Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors

I got to work as the stage manager on this thrilling comedy which put a playful twist on a timeless classic. This was an entirely student-run piece put on at CalArts which I got to bring to fruition with the director from its beginnings. I played a hand in the application and grant-writing process, I aided in casting and producing the show, managed and lent advice in rehearsals, organized production meetings, built the set, coordinaed the tech and dress process, and eventually called the show before closing and managing strike. This show was nothing if not fun and exploratory, challenging me to take on multiple managerial roles and to test my independence. It was full of complex cue calling in montage scenes as well as a high demand for attention backstage where props and costumes were frequently changed to transform our cast of six into a vast ensemble of characters.

Another challenge posed to us was that our production was put on in a venue which also housed classes during the day. This meant that in order to keep the space usable for others sharing it, we struck our show at the end of every night and put it back up each day. All of this was done without a crew , relying on the dedication of the cast and production team to make this possible. The show was small and campy, but left audiences with a night to remember which was marked by fits of laughter, and enriched all of us involved in its conception.