Show Running Sheet — Worked ExampleEasyStagecraft Course · Tier 1B · Module 3 (Speak Stage Management) · v1.0 · cue-by-cue performance sequence

What this is. The Running Sheet is the SM's at-a-glance show document. Every cue + every action listed in performance order with running time. Operators get a department-filtered version (LX op gets the LX cues only). SM works from the full version. Below is a worked example — ACT 1 only of a fictional musical, illustrating the structure. Adapt to your show.

ACT 1 · Running Sheet (worked example)

Time	Cue	Dept	Action
19:30:00	LX 1	LX	House to half. Pre-show wash. Audience settling.
19:30:30	SQ 1	SQ	Pre-show music fade out.
19:30:45	LX 2	LX	House to zero (3s fade). Audience in dark.
19:30:48	LX 3 + SQ 2	LX/SQ	Opening number underscoring. Lights up on Donna (USR).
19:31:00	—	CAST	Donna enters USR, X-CS. Sings "I Have a Dream" intro.
19:34:00	FLY 1	FLY	Drape USR flies out for kitchen reveal.
19:34:15	LX 4	LX	Kitchen interior wash (crossfade 4s).
19:34:20	DK 1	DK	Sky enters from SL, sits at table (chair 4).
19:36:30	SQ 3	SQ	Wind effect under dialogue (subtle).
19:38:00	LX 5	LX	Sunset cue — warm wash on kitchen (fade 6s).
19:40:00	LX 6 + SQ 4	LX/SQ	Snap to blackout. Door slam effect.
19:40:05	DK 2	DK	Stage cleared. Kitchen table struck DSR by deck crew.
19:40:20	LX 7	LX	Courtyard wash up (3s fade).
19:40:25	—	CAST	Sophie + ensemble enter from USL + USR.
19:45:30	LX 8 + SQ 5	LX/SQ	"Mamma Mia" overture begins. Cyc cue: warm-to-pink sunset.
19:47:00	LX 9	LX	Dance number lights — full ensemble wash + mover positions.
19:50:00	FLY 2	FLY	Wedding backdrop flies in.
19:55:00	LX 10	LX	Slow fade to dim — end of musical number.
19:55:30	SQ 6	SQ	Sound op fades band track out.
19:56:00	LX 11	LX	Hotel reception interior — cool wash (crossfade 5s).
19:58:00	SQ 7	SQ	Three Dads arrive — bell + door sound effect.
20:02:00	FLY 3	FLY	Reception drape flies out for tavern reveal.
20:02:30	LX 12	LX	Tavern interior — warm amber wash + practical chandelier.
20:15:00	LX 13 + SQ 8	LX/SQ	"Money Money Money" intro. Cyc to gold. Crowd cheers FX.
20:20:00	LX 14	LX	Full ensemble dance wash + moving heads on lead.
20:30:00	LX 15	LX	Slow fade. Sky + Sophie alone on stage.
20:32:00	LX 16 + SQ 9	LX/SQ	Final Act 1 cue. Snap blackout. Music sting.
20:32:15	LX 17	LX	Interval state — house to 75%. Pre-show music up.
20:32:30	FOH 1	FOH	Audience exits to foyer. 20-minute interval announced.

End of Act 1. Total Act 1 running time: ~1h 02m. Cue count: 17 LX + 9 SQ + 3 FLY + 2 DK + 1 FOH = 32 cues.

Blank running sheet template (continue here)

Time	Cue	Dept	Action	Status

How to use this template

SM builds the running sheet during paper-tech in collaboration with LD + SD.
Time column estimated initially; tightened during tech-week as actual durations emerge.
Cue column matches the master cue list.
Dept column uses standard abbreviations: LX, SQ, FLY, DK (deck), FOH, CAST, MD (musical director).
Action column describes what happens. Brief — operators are reading at speed.
Status column used during shows for "fired" / "missed" / "late" / "early" — for post-show notes.

Department-specific filtered versions

Once the master running sheet exists, the SM creates department-filtered versions:

LX op gets only LX cues + the cues immediately surrounding them (for context).
Sound op gets only SQ cues.
Fly op gets only FLY cues.
Deck crew gets DK cues + the immediately surrounding cast actions.
FOH manager gets the FOH cues + interval timing.

Distribution: paper copy in operators' stations + electronic copy in shared production folder (Google Drive / OneDrive / Dropbox).