DSM is deputy stage manager - a typical name in a large musical for a traditional stage manager. The actual SM is more involved in the interdepartmental relationships and managing the SM team.
Fascinating! How much do US and UK terminology differ? I spent a year in London but didn't do any theatre work while i was there (which i now regret...) and wonder how much titles and repsonsibilies vary.
I am aussie, so I really cannot say, but in AU, the terminologie between the rest of the theatrical world can differ greatly. Some of the most notable:
Aussie = rest of the world
Bump-in/out = Load-in/out or Get-in/out
Dome = followspot
Biobox = Booth
Grabber Gun = (not often used slang for) drill - usually with a screwdriver bit on.
I worked with a touring crew from London once, I was tour managing the australian leg of their tour. When I introduced myself the eve of their arrival, and started asking questions I kept on getting blank faces, becuase when I asked for the dome ops to submit the placement of dmes they required, everyone looked at me strangely. Luckily use of the term bump-in was easily understood, but when I directed people to put things in the biobox... again with the blank looks. And my favorite was when I said "grabba gun and secure those flaps would you" (yes, that was the origin of Grabba Gun) and they asked me how firearms could secure a flap, and didn't the person need a license to use them.
The structure I'm used to in US regional theatres is (and others please chime in with variations):
- Production Stage Manager (PSM) oversees an entire season or multiple productions by the same producing organization. Largely an administrative post, but also SM's individual productions.
That is the same over here, although often just called the Production Manager.
- Stage Manager (SM) runs rehearsals, calls the show, organizes all elements of one production and is responsible for all things that happen onstage. Larger shows might have multiple SM's who rotate calling, running deck, or administrative responsibilities.
Ditto - also called the DSM (as mentioned) in musicals/operas
- Assistant Stage Manager (ASM) performs duties as assigned by the SM, usually runs the deck (in the absence of a union deck chief) and is responsible for all things happening backstage.
- Production Assistant (PA) functions as a non-union ASM.
ASM's are usually in charge of props, backstage etc etc etc and liasing with the cast should the SM be unable. ASM's are also responsible for getting running props for rehearsals.
- Stage Management Intern functions as an unpaid PA.
I had an intern for a show once. I actually kept her fairly close to me all the time as a secondary SM, mainly because she was most interested in becoming a DSM in the future. Child labour laws state that she had to be paid $5 a day over here, so she was. I even let her call a matine. I was on a second set of cans incase she was going to be late. All in all, I quite enjoyed having an intern. It also helped that she had really neat handwriting, so I could get her to act as a personal secretary and take down notes of conversations between me and anyone else. I think the fuction of an intern differs between theatres though - some interns end up just running errands and getting coffee. I like to show the intern how to make a good cup of coffee then supervise as she does it (nothing will ruin an SM's reputation faster than making a bad cup of coffee)