Actors’ Equity Association has named 2020 as the “Year of the Stage Manager,” commemorating the decision made 100 years ago to encode stage managers in the union.
It feels like an appropriate celebration at the Michigan State University Department of Theatre as well; in just a few short days, Troy Gährs and Shelby Eppich will become the first MSU students to graduate from the Department of Theatre’s new Bachelor in Fine Arts Stage Management degree program.
Stage managers are often the unsung heroes of a staged production, working in the shadows to ensure a show runs smoothly and professionally. Since its inception in 1968, the MSU Department of Theatre has trained students in the art of stage management, but it was never a formal degree track until 2017.
For the full story, visit theatre.msu.edu.