Lots of Questions

kjgc
Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:47:53 +0000

There are quite a few BFA Design and/or Technology programs out there. There are fewer that will concentrate strictly on Stage Management. I refrain from suggesting looking at one school or the other, but I can give you a little advice from experience.

At 17 it is rather rare that a student understands the job of a stage manager enough to make a decision that this is what they will study, and what they will ultimately pursue as a career. The high school stage manager is a different beast altogether than the professional stage manager. Seek a program that offers other technical theatre opportunities while still teaching management.

Secondly, there are more schools with open slots for design and technical theatre students than there are quality students to fill those slots. Each year we struggle to get a full class of technically strong and intellectually curious students who fit our particular brand of technical theatre. We are not alone in that endeavor. I don’t have an ultimate answer to your question, but there are greater differences in technical theatre education than there are in either Actor or Musical Theatre education. There are significant differences in the curriculum and missions of the programs. Look to those to begin to determine where your daughter seems to fit. Then contact the program and ask questions about the training. Most of us will be more than happy to answer direct questions.

I wish you luck on your journey. But it will be far easier than placing an actor or actor/singer.