The New Girl In Town

Claire Friday, Assistant Stage Manager

Boston! My first time in this big city. So much history, culture, and things to see–but first and foremost, I’m here with Boston Lyric Opera on one contract to Assistant Stage Manage on David Schweizer and John Conklin’s production of Macbeth.

Since I’m the new girl here, I should probably tell you a little bit about myself. I’m from Los Angeles and grew up a Southern California native before moving off to The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to pursue my graduate degree in Stage Management with a concentration in opera stage management. (Yes! There is such a thing.) I knew that I wanted to pursue opera production and management as a career very early on while I was still in college. I currently reside in LA and work in opera stage management at various companies including LA Opera, Arizona Opera, Opera Colorado, and San Diego Opera. I grow to love this business more and more each day. I meet so many fascinating people and incredibly talented singers and musicians. Not many people can claim to have those different and creative experiences day after day. I consider it a privilege to be here working in such a unique and beautiful art form. I couldn’t see myself doing anything else.

But enough about me. Let’s talk about this ghoulish and wicked (don’t you use that word in Boston?) production of Macbeth! I’m really enjoying my first couple of weeks at BLO. Great staff, talented creative team, and fantastic vision for this production on everyone’s part. We are well into rehearsals for the show and the singers and production team are working hard to create a well-thought-out and visually avant-garde interpretation of one of Verdi’s masterpieces. I’m looking forward to collaborating with the team towards a successful production. I’ll keep you updated as we move from the rehearsal room to the stage and fit all of the pieces of the puzzle together into a beautiful, polished opera.

Cheers!

The Assistant Stage Manager on Stage Left,

Claire