Stage Management
I hold a BFA in stage management, and — although my career path has expanded — I still happily claim the title.
As a stage manager, I have highly developed skills in written communication, scheduling, organization, and working as part of a team. At its essence, mounting an opera is the art of a group of at least a hundred people each doing something individually, but in near-perfect coordination, with live music, all while being stared at — and we must get the whole job done in under a month. My job as stage manager is not to create any of it, but to coordinate all pieces so that we can get the job done safely and on time.
My stage management career has focused on the world of opera and some events work. My entire life has included musical training of one form or another, and while I never became a performer, as a stage manager of opera, I certainly put my musical skills to good use. I have worked with companies across the country including: Santa Fe Opera, San Diego Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, and Cincinnati Opera. I have a long-standing relationship with Piedmont Opera, the company in my home town, and work with them whenever I can.