stage-manage
Control from wings
To stage-manage is to oversee the technical and organizational aspects of a theatrical production—coordinating lighting, props, cues, and backstage logistics.
Extended to other contexts, it means to orchestrate events or situations to achieve a desired outcome, often with connotations of manipulation: The whole press conference was carefully stage-managed.
A stage manager handles these duties professionally.
Arrange complex undertakings
- engineerTechnical design professional
- mastermindScheme's chief planner
- choreographCompose movement sequences
- maneuverDeliberate tactical movement
manipulate · scheme · plot · contrive · finagle · machinate · connive · strategize
Theater's hidden area
- directorOne who leads
- rehearsalPre-performance practice session
- blockingImpeding forward progress
- scriptWritten words for performance
cue · prompt · props · costumes · lighting · actors · cast · performance
Manage and direct
- superviseDirect and watch others
- organizePut into systematic order
- directUndeviating or to guide
- coordinateArrange for unified action
handle · facilitate · administer · regulate · monitor · guide · conduct · arrange
orchestrate
Arrange complex undertakings
- engineerTechnical design professional
- mastermindScheme's chief planner
- choreographCompose movement sequences
maneuver · manipulate · scheme · plot · contrive · finagle · machinate · connive · strategize · influence
backstage
Theater's hidden area
script · cue · prompt · props · costumes · lighting · actors · cast · performance · playwright
oversee
Manage and direct
coordinate · handle · facilitate · administer · regulate · monitor · guide · conduct · arrange · synchronize
stage-manageimprovise
Perform without preparation
ad-lib · wing it · go with the flow · play it by ear · extemporize
stage-managelet be
Cease interfering with
leave alone · stand back · step back · hands off · leave to chance
stage, manage, stages, staged, staging, stager, manages, managed, manager