Dallas Update - The Children’s Theatre
I’ve lived in Dallas for coming up on 8 months now and can say with certainty I love this city of opportunity. Dallas itself, and of course the Dallas Children’s Theater, feel like home to me.
My Stage Management Apprenticeship is coming to an end in a month. During my time as an apprentice, DCT has given me various opportunities across the Production and Education departments. I’ve refined some of my management skills and learned more about the Actor’s Equity Association, carpentry, and the theatre industry. The experiences I’ve had working on productions and connecting with professionals have been invaluable.
Willy Wonka Jr - Stage Manager
During the summer, I stage managed DCT’s Academy musical Willy Wonka Jr. On this production, I worked closely with director Doug Miller and a cast of youth performers, ranging in age 10-18. I also assisted in painting the scenery. Below is a video of the cast gifting me flowers on our closing performance
Junie B’s Essential Survival Guide to School - Stage Management Apprentice
Junie B. Jones was one of my favorite book series growing up, and my first DCT mainstage production. Before jumping into rehearsals, I worked on the scenery for the show. I learned how to cut foam with a hot wire to make books, then how to cover said books with muslin to prep them for painting. I also hung the “floating” notebook pages on the proscenium using cleats and rigging hardware. I also assisted the lighting hang and focus.
On the stage management end, I worked with SM Eva Chastain, Deck SM Maddie Collins, and director Nancy Schaeffer. I focused on tracking and creating paperwork for the costume changes in the show. During the run of the show, I preset and executed many of the quick changes. I was in costume for onstage transitions.
Harry Connick Jr’s The Happy Elf - Stage Management Apprentice
DCT’s joyful holiday musical, The Happy Elf, was a post-COVID return to large-scale productions, directed by Doug Miller. In the scene shop, I built a gift-wrapping station and used a jigsaw to cut out the organic masonite shapes on the second level of the turntables. I also assisted with the scenic strike for this production.
Since this was a show with larger-than-life elements, I assisted with cast, props, and costume tracking. During performances, I ran the stage right wing, operated the motorized turntable, and dressed a cast member’s final quick change into Santa Claus.
Don’t Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus! - Stage Managment Apprentice
In the New Year, I began with assisting in rehearsals and the shop for Don’t Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus. This adorable musical opens at DCT this week!
Endlings - Stage Manager (with Cry Havoc Theater Company)
I am currently stage managing a devised youth production called Endlings, with the Cry Havoc Theater Company at DCT. This powerful show focuses on discussing climate change and is the company’s final performance. It opens on February 10th and runs until the 19th!
