The Process:

I was a junior and a first time stage manager for this production. Not only did I have the responsibility and position of stage manager but I was also one of the lighting designers. I had to balance my work with both of these positions. During rehearsal I worked with my assistant stage managers to ensure that all crews and designers were on task. When people had questions or issues I assisted them. With the help of the assistant director and the production manager, I created photos for the set changes along with a set change list. We had a lot of pieces moving from all around the theatre so it was vital that we had images to show where things went.

One difficulty I faced during rehearsals was a lot of people on running crew would miss rehearsals. A couple times I had to replace those who were missing and change up the flow of the set changes. Before tech week, I created the set change list and it was difficult to figure out what pieces came from where. We had five areas where furniture could come from but some areas were limited depending on the size. Of course when we got to tech week we had to change where certain set pieces were coming from but by production week we were prepared to produce the best show possible for the audience. I learned from this experience to balance responsibilities when in two highly maintained positions. I also learned to work on projects as soon as possible because I waited till the last minute to create the set change plot so I was very stressed and stayed up late multiple nights working on it.

The scene change sheet that I created with the help of the Production Manager and Assistant Director:

Cast and Crew (~60)

The Process:

During my junior year of Actor's Reparatory/Theatrical Production, I stage managed and lights designed for this production. As this show has many settings, all set pieces had to be on wheels and small so we could move it on and off easily. Luckily, we had a lot more space to store pieces so the difficulty was all in spiking the pieces and practicing the set changes. We had two official tech days and one dress rehearsal so I had to call in the running crew to practice during lunches. We had a two story set that was used for two shows simultaneously so before every performance we had to flip it which entailed members going underneath the first floor and turning it while a few others watched to make sure no lights were hit. As the stage manager, I had to order which direction to move the set because the people under the set could not see. During one of the performances one of the wheels broke off a set piece  right before it was about to go on, so I ordered the crew backstage to fix the wheel during intermission but to find a wood block that could replace the wheel for the scene it was needed in. Ultimately, with how much time we had to run through the show I learned to always be on my feet and to think quickly when problems arrive.

Cast and Crew (23)

The Process:

In the spring of my junior year we put on SpongeBob The Musical. Although there were not a lot of huge sets that had to be moved, there were many small props and small set pieces that had to be moved. We also had moveable bridges that connected two platforms that had to be picked up, moved, and placed back in every other scene, somtimes during a scene. Not only did I have to manage all of the set pieces but I also had to cue lights, sound, and projections, along with setting off some special effects by myself (confetti cannons). We also had balloons that dropped, a boulder (made out of a backyard umbrella) and a huge moveable mountain. With all of these pieces--and not much space backstage--making sure that backstage was clean and organized was significant at all times. With my frist time stage managing a musical I also found that cueing was a lot more heavy and difficult. Although the cues were the director's choice, every other line had a cue that went with it so I had to keep my eyes on the script and stay focused at all times. Once we started, the only break I got was during intermission and the end of the performance. Calling this show was always difficult but it did get slightly easier and easier each time. I learned to take action if a set change or a cue is not timed to my liking as I had to talk to multiple people about changing cues.

Cast and Crew (~70)

The Process:

My first senior year production was Metamorphoses and this has been my favorite show to work on. We obviously centered our show around a pool that proved to be a problem opening night. Throughout dress rehearsal and tech week, we filled the pool to the same level. However, during opening night--per the director's request--we filled it a little more than usual. One scene we had seven people get in the pool and thrash around which caused the plastic lining to come off of the pool (it was taped down with underwater tape) and you could hear a flow of water. It sounded like a river. I had to think quickly while also calling the light and sound cues. For the rest of the show we had members underneath the set figuring out what went wrong and mopping up the puddles. During intermission I even went on stage to figure out what went wrong. The next day we re-taped the linning to the pool with more tape and also did not fill it up as much. Ultimately this production was so enjoyable and there were not huge issues during the initial rehearsals. I learned to take charge and make decisions during this production as after we had the pool incident, I told the director what the plan was instead of asking him what we should do (he is not a fan of solving other people's problems and once we open a show, it is no longer his show or his decision).

Cast & Crew (~75 people)