MTPA’s spring musical is “Legally Blonde.” The show is known for its upbeat songs and energetic dance routines, but a lot goes on behind the scenes as well. The stage crew helps with the elements of the show like sets and costumes, but the real backbone of this production is the stage managers. A lot of hard work goes into their job, such as setting up and tearing down rehearsal spaces, assisting directors and so much more.
I got the opportunity to sit down and talk to these amazing stage managers after a rehearsal. Being a part of this show gives me the opportunity to see first hand how incredible the work they do is.
Maddie Cranford: Production Stage Manager
Grade: Senior
Favorite MTPA memory: “Probably Beauty and the Beast, during the song ‘Be Our Guest,’ I was backstage and I had to hand someone a giant champagne bottle filled with confetti that I had to fill up every single day, which was great.”
Most important part about your job: “The most important part to me is learning everyone’s names and who they are so then they feel welcome in the environment. I made it a priority to learn everyone’s first and last names on day one.
Mel Gomez: Stage Manager
Grade: Senior
Favorite MTPA memory: “The pre-show music to ‘Peter and the Star Catcher.’ The cast and crew backstage had a little dance circle.”
Most important part about your job: “You definitely have to be an organized person to be a stage manager, but you also have to be welcoming enough and friendly with everybody no matter how you feel about them and you have to be able to bring everybody together because with productions like these can be a hard thing especially for newcomers.”
Weston Groff: Stage Manager
Grade: Junior
Favorite MTPA memory: “It would have to be freshman year, backstage with Penny and we had this one dance we would do during the main song for bows.”
Most important part about your job: “Being able to work under stress. The job is very stressful sometimes and being under all of that pressure is not good when you’re working backstage, and can lead to a messy production.”
These three have been working hard since rehearsals started in early Jan. The group will be getting more support in the upcoming weeks when assistant stage managers Molly McCardell and Fei Heagy start attending rehearsals on Feb. 13.
