puppetmaker | Ah Theater I do and don't miss you

Technically I am still an Equity Stage Manager. On rare occasions and nothing in the past 5 years, I would help out with a showcase or reading. Nor am I pursuing any positions out here on Long Island as they are few and far between. I don’t want to tour. I don’t know anyone on the inside to get back to off Broadway. I am not in a position to take regional theater gigs. But if anyone knows anyone looking for a good AEA stage manager in New York, send them my way.

I have been asked more than once recently if I miss it. And the answer is yes and no. There are parts that I miss terribly. I enjoyed working on a show and getting it from table read to in front of an audience. I miss the camaraderie that comes from the process. Hearing the audience appreciate what we have done. Calling the show.

I don’t miss the ten out of twelve’s. I don’t miss having to deal with adults who act like children on occasion. I don’t miss having to work out a schedule with everyone’s conflicts and discovering that we can’t rehearse.

Right now I get to listen to my daughter tell me about her show and all the things that are going on both on stage and off stage. And in doing so she reminded me why I stopped actively trying to stage manage. I get tired of listening to everything she is telling me. This week is tech/dress/performance which is always a fun week in the theater. For the cast it can be hurry up and wait but the stage manager is on the entire time working through lighting and sound and set movement and the like.

Being a Stage Manager can just suck the life out of you. It can invigorate you but mostly it just sucks. The responsibilities of the show go way longer than the rehearsal. Chunks of it happen when the actors aren’t there. There are tech meetings, staff meetings, scheduling, props and costume things to figure out. You have your book that you need to keep up to date. Lists that must be made for various departments. You end up doing a lot of paperwork.

I do not regret a minute of my time stage managing. I have a bunch of stories from my time there. I know my Shakespeare really well now. I have an appreciation of the theater every time I go see a show that a majority of patrons don’t have. I have friendships that I still have to this day. It is a touchstone between me and people I meet who are also in the biz.

I am still a good Stage Manager but how I stage manage is a little different now. I have used those skills I learned to be a great editor. To organize my puppet slam pieces. To organize and get us through a convention.

I am grateful for my time stage managing.