Volunteers for a Theater Production
Learn how to recruit, schedule, and manage theater volunteers: roles, shifts, sign-up links, and reminders for community theater. Free to start.
READ THE GUIDE -
FIELD NOTE / 10
How to Track Costume Inventory
Organize a theater costume closet with a searchable costume inventory, practical storage and labeling, photos, checkout records, and cataloging tips.
READ THE GUIDE -
FIELD NOTE / 11
How to Build a Printable Show Program for Your Production
Build a printable theater program with short, medium, and long actor bio examples, cast credits, scene order, proofreading, and print planning.
READ THE GUIDE -
FIELD NOTE / 12
How to Build a Cast List
Build a clear theater cast list, then announce the cast with a copyable announcement example. Organize roles, contact details, scenes, and groups.
READ THE GUIDE -
FIELD NOTE / 13
How to Organize Props and Set Pieces for a Theater Production
A practical guide to organizing theater props and set pieces: build props lists, label storage, track check-outs, and stop losing items between shows.
READ THE GUIDE -
FIELD NOTE / 14
How to Run Community Theater Auditions
Plan play and musical auditions with a copyable audition notice template, sign-ups, conflict dates, callbacks, and casting advice for community theater.
READ THE GUIDE
Explore free printable stage management templates →
Run your whole season — auditions to strike — in one workspace.
Start free — no credit card requiredFree plan includes up to 50 inventory items and 2 new shows per calendar year.