Staff Spotlight: Joy Magyawe, House Manager at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre

Staff Profile:
Name: Joy Magyawe (Full Name: Johannah-Joy Magyawe)
Position: House Manager, Stephen Sondheim Theatre
Years at Roundabout: 2 years in July 2011

Q&A:

Q: Give us a brief background of your career leading up to house managing at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre.

A: I moved to New York City in 1995 to attend New York University – Tisch School of the Arts for Dance. During my freshman year, I began ushering at the Joyce Theatre, where I began my career in front of house management. After many front of house positions at the Joyce Theatre, I was relocated downtown to assist in the opening of their smaller theatre and rehearsal space, Joyce SoHo. In 2003, I left to open the Biltmore Theatre (now the Friedman Theatre) as the Assistant House Manager. During my three years at the Biltmore, I was also the Development and Marketing Coordinator for Celebrate Brooklyn!. During my 5 years at Celebrate Brooklyn!, one of my accomplishments was taking their membership program from about 40 to over 300. They have since doubled that number, making the summer festival an ongoing success. While also continuing to maintain a performance career, I learned that another new theatre, The Times Center, was opening. I jumped at the opportunity to open another event space. The Times Center was my first green space. While at The Times Center, there was a program about Roundabout Theatre Company opening the first green Broadway theatre space, the Henry Miller's Theatre. I had already known that several of my past co-workers had moved to Roundabout and decided I would inquire if they had hired a house manager. Fifteen years later and I've been a part of opening two Broadway Theatres, a small dance rehearsal/performance space, an event space and the revival of a summer festival.

Q: What exactly are your duties as a house manager?

A: When it's performance time, I find that my job is mostly about problem solving. If audience members are unhappy with their seats, how can I solve that? If someone has fallen and hurt themselves, is it appropriate to call for an ambulance or are the injuries not serious enough? Is the temperature on stage or in the auditorium right for the masses? It is about creating the best possible experience for the theatre goers and the performers. I supervise the staff ushers, maintenance crew and security guards. In addition, there are administrative duties including reporting, scheduling building personnel, disseminating building schedules and other information to the appropriate parties and payroll. When the Sondheim has a commercial renter, my duties include maintaining the relationship with the commercial producer and attending to the needs of both they and Roundabout Theatre Company.

Q: What is a typical day like for you?

A: There isn't really a typical day being a house manager. There are always unexpected situations that need attention. One day you could be dealing with a leak in the bathrooms, not knowing where it's coming from. The next, you could be dealing with an unexplained fire alarm in the middle of the night. Some days, everything runs smoothly and all you have to worry about is maintaining a safe and clean environment for the audience members. The Stephen Sondheim Theatre, unlike any other theatre I have managed, is also a part of a larger building, One Bryant Park. Some of my typical daily work consists of managing the relationship with building management.

Q: Any interesting stories to tell from your time in front of the house?

A: I have had many interesting experiences being a house manager. The truth is that you can't be taught how to deal with situations, you have to have the experience and quick thinking skills to solve any problem. At a former theatre, I've had to mediate a verbal altercation between a blind woman and a woman with a walker. The blind woman bumped into the woman with a walker. The woman with the walker did not understand that the blind woman could not see her. There was long, drawn out verbal match that ensued from one yelling that she was hit and one yelling that she was blind and couldn't see. It was difficult to maintain my own composure regarding the altercation. However, I still had a job to do; calming both parties down so that the rest of the audience was not disturbed.

Q: What is one thing you're really good at that very few people may know?

A: For the last 13 years, while I have been house managing, I have been a member of the Hudson Vagabond Puppets as a dancer, actor and puppeteer. I truly enjoy performing for children. We have toured around the United States, Mexico and Cyprus. I have driven our 16 passenger van and 15 foot trailer cross country about 6 times and I can do a monkey voice over very well.

Q: If you could change careers for one day what would you be?

A: There are two careers that I would choose. One being the track I was on through just after college and one that has absolutely nothing to do with my life as a performer. I have been dancing and performing since I was six years old. If I wasn't a house manager, my dream would be to be a member of a renowned dance company touring the world. If I couldn't perform or be in the entertainment field, I would be a Math Teacher. Math is so rational with a right and wrong answer every time.

Q: When you're not working you…

A: Having a career on an opposite schedule from a majority of my friends and family, I like to focus on maintaining the personal relationships that I have on my off time. When there are no performances at the Sondheim, I try to see live performances. I enjoy attending other Musicals, Plays, live music performances or my own friends performing in their respective art forms.

Q: What is your favorite aspect of the job?

A: My favorite aspect is the people I work with. I have been fortunate to work with many individuals who love and care about their part in the production of a Broadway show. From the usher who seats an audience member to the sound mixer to the actor on stage performing, everyone loves and takes pride in their respective job. It makes for an exciting and family-oriented environment, a setting where one could be happy working in.

You can catch Joy at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre – currently the home of Anything Goes. Performaces begin March 10, 2011.