I've been Stage Manager for almost all our community theater productions and have never had trouble with stage crew until last night at the Dress Rehearsal for our large (50 cast and crew) musical (opening tonight). 

Stage Crew supervisor isn't supervising his crew and they are all noisier backstage than a flock of seagulls!  When I asked him to quiet down and get his guys to quiet down, he swore at me!  Turns out he 'won't take direction from a woman'.  When I showed him the posted 'Backstage Rules' he ripped them up!  The Director picked this guy and he didn't come to any rehearsals until last week.

I lost composure (haven't been treated so badly in a long time!) and Act 2 suffered.  I don't think I can work with this guy for the next 5 performances. 

Should I ignore him and blame the backstage noise on him? (Director complained to me about the amount of noise)  It's "just community theater", right? 

Tell the director he needs to address the issue before the curtain rises.  After that, you're the one in charge of the show.  You may want to bring the theater manager (or board member) on board as well as a past director if the current director needs to be convinced this is a problem.  The more experience you can get in your corner the easier it will be to educate everyone on proper theater ettiquet. 

Sounds like the back stage crew wants to put the "unprofessional" into amatuer.

If one of my crew said I won't take orders from a woman I would have booted him right there even if he was directors choice. that sort of sexism should not be put up with. A good SM is much harder to replace than a crew member. if the director values you and the work you do for them they should back you up.

I would have smaked him right in the face for that kind of @*#&$%!!! in the real world you could sue him!!!

good luck girl!

Boy..... I know that it is all case by case as far as your relationship with the theater and production,as to how far you can go without ruining your on cred,  but even at this late date, it would be either him or me....

and let me add... I HOPE I would take that stand and not just suck it up for the show... but like I said, case by case and I would problably wind up sticking it out in the long run

Darn theater fanatic that I am...

Good luck

How sad that the director is putting "friendship" before the production. 

The stage manager is in charge from opening night on, so I think I would "professionaly" tell this person "I am responsible for this production at this point and I am sure we both have the same goals in mind, so lets work together.  And don't think of me as a woman think of me as a stage manager!" 

Break a Leg!