A physical callboard is the traditional manner in which most theatres maintain a connection with the work being done on a daily basis. In some union agreements it is a requirement. At its simplest, a callboard is a cork style board screwed to a wall near the rehearsal hall or theatre where the days notes may be posted. Calendars and important information are posted there. (See picture below) If you are a union member it goes without saying that those items in the Stage Managers packet labeled "please post" get posted there.

Callboard in the Hall outside the SM office. This is at the end of the semester so only the beginning of next year's semesters are beginning to be posted.

Typically posted on the callboard will be some of the following information. Each school or theatre will be different so adjust to fit your own needs:

• Cast List
• Artistic and Production Staff
• Calendar/Daily Call Sheet/Weekly Schedule/etc.
• Scene/Character Breakdown
• Daily Notes
• Important Notices
• Rehearsal Reports
• Performance Reports
• Local Information
• Banking Information if appropriate
• Dressing Room Assignments (if on tour)
• etc.

Wherever and however you choose to post your callboards the important concept to pass along is that you must maintain it. If you expect people to rely on it it must be current. That means the daily schedule goes up either at night or first thing in the morning. It means that as the calendar changes so does your callboard.

Some people post everything from the daily notes to restaurant specials in the neighborhood. On tour, important tour and travel information will be posted as well.* A vigorous once over a daily basis will insure that your physical callboard is kept up to date with the information necessary for your production and will give you a reminder of all that is going on with your show.

Maintenance of the callboard is also something you can assign your assistants to maintain if are fortunate enough to have them. It is important that if you are passing off that responsibility to remind them when the callboard needs updating because actions of the show have rendered the information on them out of date.l

*Note that on tour the company manager also travels with a callboard of their own. While the stage managers callboard will post the tour schedule, dressing room layout for the current town etc, the company manager's callboard should be responsible for all travel and housing related information. That is not part of the stage manager's responsibilities as we are not allowed by agreement for the handling of money nor the arrangement of housing for cast and crew members.