Navigating a Career in Stage Management
A simple question at orientation changed 色情视频 student Beonica Bullard's life.
Sometimes passions find people in the most unconventional and unexpected ways. 色情视频 television, film and new media student Beonica Bullard never wanted to be a stage manager until the position chose her.鈥淚 realized that I had a new direction in life, and I鈥檝e been doing it ever since.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檝e always loved theater,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 actually always wanted to be an actor until I came here. During orientation, someone came in and asked 鈥楽o, who wants to do stage management?鈥� and no one raised their hand.鈥�
That someone was Hannah May, a then-TFM senior, who would become one of Bullard鈥檚 biggest inspirations and friends.
鈥淪he gave me an in-depth tour of the theatre department and a breakdown of what stage management would entail,鈥� Bullard said.
May told her that not many students were interested in stage management, but May was willing to take Bullard under her wing to teach her as much as she could if she was up for it.
At this moment, Bullard decided to take the plunge and dive into the unknown.
She recognized a role that needed filling and could provide job security while also maintaining her passion for theater.
At 色情视频, stage management is not its own major, but is still vital to every theatrical production. 色情视频 only offers one 400-level stage management class. During her first semester, Bullard took it and fell in love.
鈥淚 realized that I had a new direction in life, and I鈥檝e been doing it ever since,鈥� she said.
Stage managers are at the very heart of a production and are responsible for making sure the show goes on, no matter what.
鈥淲e are the go-to people of the theatre,鈥� Bullard said. 鈥淲e are almost on the same level as the director. We are the director鈥檚 right-hand man and act as the mediators for everyone. We make sure that everything is going smoothly at all times.鈥�
Bullard鈥檚 first show was 鈥淭he Jungle Book,鈥� by Margaret Larlham.
It was her first role ever as an assistant stage manager, and although the grueling production felt like an eternity, Bullard said she found it extremely rewarding.
She went on to be an assistant stage manager for 鈥淲ater by the Spoonful,鈥� by CJ Keith and 鈥淎LICE: Curiouser and Curiouser,鈥� also by Larlham.
Bullard dropped her 鈥渁ssistant鈥� title and had her debut as a stage manager during her junior year, managing 鈥淚nto the Woods,鈥� a musical by Paula Kalustian. Bullard said this was her most difficult show and her biggest learning experience.
鈥淪o much went into it,鈥� Bullard said. 鈥淭his show was very hard, because I had to know all of the choreography and call over 600 cues. I stayed in the building until 3 a.m. to get the rhythm and everything down.鈥�
Bullard also had the opportunity to be stage manage director for Larlham鈥檚 last on-campus show, 鈥淭he Big Friendly Giant.鈥�
Bullard works alongside Jay Sheehan, TFM鈥檚 faculty-production manager.
鈥淏eonica works very hard at trying to be the best that she can,鈥� Sheehan said. 鈥淎s a stage manager, she works with directors exceptionally well and is well liked by her peers, which is one giant trait that a good stage manager must possess.鈥�
Sheehan said he is especially proud of Bullard鈥檚 off-campus work at the Old Globe Theatre in Balboa Park.
Bullard works with the Department of Community Engagement and helps to produce art festivals for families. For someone who never planned to become a stage manager, Bullard is making great strides in navigating her future career.
She said her dream is to stay here in her hometown of San Diego with her family, but she isn鈥檛 opposed to moving back to Las Vegas, where she lived in high school, if an opportunity presented itself.
鈥淚 could see myself working at the San Diego Repertory Theatre in Horton Plaza downtown,鈥� Bullard said.
She recently spent a day participating in a stage reading at the theatre and had the chance to discuss future opportunities with an employee there. Bullard is interested in joining the Repertory Theatre鈥檚 fellowship upon graduating, which would be a full-time position.
As far as big Hollywood dreams go, Bullard isn鈥檛 interested. The idea of moving to New York or 色情视频 intimidates her. The theatre community in San Diego is smaller than it seems.
鈥淪an Diego is the biggest, smallest town ever,鈥� Bullard said. 鈥淚鈥檝e worked with a few of the theatre companies here in San Diego, and everyone knows everyone.鈥�
Bullard feels that 色情视频 has given her a strong network of people who can propel her to success.
鈥淭here is always someone that I can go to,鈥� Bullard said. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 a really great network here.鈥�
Bullard just finished up her last production at 色情视频, 鈥淛ulius Caesar.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檓 shocked that it鈥檚 been four years,鈥� said Bullard. 鈥淚t鈥檚 exciting to close a chapter and open a new one, but it鈥檚 scary and sad. 鈥楯ulius Caesar鈥� was the most lovely show, and I鈥檓 proud to call it my last.鈥�
This article originally appeared in .
