Studying Stage Management in London

The summer after my sophomore year, I had the opportunity of a lifetime: studying abroad in London. With the support of the College of Arts & Letters, Citizen Scholars, and the Broad College of Business, I was able participate in the MSU Education Abroad program, Exploring British Theatre. In addition to two classes, I took on an independent study comparing stage management practices in the United States versus the United Kingdom. My research consisted of stage management books from both countries, my own stage management experience in the U.S., interviewing U.K. stage managers, and shadowing U.K. stage managers. Aside from studying, I got to explore the city and the culture, which gave me context for what I was learning. The purpose of this independent study was to compare stage management expectations, meet with working professionals, and explore the education and degree programs for stage managers. Specifically, I explored master's degree programs in stage management, with the idea that I would potentially pursue graduate study in the United Kingdom.