Stage Management

Students can immediately start gaining hands-on experience in their first year with Production Assistant or crew member assignments. Students can then progress to taking on Assistant Stage Manager and Stage Manager roles on Theatre UCF productions. Students complete a minimum of six production assignments through the course of their study at UCF. Stage Management students also run Theatre UCF’s production auditions to get the full experience from audition to closing night.

Stage Management students will also complete six credits of summer theatre classes by stage managing Theatre UCF’s new play festival, Pegasus PlayLab. This opportunity gives students the chance to learn the unique challenges of stage managing new work while supporting a playwright-in-residence.

Another opportunity students have is to take a leading role in managing UCF Celebrates the Arts, a two-week festival that often has upwards of 40 events in the state-of-the-art facilities of Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. The complex operates under various unions such as Actors’ Equity Association and IATSE local 631, giving students hand-on experience working under union rules and alongside union workers. Professional Broadway Production Managers help UCF manage the event and our stage management students work side-by-side with these industry professionals in the months of preparation and on-the-ground during the events.

In all production assignments, students are treated as professionals and are given the equipment and tools to work as if they were in a professional role.

Students continue learning from their hands-on experiences with post-mortem meetings with faculty to discuss the successes and challenges of the production as well as weekly stage management forums to discuss shows, classes and happenings at Theatre UCF.

All BFA students also participate in the Theatre UCF Internship Program to help students transition from coursework into their career. UCF Stage Managers have completed their internship at prestigious theatres like Williamstown Theatre Festival, Goodman Theatre, Weston Playhouse, Berkshire Theatre Company, Maine State Music Festival, Asolo Repertory Theatre, Spoleto Music Festival and Glimmerglass Opera. Others have worked with internationally-acclaimed entertainment companies such as Walt Disney World, Cirque Du Soleil, Universal Studios and SeaWorld.

Stage Management students also have the opportunity to work with our partner organizations, the Orlando REP and Orlando Shakes.

Stage Management students have an informal mentorship program that pairs upper-class students with first-year students during the summer to help guide their time on campus. While this is voluntary, it helps students get plugged-in and adjusted to campus life. Incoming students will also receive a one-on-one orientation session with Claudia Lynch, Coordinator of the BFA Stage Management Program, to answer any questions before arriving on campus.

BFA Stage Management students will experience a special focus on networking and learning from professionals throughout the entertainment industry. This includes master classes, networking events, guest artists, backstage tours, shadowing experiences, interviews with working professionals and group networking trips to meet industry professionals in New York City, including on Broadway.

A unique opportunity at UCF is the Disney Path to Cast program, a partnership between the UCF School of Performing Arts and Disney Live Entertainment for mentorship opportunities, backstage tours and specialized training programs with Disney Cast Members.

Learn more from Theatre UCF alumnus Kent Collins '18.