Waiting for Places

Waiting for Places is a podcast highlighting stage managers in the flyover states. Episode 14 features Dr. Jennifer Leigh Sears Scheier. She is a freelance AEA stage manager and recently completed her PhD dissertation at the University of Illinois. Her dissertation, “The Quest for Professionalization: A 20th Century Cautionary Tale for United States Stage Managers,” focused on reclaiming stage management history while investigating the field's current challenges through a historical lens. Her past stage management credits include: Illinois Shakespeare Festival, Knoxville Opera, La Jolla Playhouse, Lamb's Players Theatre, Long Beach Opera, San Diego Repertory Theatre, and Tennessee Repertory Theatre. Editor's Note: The interview implied Dr. Scheier was the only person with a PhD in Stage Management. This is incorrect. Dr. Tracey Catherine Cattell recently got her PhD on British Stage Management history, looking at British promptbook notations. Sue Fenty, current faculty at DePaul University has a PhD from an Australian University and her dissertation was on modern day stage management and working Internationally.

Waiting for Places is a podcast highlighting stage managers in the flyover states. Episode 13 features David J. McGraw. Born and raised in Cleveland, David has stage managed since the early 90s. He also is the founder of the Stage Manager Survey, the largest study of stage managers in the world (www.smsurvey.info). David is currently a Director-at-Large for the Stage Managers' Association after serving as Second Vice Chair in 2007.

Waiting for Places is a podcast highlighting stage managers in the flyover states. Episode 12 features Megan Cahill of St. Louis, MO. She primarily works in non-traditional genres and spaces. She is also known as Mama Megan - "The Den Mother of Burlesque."

Waiting for Places is a podcast highlighting stage managers in the flyover states. Episode 11 features Bari James Bellard. He is a graduate of Loyola University New Orleans. After performing at Walt Disney World and aboard the Polar Express, Bari accepted the role of Production Stage Manager at Southern Rep Theatre in New Orleans. He has traveled the world as a Stage Technician and Production Stage Manager. He is currently Waiting for Places!

Waiting for Places is a podcast highlighting stage managers in the flyover states. Episode 10 features Kate Bartels. She is a native New Orleanian and avid Saints fan. She is currently a full-time production manager for See-Hear Productions managing various projects including weddings, corporate events, galas, rodeos, private parties and more. In addition, she is also an AEA and AGMA stage manager, props master, and technician. She garnered a MFA in Production Management from Boston University and a BA in Theatre Design and Technology from Louisiana State University.

Waiting for Places is a podcast highlighting stage managers in the flyover states. Episode 9 features Elizabeth Wray. Elizabeth is currently the Resident Production Stage Manager at the Tulsa Ballet. She previously received her MFA in Stage Management at the University of Missouri - Kansas City and her BA in Technical Theatre at the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith. When she's not working she loves playing board games, watching movies with her husband, and traveling.

Waiting for Places is a podcast highlighting stage managers in the flyover states. Episode 8 features Victoria Frank. She is the resident stage manager for Kansas City Ballet, and during the pandemic, she also became the Production Manager for Broadway Unlocked. She has stage-managed for plays, musicals, operas, events and dance and in her free time enjoys walking her dog Sweet Pea and reading novels.

Waiting for Places is a podcast highlighting stage managers in the flyover states. Episode 7 features Chelsea Brown. She is a freelance Stage Manager and Development associate for Arts Midwest. A 2015 graduate of North Dakota State University's Theatre Arts program, Chelsea enjoys working with her community to help create thoughtful and impactful shows for this time and place. She lives in Moorhead, MN and enjoys finding new trails to hike, cooking new recipes, and playing tabletop games.

Waiting for Places is a podcast highlighting stage managers in the flyover states. Episode 6 features Chris Schweiger. Chris has been a lover of travel and adventure all her life. She has been a professional stage manager for 19 years and she has been lucky enough to work with folks across the globe ranging from her home in Minneapolis, Minnesota to companies in Utah, Alaska, California, Washington D.C., New York City, Australia, Japan, Mongolia and the Netherlands.

Waiting for Places is a podcast highlighting stage managers in the flyover states. Episode 5 features Jacqueline Singleton. She is an AEA stage manager based in Spring Green, Wisconsin, where she is a member of the core production staff at American Players Theater (20th season). Other recent work includes Asolo Repertory Theatre (Sarasota, FL); Milwaukee Repertory Theatre; Baltimore Center Stage; and the Clarence Brown Theater (Knoxville, TN). She also spent 10 seasons working in Madison, at Forward Theater and Madison Repertory Theater.

Waiting for Places is a podcast highlighting stage managers in the flyover states. Episode 4 features Jo Chalhoub of Madison, Wisconsin. Jo (They/She) is a proud Queer, Lebanese-American, Milwaukee native that has lived and worked in the Madison area since 2010 and will be moving to Chicago this July. They have worked on- and off-stage as a stage manager, fight choreographer, and actor on over 70 productions with local community and professional companies, UW-Madison, and the Overture Center. Jo also works as a stage management mentor with various organizations and serves at the Deputy for Forward Theater's Advisory Company.

Waiting for Places is a podcast highlighting stage managers in the flyover states. Episode 3 features Laura Scales Ashlock of Michigan. Laura has been Stage and Production Managing professionally for the past 17 years. She studied Stage Management at DePaul University's The Theatre School. She is currently a Faculty member with The Department of Theatre and Arts & Cultural Management at Michigan State University.

Waiting for Places is a podcast highlighting stage managers in the flyover states. Episode 2 features Katherine Nelson, a Detroit-based theatre artist and labor leader. Kate has worked most frequently as the resident Production Stage Manager at Detroit Public Theatre, in addition to experience as a freelance SM and as a Costume Designer both Off-Broadway and regionally. Kate is a proud member and national Councilor of Actors' Equity Association, as well as an SMA Regional Rep.

Waiting for Places is a podcast highlighting stage managers in the flyover states. Episode 1 features Tara Kelly of Mt. Prospect, IL. Tara has been working pretty hard to keep her SM skills sharp and her tools from collecting dust. Taking this time assembling furniture, changing light switches, crocheting and baking Tara is pretty certain of one thing. She can't wait to get out of her house and get back to work! But along with fellow SM and friend, Tori Sheehan, she did start a podcast of her own! Check it out at www.unchartedtaratori.com!