A Midsummer Night's Dream
Production Stage Manager
Director: Mark E. Lococo | Verse Coach: Ross Lehman
Loyola University Chicago | Newhart Family Theatre
About A Midsummer Night's Dream
A wedding weekend, full of the usual complications: mismatched lovers, mischievous fairies, and a talking donkey and a band of amateur actors? William Shakespeare’s beloved comedy presents a battle between Oberon and Titania, king and queen of the fairies, played out during the wedding weekend for the Duke of Athens and the Queen of the Amazons. During a strange night in the forest, the twisted love triangles of Hermia, Lysander, Helena and Demetrius, as well as the rehearsals for a romantic play to be performed by local townsfolk fall subject to the magic and mischief of the fairy world. All must overcome enchantments to claim their rightful loves, and the freedom to follow their hearts.
Prompt Book
When putting together my prompt book for A Midsummer Night’s Dream, I started by writing in blocking notes throughout the rehearsal process and updating them as the staging changed. As rehearsals continued, I also began tracking important costume changes so I could keep an eye on their timing during the show. Because our production included some more intense movement and stunt moments, I made note of those sections in the script as well so I could be aware of them as we moved into tech. Once we began technical rehearsals, I added all of the lighting, sound, and other technical cues into the script, which completed the prompt book and allowed me to use it to call the show and follow the flow of the performance.
Movement & Safety
For this production, we partnered with Actors Gymnasium in Chicago so that several actors could learn how to use a Chinese pole and incorporate stunt work into the show. Their team also helped choreograph and teach the physical elements used in the production. Because of the acrobatic nature of this work, safety was a major priority throughout the process.
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In rehearsals, we spent time carefully working through the stunts to find versions that each actor felt comfortable performing and could safely repeat throughout the run. During our pre-show movement calls, we ran all stunt sequences (first out of context and then within the scenes with lines) while actors with more movement-heavy roles warmed up. We also left time for performers with more acrobatic material to stretch, tumble, and practice on the pole before the house opened.
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During tech and a few performances, some actors experienced soreness and needed to modify certain movements. When that happened, we made small adjustments to ensure everyone remained safe without compromising the overall shape of the show. Overall, the company prioritized physical safety, and we were able to complete the run without any injuries.
Reflection
Stage managing Midsummer was an important point of growth for me this year! Looking back at my work on both Neo-Futurism 2025 and Midsummer, I feel like I made real progress toward several of my personal and professional goals as a stage manager. One of the biggest improvements I noticed was how I handled stress. In past processes, unexpected issues often caused me to panic or try to compensate by over preparing and attempting to control every possible outcome. During Midsummer, however, I was able to approach those moments with much more calm and perspective, which helped the overall process run more smoothly. Instead of becoming overwhelmed when problems came up, I focused on staying solution-oriented. I made a conscious effort to remain calm, grounded, and present for the company while actively working through issues as they arose. Since the stage manager often sets the tone for the rehearsal room either intentionally or unintentionally, maintaining that composure helped create a sense of stability for the rest of the team. While I still sometimes fall into the habit of wanting to prepare for every possible scenario, this process helped me continue practicing letting go of the need to control every detail. Giving myself more flexibility allowed me to stay more engaged in the moment and strengthened my confidence in my leadership.
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Another part of this process that I found extremely rewarding was building relationships with both the cast and the director. I tried to create an environment where company members felt comfortable approaching me while still maintaining the structure and clarity expected from a stage manager. The cast’s professionalism, along with the collaborative nature of the production, helped create an environment that felt both focused and welcoming. That balance made the process efficient while also maintaining a positive atmosphere. Through this experience, I also gained a stronger understanding of leadership. I realized that leadership does not mean having all the answers at all times, but it involves creating stability, organization, and clear communication even when solutions might still developing.
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There are also several areas I want to continue improving as I move forward as a stage manager. I would like to keep strengthening my attention to detail, both in the rehearsal room and in my written reports and paperwork which I imagine will mostly come with more practice and experience. There were a few moments during this process when I caught details later than I would have liked or wished I had reviewed a document more carefully before sending it out in order to make it more clear and straightforward for the team. I would also like to grow more confident when offering ideas or suggestions during problem-solving conversations. Building trust in my instincts will help me engage more actively and creatively when challenges arise. In addition to these, one of my biggest goals moving forward is to continue developing my collaborative leadership style by involving assistant stage managers more intentionally in discussions and inviting their input earlier in the process. Strengthening collaboration and empowering my team is extremely important to me, but I'm still learning how I can best utilize assistant stage managers, which I am also hoping to have the opportunity to work on with more practice and experience.
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Overall, stage managing Midsummer was a really meaningful and formative experience for me. The process helped me build confidence in my abilities and deepen my understanding of leadership. As I look ahead to working professionally this summer, I feel more prepared because of this experience and excited to keep building on the progress I made during this production!