Stage Management

As an active Equity member based in Vancouver I was really excited to hear that Equity Council was opening a second seat for the Stage Management region. I think this is a great opportunity to increase representation on Council across disciplines as well as regions. I’ve had the pleasure of teaching Stage Management at UBC for the past six years, and as an educator I’m enthusiastic about the work Equity is doing to address diversity and harassment in our industry, and hope to help continue that work with Council.

Having worked under a number of different agreements across the country in theatre, dance, and opera, I believe my understanding of the varying perspectives would make me an effective and beneficial member of Council. I’m passionate about our community and about increasing member engagement and understanding. Having served three years on the board of directors for the Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards, I’m familiar with the work that goes into volunteer positions like this and would look forward to serving the membership. 

As Stage Managers, our objective is to ensure the work happens in accordance with the varying interests, demands, and requirements of the theatre, director, and agreements, and in an environment where everyone feels safe and respected. I hope to further Equity’s push toward more open communication with members by helping Stage Managers have a greater understanding of the ideology behind the clauses in the agreements. 

I am interested in helping to create welcoming environments for young artists to thrive when producing small-scale independent work, ensuring that Stage Managers fit into that equation.

It is important to me that Equity remains a driving force in the safe and respectful workplace movement, specifically by supporting Stage Managers and producers in learning and applying tools to handle situations of possible harassment and bullying. 

I want to be one of your Stage Manager Councillors to increase understanding of the decision-making that impacts our daily lives in the rehearsal hall and onstage. I hope that you will allow me to use my experience and skills to help us continue to create the best environment possible for theatre to flourish.

I’m Erika Morey, and I’m running for a Stage Management councillor position. I’ve been a working member since 2013, and have sat on the Stage Management Advisory Committee since 2016. Being a part of this committee has taught me a lot about the inner workings of our Association, and has inspired me to take further action by running for Council this term.

For me, the hands-down most important issue on a national level is an acute lack of member engagement. I want to speak directly to the membership to get to the heart of why so many artists have an adversarial or apathetic relationship with Equity. I want to discuss the changes we can make to our Association that can bring member service, transparency, and meaningful dialogue to the absolute forefront.

As a Stage Manager, I’d like to keep exploring how we can better support our apprentices, and continue to advocate for their fair compensation. I also want to figure out how we can better educate our engagers (and fellow members) so that Stage Managers aren’t penalized for enforcing agreements our employers have already agreed to.

I can’t wait to hear from you to discuss how we can make some positive change together. Let’s get to work!

It was never a question of if I would join Equity, only of when. Even as a student I could see the value of this organization and the importance that it plays in the lives of artists. As a proud Equity Stage Manager, I’ve had the pleasure of working on over 50 productions at theatres across the country since 2006. Equity has become a huge part of my life - in all of our lives - so it seemed natural to put my name forth to serve the membership as a Councillor. I believe in this organization and I promise you that I will not only be an ambassador for Equity, but a staunch advocate for representation, safe spaces, and a mentor for younger members. As we move into a time of change, redefining one of our major agreements, open communication, clarity, and leadership will be essential. 

Recently, I’ve taken a step back from full time stage management, giving me the opportunity to focus on teaching Stage Management at the University of Winnipeg and to dive deeper into arts administration in the Development Department at the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre. I believe my experience working with various agreements, in different disciplines, at theatres across the country, and as a former member of the Stage Management Committee (CPAG) makes me an ideal candidate.

I am both a full professor in the Department of Drama at the University of Alberta (U of A) in Edmonton and a practicing Equity Stage Manager. The U of A has the only specialized BFA in the area of Stage Management in Canada (five State Management classroom courses and five productions over four years), and I have lead this program for 14 years. I have also been a member of the Equity’s Stage Management Committee (formerly CPAG) since 2007. Professionally, I have worked extensively with Catalyst Theatre, Citadel Theatre, the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, and Centaur Theatre. I have worked on productions with Mayfield Dinner Theatre, Theatre Calgary, Alberta Theatre Projects, Stage West Mississauga, and Canadian Stage theatre. I have toured various Catalyst Theatre productions to venues that include The New Victory Theater in New York City, the Barbican Centre in London, England, the Winter Garden Theatre in Toronto, the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, the Grand Theatre in London, Ont., and Persephone Theatre in Saskatchewan. I have also served as a Director on the board of the Canadian Institute for Theatre Technology (CITT/ICTS) since 2015.

I would welcome the opportunity to serve Equity as a member of Council 2018–21. I believe I have the requisite knowledge of many of the Association’s collective agreements (including the Canadian Theatre Agreement), as well as an overview of the Canadian theatre scene and some of the issues it is facing, to be able to serve Equity well.

Hello. My name is Catherine Rouleau, and I would love to be your Stage Management Councillor for the next term. I’ve always been somebody who cares about others. So, when I got into Stage Management 10 years ago, it was no different. I knew that I wanted to make sure that everyone who worked around me had a safe, respectful, and joyful place to work. I think this is why I would be a great Stage Management Councillor. 

But this is not about me. As much as I know what I want to work on, this is about us.  Together, we can ensure that this is the Stage Management we want to be in. I want to hear from you. I want to know what you want to change, where you think the problems are, what you think would work, and what is working right now. If we know what works and what doesn’t, we can actually make sure that we have Stage Managers who are working in the best places possible. We always take care of others, and this is now the time that we take care of us. Together, we will make this happen.

I am running for Council to be a part of bringing positive change to our workplaces and to support the hard work of past Councillors. I am excited to learn more about the way our Association is run and to find out what issues matter most to our members. The skills that make me an effective stage manager, such as organization, communication, and creative problem-solving, are skills that would help me be a great councillor.

I am also keen to champion causes that people feel passionately about. I feel very strongly that we should continue to push for the recognition and compensation of the diligent work of stage managers, as well as the unseen labor required to make productions run effectively. I would also like to ensure we are properly supporting apprentices, so that we have a strong future generation of stage managers. Safe workplaces will be a major focus for the next Council, and I want to define the role of stage managers in monitoring harassment, ensuring that we have the necessary tools and support to do so. We work in a wonderful community with so many talented people, and by standing together, I know we can all succeed.

I am running for Council because I believe that representation matters at all levels and in all positions in our industry: on stage, behind the scenes, in our audiences, and in our organizational and governance structures. I’m committed to meaningful inclusion and practical tools that strengthen our members’ engagement and voices within Equity, especially for underrepresented parties such as Indigenous artists, artists of colour, artists working with disabilities, and remotely located artists. I would like to see more transparency in identifying and naming the gaps in parity among these groups, as well as intentional equalizing initiatives that come from their participation and consultation.

As Stage Managers, we are uniquely positioned in a role that requires understanding and navigating multilayered relationships: between Equity members within a production, between Equity and theatres, and between Equity and non-Equity professionals. Our perspectives can therefore play a valuable role in improving overall industry standards and best practices.

In my position as Councillor, I intend to listen and learn; support policy and language that is clear and inclusive in our documents; communicate our needs, concerns, and interests; and direct attention to lesser-heard voices. I love being a Stage Manager. I’m proud of the work we do, and I hope to both expand and share our collective knowledge within Council and beyond.