The American Theatre Wing produces The Network, which provides emerging and developing theatre professionals advanced education, networking opportunities, and tools for career advancement within a supportive creative community.
Coming up next on The Network is a Free panel discussion with Stage Managers, Stage Management | Charting Your Course. Learn from the masters of logistics, communication, time management, and problem-solving during this panel discussion. The panelists of Stage Managers, who will share career advice and more, includes Cody Renard Richard, Cherie B. Tay, Rachel Sterner, and Kamra A. Jacobs. This discussion will be moderated by David Mendizábal. This will be held on Wednesday, June 16, 2021 from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. EDT.
Register Now
Stage Managers play a critical role behind the scenes in every theatrical production. They maintain and execute the director’s vision, protecting the artistic integrity of the show from rehearsals all the way through a show’s run. They are masters of logistics, communication, time-management, and problem solving – all while working under high pressure with grace. Join us as our panelists share their career advice and organizational strategies on what it takes to be an effective stage manager, and how aspiring theatre professionals can access opportunities in this coveted role.
Moderator
David Mendizábal (he/him) — pronounced dah-veed — is an NYC based director, producer, designer, and one of the Producing Artistic Leaders of the OBIE Award winning The Movement Theatre Company. He is also the Associate Artistic Director of The Sol Project, where he co-hosts the podcast SolTalk.
He is committed to a practice rooted in social justice, radical inclusion, and anti-racism. He believes in creating with community and his artistic vision is shaped by core values that celebrate joy, authenticity, and love.
Mendizábal attended New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts at Playwrights Horizon’s Theater School and has directed and developed work with companies including The Public, Atlantic Theater Company, Long Wharf, Magic Theatre, INTAR, Sundance, A.C.T., Playwrights’ Center, People’s Light, Page 73, and The Drama League.
Panelists
Cody Renard Richard is an advocate, educator, and professional Stage Manager with a career that spans many genres including Broadway, Television, Cirque Du Soleil and Opera. On Broadway, he has worked as a full time and substitute Stage Manager on 12 productions, most recently serving as the Production Stage Manager for Freestyle Love Supreme. Other Broadway: Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen, The Lion King, Cirque du Soleil’s Paramour, Kinky Boots, If/Then, After Midnight, Motown the Musical, Ghost the Musical, Cyrano de Bergerac and Lysistrata Jones. TV: 2019 Tony Awards, 2020 & 2019 MTV VMAs, Jesus Christ Superstar Live!, Hairspray Live!, The Wiz Live!. Cirque du Soleil: OVO, Wintuk. Off Broadway/NY: Porgy and Bess (Metropolitan Opera – Assistant Stage Director), Candide at Carnegie Hall, 5 productions with NY City Center Encores!, The Public Theatre, Atlantic Theatre Company, 2nd Stage, Transport Group, Pearl Theatre Company. Selected Regional: Lempicka at Williamstown Theatre Festival, The Kennedy Center, The Muny, TUTS, Stages STL, Kansas City Rep, Alley Theatre, Repertory Theatre of STL. In addition to his production credits, he has served as adjunct faculty at New York University, Columbia University and Fordham University.
As an advocate for change and equity, Richard has appeared live on CNN and has been interviewed on WNBC. Richard has been featured by Variety Magazine as one of their 2020 Broadway Players to Watch, Out Magazine as a 2020 OUT100 honoree and in Forbes. He launched The Cody Renard Richard Scholarship Program in partnership with Broadway Advocacy Coalition in Sept of 2020 and holds a BFA in Stage Management from Webster Conservatory. He is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association and the Directors Guild of America. www.codyrenard.com @codyrenard
Cherie B. Tay (she/they) is a Broadway Stage Manager, Voice Actor, and Multimedia Creative Artist. Tay is currently a stage manager on the Tony Award and Grammy winning Broadway production of Hadestown. Their photography work has been featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, Vulture, Forbes, and more.
Tay has been stage managing theatre, dance, award shows, and live events professionally for over a decade. Favorite cities to work include NYC, Philadelphia, London, Tokyo, Arezzo, and Paris. Broadway credits include: Hadestown, Ruben and Clay’s Christmas Show, Gettin’ The Band Back Together, Amélie, Doctor Zhivago, Bring It On. Tours: In The Heights, War Horse.
Tay has been featured on Stage Management panels and have also been a guest teacher/panelist with Yale, Columbia, UC Irvine, Ithica, SUNY Purchase, and more. In addition to stage managing and voice acting, Tay is a videographer and ukulele teacher (Margaritaville National Tour). www.cheriebtay.com
Rachel Sterner graduated from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and currently resides in Brooklyn, NY. Career highlights include – Broadway: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child; Cirque du Soleil’s Paramour. Paper Mill Playhouse: The Honeymooners. International Tours: Dralion; Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour (both with Cirque du Soleil); Bette Midler’s Divine Intervention; How the Grinch Stole Christmas; Go Diego Go!; Thomas the Tank Engine; Velvet (Edinburgh Fringe and Adelaide Fringe).
Kamra A. Jacobs (she/her/hers)—Working towards creating opportunities for BIPOC SMs. Credits include: Broadway: American Son and Children of Lesser God. Tour: 1st Broadway National Tour of August Wilson’s Jitney. The Public: shadow/land and Much Ado About Nothing. International: The Bitter Game- Dublin Theater Festival. Regional: Last Tiger in Haiti. Film: Netflix-American Son and Apple TV 12 Angry Men the weight of the wait. Education: MFA, U.C. San Diego
What to Expect
- The day of the meeting, you’ll join a Zoom Webinar with live captions. Be prepared to take notes!
- Only panelists will be on screen, but you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions LIVE via Q&A and the chat.
- Once you RSVP, you’ll receive an email from us with Zoom details closer to the meeting date.
Connect with Industry Peers
After the panel, join them for a 30-minute networking and socialization session where attendees can connect with each other. We know it’s difficult to network at this moment, but we’re excited to create this virtual space via Zoom breakout rooms. At the end of the meeting, they’ll chat the zoom link for anyone who wants to join. Come pop in and meet fellow colleagues from around the country!
New York City is full of theatre professionals, each with their own vision for creating or supporting important work. The Network connects students, interns, and young professionals to senior players, theatre companies, and prestigious organizations across the nation. Its network provides exclusive events, seminars, panels, and networking opportunities, fostering a community for building relationships with peers and professionals.
The Network is currently hosting all panel discussions via Zoom webinar.
Further information from The American Theatre Wing on The Network: https://americantheatrewing.org/program/thenetwork/
