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2026 Stage Managers for the Festival of New Works Application

SPARC's New Voices for the Theater program is seeking SIX student Stage Managers (rising 8th to 12th grade) to participate in the 35th annual Festival of New Works.

Stage Managers will be placed on a creative team with a professional Theatre Director and student Playwright. The Stage Management team will be supervised and trained by the Production Manager, Amy Almond.

All rehearsals will meet in-person at SPARC. Rehearsals will run June 21-25 from 4-6pm and 7-9pm. Technical rehearsal will take place at Henrico Theater on Friday and Saturday, June 26 and 27. The Festival of New Works will be held on Saturday, June 27, 2026 in two sessions 3:00-5:00pm and 6:30-8:30pm.

Students interested in Stage Managing need not have experience. SPARC will conduct a Stage Manager Orientation and learn the ins and outs of the role together!

There are no fees for students to participate. In fact, Stage Managers are given a $50 stipend for their work.

The Stage Management schedule is as follows:

Stage Manager Orientation - Wednesday, June 17 from 4pm-5pm

First Read Through - June 21 1:00-4:00 at SPARC
Regular Rehearsals* - June 22 to 25 at SPARC
4:00pm - 6:00pm and 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Stage Managers will be assigned to either the 4-6pm or 7-9pm time slot (not both).

*Tech - June 26 and June 27 at SPARC (Stage Managers will only attend the time frame associated with their assigned play.)
June 26 tech rehearsals at Henrico Theater
10:00-11:30
12:00- 1:30
1:30-2:30 playwrights break for lunch
2:30- 4:00
4:30- 6:00

June 27 tech rehearsals at Henrico Theater
10:00- 11:30
12:00 - 1:30

*35th Festival of New Works - June 27 at Henrico Theater
Stage Managers will required to be at the show time for the play they are assigned to.
3:00-5:00 = 3 plays and talkbacks
6:30-8:30 = 3 plays and talkbacks

*Stage Managers should plan to be on site up to a half hour prior to rehearsal and plan to stay after actor dismissal.
Please complete the following application to be considered.
1.First Name(Required.)
2.Last name(Required.)
3.Pronouns
4.What is your age?
5.What grade will you be entering in the 2025-2026 school year?(Required.)
6.Phone Number(Required.)
7.What is your personal email address?(Required.)
8.Name of Parent/Guardian. If not applicable, put N/A.(Required.)
9.Parent/Guardian email. If not applicable, put N/A.(Required.)
10.Parent/Guardian phone number. If not applicable, put N/A.(Required.)
11.What is the name of your school?(Required.)
12.How did you hear about this Stage Manager Opportunity?
13.Why are you interested in participating in New Voices/doing Stage Management?(Required.)
14.Do you have experience as a Stage Manager? If yes, please describe.(Required.)
15.Please check all the Stage Manager tasks you have experience with (reminder that you need not have experience to be invited to join the team).(Required.)
16.Tell us about a time you had to take on a leadership role and what you learned from it. If you have never been in a leadership role, put N/A.(Required.)
17.Are you available for Stage Management Orientation on June 17 at 4pm?(Required.)
18.Please list any rehearsal conflicts:(Required.)
19.Please list any tech conflicts:(Required.)
20.Please list any performance conflicts:(Required.)
21.Comments/Questions?