In the News - January 2019

It’s 2019.

Early in the month, the Today Show honored their longtime stage manager Mark Traub. 

A stage manager went onstage at the Met to announce technical difficulties before a performance of Carmen.

The Sydney Morning Herald wrote a piece on stage manager, Holly Robinson, of Charlie and The Chocolate Factory at the Capitol Theatre in Sydney, Australia.

Anything can happen and added pressure is what I live off - Holly Robinson

The International Examiner showcased Seattle stage manager, Malie Fujii.

In Jamaica, young people are learning how to stage manage music festivals as part as a cultural exchange educational training program with the UK called Backstage to the Future.

And - a reminder that RENT Live on Fox is playing on January 27 at 8/7c.

In the News - June 2018

Happy July!

And yes, I can’t believe it’s July either…

Here’s the June “In the News” Round-Up!

The touring Hamilton stage managers spoke at (my undergrad Alma mater) UC Irvine in a panel called “In Conversation with the Hamilton Stage Management Team” - they discussed what drew them to theatre, the pros and cons of touring, and much more!

In case you need even more Hamilton, the Broadway production stage manager, Amber White, explained the countless duties required to run such a giant production in Playbill.

Stage Manager Gareth Hulance outlined the difference between stage managing theatre and ceremonies (ex. the Olympics!) on TheatreArtLife.

Tyler Mount, stage manager turned producer, discussed his career trajectory and successes in an interview with Out Magazine.

The BBC wrote a brief piece on a stage manager that is suing a production company for negligence after his feet were crushed by a counterweight.

In The News - May 2018

I hope May was great all around!

There was a LOT of stage manager news this month - here are the highlights -

There is a NEW stage management book called Whenever You're Ready written by Shawn DeSouza-Coelho, following the career of Canadian stage manager Nora Polley.

The Chicago Tribune featured a short interview with Illinois stage manager Helen Lattayk and News-Herald in Michigan featured stage manager Jenn Jacobs and her work on The King and I.

London stage manager Phil Barrett gives excellent advice on The Stage:

“My advice to anyone starting out is if you keep a calm, cool and professional head, you can operate and stage-manage a show of any size even at short notice. Use what you learn, be kind and everything will be fine. ”

— Phil Barrett

Dany Guy wrote an wonderful production manager job description on Whyy.

And, Broadway World posted a video of Pretty Woman stage manager Thomas Recktenwald discussing his work on the production!

In the News - April 2018

Hello and happy end of April!

Here's some news from the past month -

Broadway SM Matthew Stern writes on common stage management misconceptions in Theatre Art Life.

The Stage interviews Royal Ballet stage managers and they highlight some key differences between stage managing ballet and stage managing opera!

Stage-Directions talks about all the bells and whistles that stage managers dealt with before modern technological advances.

And, for your rehearsal room pleasure... now anyone can download sound effect samples from the BBC database!

And, as a reminder,  both the Broadway Stage Management Symposium and Broadway Basics will be held in NYC in early June.

In the News - March 2018

Hope everyone had a good March! Welcome April & SPRING!

There's a new site on the Job Search page - Mandy Theatre Professionals (formerly Stage Jobs Pro)

The Broadway Stage Management Symposium will be in NYC from June 2-3, 2018, featuring an abundance of Broadway stage management speakers.

Stage managers from Wicked on Broadway will be conducting a two-part stage management intensive on June 4-5, 2018 in NYC called Broadway Basics.

Check out the 2018-19 season announcements from across the country at American Theatre

And, finally, Q2Q Comics' "Glitter Removal"

In the News - February 2018

Hello and happy February!

Stage Management from the past SEVERAL months is below! (Yes, I've been lax on updates.)

First of all - the 2017 SM Survey Report is available!

The Oscars are implementing 6 new rules to avoid... a mistake... like 2017.

By July 2018, all of Broadway will offer a closed-captioning app for hearing-impaired patrons.

In the aftermath of the Parkland shooting, The Washington Post highlights the benefits of theatre for students.

Bryan Cranston won an award and thanked the stage management team in his acceptance speech! 

“They not only keep the trains running on time, but they do so with such enthusiasm and aplomb that we all look forward to going into work”

— Bryan Cranston

And, best of all - glitter is bad for the environment! Three cheers for quick post-show clean-ups!

Have a good March!

In the News June 2017

This edition of "In the News" is a bit late - but here's a recap of Stage Management related news from June 2017!

This was a busy month for the theatre world! In early June, NYC hosted the Broadway Stage Management Symposium, and shortly thereafter, the 2017 Tony Awards!! In honor of the Tony Awards, NPR wrote an amazing piece on Broadway stage managers called "Stage Managers: You Can't See Them, But Couldn't See a Show Without Them," featuring Cats SM Ira Mont, Sweat SM Donald Fried, and Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 SM Karyn Meek.

Controversy arose in mid-June, again in New York City, towards the Public Theater's Shakespeare in the Park production of Julius Caesar. Amidst protesters repeatedly storming the stage, the stage manager "handled it beautifully" according to Artistic Director Oskar Eustis, by calling for security then prompting the actors to continue their performance. 

Near the end of the month, Actor's Equity and the League of Resident Theatres reached an agreement & ratified the new LORT contract - stay tuned on how those changes will affect stage managers across the country!

Regional stage managers were applauded in Broadway World's "Thank You, Places" series, honoring SMs from Nashville, Tennessee, Deborah Rodus Arvin and Alexis Lavon, and in Lancaster Online's piece called "What does a Stage Manger Do? Everything!"
 

In the News May 2017 #2

A recent Leaky Cauldron article writes that Sonia Friedman, British producer of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and winner of The Stage Award’s ‘Producer of the Year’ award for the past three consecutive years, began her theatrical career as a stage manager (first hired by Sir Laurence Olivier!) She joins that ranks of seminal theatre professionals that began their careers as stage managers, including Hal Prince and David Belasco.

Broadway World published another article in their “Thank You, Places” series about Tennessee Stage Manager Suzanne Spooner-Fault.

On a more serious note, Art McConnell, stage manager of the Ariana Grande concert that was attacked by a suicide bomber in Manchester on May 22, talks about his experience after the bombing.

In the News May 2017

Here's a round-up of some stage management news for May 2017!

Actor’s Equity members vote to make non-performers more “visible and valued.”

Broadway World has been showcasing PSMs (whilst generally explaining stage management) with their “Thank You, Places” series. Read about Tennessee stage managers Cecilia Lighthall and Shannon Spencer

Blogger and stage manager Jess Gow, of the UK theatrical website “The Stage,” writes about giving people second chances.

At an award ceremony in the Philippines, actor and director Baby Borredo recognizes the passion required to work in theatre, saying,

“Theater and passion walk together hand in hand so whether you’re on stage, whether you’re (at the) back stage, whether you’re a stage manager, lighting, there has to be that passion because it is passion that keeps theater alive.”

— Baby Borredo