Broadway Stage Management Symposium Sets Venue & Topics For 9th Annual Stage Manager Conference

The 9th annual Broadway Stage Management Symposium will be presented at the beautiful Open Jar Studios in the heart of Times Square, where numerous Broadway shows rehearse.

Once again stage managers will be able to join online on a dynamic and interactive platform from around the world. The successful hybrid format brings together the stage management community in NYC and around the world to learn, grow, and connect with the highly regarded stage managers and professionals on Broadway.

Attendees can join live in NYC, live Online, or On-Demand so no one will miss a moment of the important discussions if they cannot attend live. With On-Demand replay access all the sessions can be enjoyed when schedules allow. No matter your experience, no matter where you are, or what you are working on, all stage managers are welcome to this one of a kind event created by stage managers, for stage managers, featuring Broadway stage managers.

The 2023 lineup will be sharing their experience and expertise on numerous topics on the art and craft of stage management. As over the past eight years, the panel discussions are filled with valuable insights, information, and inspiration for stage managers of all levels. Attendees from across the country and around the world can engage with top Broadway professionals, make new connections, and expand their knowledge at this important professional development and networking event that is open to all.

The 2023 BSMS sessions include:

Moving The Show. It's not a tour, it's not a sit down, it's a unique experience, the one big move from out of town to Broadway. The show is still developing and possibly changing the whole time. Your set isn't designed to tour. Your venue is most likely much bigger than your Broadway house. How can you tackle these and more unique challenges? Featuring the Production Stage Managers Bonnie Panson (A Beautiful Noise), Tony Award Honoree Beverly Jenkins (Dancin'), and David Lober (& Juliet), discussing the challenging process of moving their shows from their out of town tryouts in Boston, San Diego, & Toronto to Broadway.

Calling Session: The Phantom of the Opera. We will journey backstage and see how stage managers call and deck Broadway's longest running show. Stage managers Jillian Oliver (Goodnight Oscar) and Libby Unsworth (New York, New York) give us an exclusive and detailed look at the process of cueing this spectacular show, along with general tips on how to learn the ropes on a big musical.

Accessibility On & Off Broadway. Accessibility is a challenge on Broadway: the venues, the economics, and more. Advocates are moving our industry towards more accessible and inclusive practices. How, as stage managers, can we provide support? Join stage manager, educator and author, Lisa Porter leading an insightful discussion on how stage managers can support, advocate, and be an ally during the production process for accessibility across many aspects. Joining her are Sammy Lopez (How To Dance In Ohio), Broadway producer and board member of CO/LAB, a non-profit providing creative outlets for individuals with developmental challenges, Regan Linton (OSF, Phamaly Theatre), actress, director & change agent, and Peter Royston (Blue Man Group, The Public), stage manager and vocal advocate and ally to the disabled community.

What's Next: Work and Life After Broadway. What's a stage manager to do when they've cued the final curtain and are ready for a change? What else is out there? What else can we do? In this session, four stage managers share their career pivots to highly successful careers using their stage manager skills and experience to great success. This session brings together: Michael Rico Cohen from Mrs. Doubtfire to NBC Universal; Carmen I. Abrazado from The Lion King to Law; Molly Braverman from Wicked to running non-profits, and Robert Mark Kalfin, from Victor/Victoria to the event industry. Together they pull back the curtain to many new opportunities.

Quick Hits: Stage Managers & Innovators Thoughts For The Future, Stage managers and innovators in our industry share a quick take on where we've been and we're we are going. They share advice, insights, hope, and a vision for what our profession and our industry could look at in the near and not so near future. Some of the stage managers & innovators joining us are: Jason McDaniel (Empty Space), Ryan Kirk (Propared), Vinnie Macri (Clear-Com), Matthew Stern (Finding Neverland), Victor Gully (Upstage) and more to be announced.

Spotlight on the Assistant Stage Managers. Every show has one PSM, but many shows have two (or more) assistant stage managers. This session will focus on the specific strategies, challenges, joys, and opportunities of being an Assistant Stage Manager. Alexis Shorter's ASM work on Broadway goes back to 1993 and includes The Producers, The Little Mermaid, Memphis, Aladdin and many more. Danielle Ranno has assisted on Broadway with & Juliet, Six, The Lehman Trilogy & worked as both ASM and PSM on Operas & Tours. Christopher Kee Anaya-Gorman's Broadway ASM work includes Jagged Little Pill, Mean Girls, Hadestown, Paradise Square, and Camelot.

Cultural Coordination. We will explore the role of cultural coordinator with Tavia Jefferson, the cultural coordinator of To Kill A Mockingbird and the revival of Company. Tim Semon, the Production Stage Manager of the Company revival will also join as we discuss the role of the cultural coordinator, how they interact with the stage manager and how they both can work together.

The New AEA. In this session, stage managers from the recent production contract negotiations and staff members from Actor's Equity Association share the many changes AEA has been implementing recently, including: the new open access program, EDI initiatives, updates to the production contract and much more. Join AEA Diversity & Inclusion Strategist, Danee Conley, former AEA 3rd Vice President, Ira Mont, and more to be announced to dig into the new AEA. There's been a lot of change, especially for stage managers, so get ready!

Keynote: Jimmie Lee Smith. Jimmie Lee Smith has been there and back again. He had a hugely successful career on tours and Broadway doing numerous shows including, The Lion King and Saturday Night Fever. Then he moved on, opened a movie theatre and started a family; but life drew him back to Broadway for a career revival: The Mountaintop, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin and more. He is also one of the founders of Broadway & Beyond: Access for Stage Managers of Color. In this keynote Jimmie Lee looks back on this wild ride of work, life, and family, sharing insights from his personal stories.

Putting It Together. Creating a career as a stage manager is about much more than landing one Broadway show. Erin Albrecht (A Strange Loop), Bess Glorioso (Once) and Brant Sennett (The Music Man) will share their journey and lessons learned from working on and off Broadway, on tour, and regional theatres. Together they discuss the choices you make, the directions you go, and how to put it all together, bit by bit, show by show.

The full schedule and session topics are available at https://www.broadwaysymposium.com/schedule

All sessions have Q&A time for participants to engage with the panelists. The hybrid platform will allow online attendees to have a similar experience as well is special breakout rooms with presenters. Meanwhile, online attendees have fully functional chat and a networking button to engage with each other. The online and in person Expo also provides opportunities for attendees to learn about technology and services for stage managers.

The jam packed weekend of stage management has many more opportunities to learn, grow, and connect including wrap parties, seeing shows, and even a workout designed for stage managers!

This educational intensive is open to the public. See the website for full details, including schedule, registration, and payment plans. Contact: matt@broadwaysymposium.com with any questions.

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