Summer Spotlight: Stage Management at CATF with Liv Tighe
Liv Tighe (BFA ’23, Stage and Production Management) is spending the summer in Shepherdstown, West Virginia as the Stage Management Intern at the Contemporary American Theatre Festival. On July 8, she’ll be taking over our Instagram Stories to give us an inside look at a day in her stage management life!
Emerson Stage sat down with Liv to get to know a little bit more about who she is and what she’s working on this summer:
Tell us a little bit about yourself, Liv!
My name is Liv Tighe. I am a rising senior in the BFA Stage and Production Management Major.I am originally from Southern New Jersey.
In my time at Emerson, I have gotten the opportunity to serve in various different roles on stage management teams as well as production supervision and company management teams. I also work in the Emerson Stage Office as a Production Management Assistant.
Tell us about what you’re working on this summer!
This summer, I am working as a Stage Management Intern at the Contemporary American Theatre Festival in Shepherdstown, West Virginia.
I am very excited to share my experience because I am getting the chance to work on two world premieres alongside amazing people, including some of my peers at Emerson. I am working on Whitelisted by Chisa Hutchinson and The Fifth Domain by Victor Lesniewski. The shows have two separate playwrights, directors and actors, but the designers and stage management team work on both of these shows that rep in one space.
What has been an unexpected challenge in this role and how have you learned from it?
A challenge that I am facing is the experience of working in rotating rep. Doing rehearsals for two separate shows in one day has been a learning curve but I have learned to love it. It helps the day stay fresh. We swap rehearsal slots to lend to rehearsal room change over to maximize time and minimize unnecessary work. I have been really enjoying this set up.
What has been the best part of this experience so far?
The best part of this experience has been the opportunity to learn. All of the people are also amazing. I am very lucky to be a part of such an amazing stage management team. The stage manager, Lindsay, is even an Emerson alum. Between her and the assistant stage manager, Gracie, they both have taught me so much and I’m having so much fun working with them.
What’s next for you? Where can we find you online to continue following your journey?
Once we close in August, I will go back to Boston and enjoy what is left of summer. Soon before the semester starts, I will begin rehearsals for Emerson Stage’s The Spitfire Grill where I will serve as the Stage Manager. I am very excited to work on this show with a brilliant stage management team and a star studded cast. I can be found on instagram @LivTighe.
