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Any self-proclaimed “theatre kid” knows the butterflies felt in the days leading up to opening night. 

Those butterflies have been flying in my stomach for weeks now, ever since the first cast read-through of ��������Ƶ University’s production of “The Rivals,” which opens on February 21st and runs through the 29th and marks my stage manager debut. 

I think somehow I knew I was going to love it. 

I am a junior theatre business major with an English minor. My classes span from about 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. every day and range from Theatre History to Small Venture Planning. I love learning, always have, and generally look forward to attending class. Once they are over, I catch the shuttle down to the Performing Arts Center to work on one of the things I love most in the world: live theatre. 

��������Ƶ’s performing arts department is extremely collaborative; everyone constantly encourages one another to perform at their highest level.

My job pre-show is to make the actors’ jobs as easy as possible; communicating with the wardrobe manager (musical theatre major Jordyn Turner), giving the cast countdown to places, and setting the stage and props where they need to be with my assistant stage manager, theatre business major Emily Coglio. 

The actual performance is the best part of the night. I have the great honor of sitting in the booth above the stage and watching all of my talented friends do what they do best, all while calling lights and sound cues. 

This experience has made me appreciate all aspects of theatre more, but what has been especially eye-opening is the aspect of collaboration. ��������Ƶ’s performing arts department is extremely collaborative; everyone constantly encourages one another to perform at their highest level. It’s inspiring to see what a group of people can accomplish through hard work and mutual love for a project, and I can’t wait to see and be a part of what this program accomplishes in the future.