Undergraduate Stage Management

Stage managers are facilitators of the creative process. Our Stage Management concentration trains the next generation of brave leaders to create systems that support all collaborators in an artistic process and to manage all aspects of production, from first rehearsal to final performance.

Bachelor of Fine Arts

First Year

Stage Management students are immersed in all areas of the performing arts, including dramas, musicals, operas and dance, and are trained to understand all components to achieve a professional-level performance. In your first year, you will learn the technical and construction elements of scenery, lighting, costumes, sound, hair and makeup as part of lectures, labs and hands-on production work. You will also take classes in color and design, drawing and drafting techniques. As part of your degree, you will take liberal arts courses. The goal of developing this foundation is to facilitate communication and cooperation with other designers and technicians as you progress into the role of Stage Manager.

Second-Third Years

In your second and third years, you will be assigned the roles of Assistant Stage Manager and eventually Production Stage Manager for the school’s 20-plus annual performances. You will be responsible for the scheduling, paperwork, and cue sheets, and for running rehearsals in both the studio and on stage. 

Fourth Year

In addition to class and lab work intended to strengthen your abilities, the fourth year of the concentration will focus on developing your job-hunting skills, including your interview techniques and resume writing. Some students use this final year to take part in internships outside of campus for either the entire or part of a semester, building working relationships with potential employers and furthering their practical-production experience.

Careers in Stage Management

Graduates from our Stage Management degree concentration have started successful careers in stage management on Broadway, American Ballet Theatre, Cirque du Soleil, TAIT, the Metropolitan Opera, regional theaters, national touring companies and cruise lines.