Professional Apprenticeship: Stage Management
New York City, NY
The Summer Issue — Film Production Assistant
My first assignment at Juilliard was working on an Indie Film project with the Drama Division. My responsibilities included coordinating catering with the Associate Producer, blocking areas during filming, setting up and cleaning up set each day, printing and distributing sides and radios and other duties as assigned. During the rehearsal period, I took blocking notes for the director and assisted in setting up the room.
Fall Fest: Opening Night — Assistant Stage Manager
After working on the film project, I was moved to the Special Events department for the Fall Festival’s debut event. As the Runner, my responsibilities included keeping track of artists and making sure they made it to stage on time, check the sign in sheets for attendance, posting signage, and helping spike stage setups.
Juilliard Drama Presents Scenes by Recent Playwriting Alums — Assistant Stage Manager
I made my debut at the DR2 while working with Juilliard on the Fall Festival event for aspiring Playwrights. My responsibilities included coordinating the traffic backstage, cuing entrances for actors, keeping track of scripts, and organizing personnel in conjunction with the Stage Manager, Christine Colonna.
Hedda Gabler — Temporary Assistant Stage Manager
My first full length production with the Drama Division was Jackson Gay’s production of Hedda Gabler, stage managed by Morgan Carder. On this production, I helped set up and clean up the rehearsal room each day, assist in writing the rehearsal report, creating and keeping updated a working props list, costume change plot, and script change log, distributing documents to the appropriate parties, and being on book during rehearsals and feeding lines.
Hänsel und Gretel — Assistant Stage Manager (Props)
My first assignment with the Vocal Arts Division commenced with ASMing a new production of Hänsel und Gretel which was a huge undertaking and a tremendous success. My responsibilities on the production included: tracking props and creating a props running and props list, distributing paperwork and information to the production teams, creating and maintaining an ASM score, cuing all entrances on SR, assisting in managing the rehearsal room and operations, and daily rehearsal room setup/teardown.
Photos by Maria Baranova
Sample Score Pages for SR ASM
AD Open Class — Stage Manager
After Hänsel, I was lucky enough to get to work with Stephen Wadsworth on his very unique project, AD Open Class, which he conducts with his Artistic Diploma students in the Vocal Arts Department. These students are assigned music to learn with the added challenge of improvising their staging and using new prompts every time they enter the stage. My responsibilities included keeping tabs on the schedule and sending it out each day, keeping an updated conflict calendar, sending out daily rehearsal notes to the administrative team, tracking props and costumes, creating a preset sheet, and being the eyes and ears for the Vocal Arts department.
Wind Orchestra Ensemble Concert — Production Stage Manager
In the week following AD Open Class, I was brought back to the Special Events Division and was put right to work on the Wind Orchestra Ensemble Concert. The responsibilities on this project were to interface with the students and maestro to make sure everyone had what they needed in collaboration with the Orchestra Manager, prepare the seating and stands according to the seating diagram, cue entrances for musicians, give the preshow speech, and send out a performance report with appropriate timings.
Spring Dances: Diversion of Angels — Assistant Stage Manager
Coming soon!
Various Recitals — Assistant Stage Manager
Between projects, Juilliard assigns apprentices to recital work since there are over 800 recitals produced a year at the school. I have had the opportunity to work on anything from Liederabends to Harp solos.
www.susanjweinhardt.com 