Trust into solidarity: a stage management perspective

Theatre bares the human soul and asks for deep emotional and spiritual vulnerability from its artists. Because of this, empathy has always been at the core of what we do in the theatre. We seek to elicit empathy from our audiences as a way of engaging them in the story, as well as needing to work empathically with your collaborators in times of great artistic vulnerability. Theatre has never been, stereotypically, emotionally reserved, but through the pandemic and immense social changes in recent years, emotional honesty and health have increasingly become more discussed, valued, and sought out as part of the workplace culture. This has influenced the way that theatre artists collaborate.

As stewards of theatrical collaboration, stage managers have had to adapt to this focus on emotional wellbeing. Not only has the pandemic asked us the question of how to take care of your fellow community members, but the political upheavals of late have also driven artists to produce strong, emotionally compelling work at a higher level. Whether in an attempt to make authentic, impactful art, or emotional spillover from the volatility and trauma of our current times, I am engaging with my collaborators on a different emotional level now. This has asked me to move with trust and solidarity with my collaborators. Through an examination of my experiences in the MFA Stage Management program at the University of Iowa, I will inquire into the elements that drove this shift in culture, how I grew and changed my practices to aid this shift, and how I conceive of my work going forward.