About Me
My name is Dom, and I am a nonbinary (they/them) stage manager from Tampa Bay, FL! Since finishing my MFA in 2022, I've had the absolute pleasure of working for Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings as an Install Production Stage Manager. Before that, I was a freelance stage manager in Central and South Florida for multiple venues. I am thrilled to be doing what I love and slowly making my way to travel the world.
Fun fact, I am trying to collect tattoos from all over the globe!
When not working in the studio, I spend my free time watching anime or crafting, and am always quick to pick up something new to learn. Recently, I bought a keyboard and am on an adventure to learn piano!
Aside from theatre, my background includes years in the hospitality industry as a bartender, prep cook, and more. I also spent several years working for an ophthalmology practice as a Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) and team lead for a glaucoma surgeon's service. I loved my time in the medical field (eyeballs are pretty cool), but when I finished my MFA, I knew it was time to go back to what I love most - entertainment!
What's an Install Production Stage Manager?
As an Install Production Stage Manager (IPSM) for Norwegian Creative Studios, my job is to oversee the installation of a new cast onboard a ship. Each cast across the three NCLH brands are onboard for 6-9 months. Once their contract is up, a new cast is installed to replace them. Lately, we've also been implementing many new shows across the fleet, which adds another layer to the install process! Here's the gig in a nutshell:
IPSMs get assigned a ship and start with pre-production. This includes prepping the studio by taping out the stage and loading in any props and/or set pieces, connecting with the ship, creative team, and cast, making sure all travel has been arranged, and leading a pre-production meeting. Once everyone arrives in the rehearsal studio, the cast begins to learn all their shows, the IPSM preps an install schedule, holds weekly or biweekly production meetings, and updates any necessary paperwork. Rehearsal processes vary in length depending on how many shows are on the ship and how complex they are - the same goes for installs onboard.
After the rehearsal process is complete, the full cast and creative team travel to the ship (wherever it may be in the world). The IPSM is responsible for daily production meetings, coordinating with the install team and the ship team, working around the ship and cast training schedules, overseeing rehearsals onboard, and writing a summary report after the install is complete.
Career Goals and Interests
Willing to relocate or travel for work in the entertainment field. Professional experience has been in the stage management and theatre education sectors, though I do have experience with lighting and sound. Most of my stage management roles have required me to act as a jack of all trades.
Interests include all areas of technical theatre, and I am open to apprenticeships with a scenic or TD focus. Light experience in scenic painting and carpentry, but I love being hands on and would like an opportunity to learn and create more.
Education
My time at The W (Mississippi University for Women) was spent learning from my peers just as much as my professors. Our cohort was the second to join the program and our class spanned careers from all areas of theatre from all over the country. We deemed our summer residencies "Grad Camp" because even though they were a lot of work, they were also plenty of fun!
In December of 2022, I graduated from The W as Summa Cum Laude (GPA 4.0) with an MFA in Theatre Education. Through this program I took classes such an Acting & Directing, Design & Technology, Creative Dramatics, Costume Design, Theatre Management, and more.
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Certificate in Performance Industry Essentials from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts (2023)
B.A. in History with Minors in Women and Gender Studies and Theatre from University of Central Florida (2018)
A.A. in History from College of Central Florida (2017)