Hello and Goodbye Dolly!

After graduating in May I had the privilege to work with Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre in Winchester, Virginia on Hello Dolly! This was their second show of the season and I was the stage Manager for this production.

Before this summer I had never seen Hello Dolly! The show ended up growing on me in a way I could not have anticipated. The music is fun and the dialogue is witty and clever. It's hilarious in an unexpected way that sneaks up on you and consistently cracks everyone up. Part of this is the way the musical is written, but I found that the delivery of the material by the performers was the key to making the lines work.

My immediate team consisted of myself as Calling Stage Manager and two Deck Stage Managers, Tori Baker and Susan Weinhardt. As a team we aimed to create a working environment where everyone completed the jobs assigned to them, not out of fear of being yelled at but because they want the show to succeed. A wise stage manager once told me there is a difference between being in control and being controlling.

I have been called many things as a stage manager. I've been told that I am too authoritative in a room and I've been told that I can be too gentle. I've been told that I ask for permission instead of commanding that something be done. I've discovered that it is a fine line, but at this moment in my life, I would rather be too gentle than create an environment where someone feels unsafe and unsupported. I have trust in my team to do their jobs, and I listen when someone gives a suggestions to a problem. I do my best to prevent any potential problems before they happen, but mistakes happen. When these mistakes involve the safety of another human of course that is a major conversation, but when a minor prop malfunction happens onstage what's the use of shouting at my deck crew over something that can easily be fixed and chatted about calmly? Mistakes happen, we have to remember that we are all human and we make mistakes.

There were mistakes made, as in every production. And the three of us were still learning as we go, but I can't be sure that we every really stop learning in this field.

But instead of overanalyzing the things that we did well or the things we should have done, here's the truth... We put on a damn good show and I am SO proud of all of us!

This production featured a cast of 30 performers including 2 swings, a live 25 piece orchestra, and 12 crew members.

Directed by Kevin Covert

Music Direction by John Clanton

Choreography by MJ Slinger

Stage Managed by Me!

Lighting Design by Andrew Carson

Scenic Design by Bill Pearson

Sound Design by Sam Silva

Costume Design by Shivanna Sooknanan