Growing up in a small town in Southern Utah, my mom knew how much I loved theater and would drive me over an hour to see shows at Tuacahn. Little me would have been absolutely thrilled to know that one day I would get to work here! I joined Tuacahn as a House Manager in 2021 and spent a year in Front of House before Zoe Baird poached me into Company Management, where I am now in my fifth season as Assistant Company Manager and Assistant Hospitality Manager for concerts.

 

In Company Management and Hospitality, no two days are ever the same, which is one of the things I love most about the job. An important part of my role involves helping coordinate travel, housing, transportation, and hospitality for cast, crew, designers, and visiting concert artists. On any given day, I might be answering emails, updating one of the many spreadsheets that keep our department running, touring a potential apartment for seasonal employees, helping organize a concert, or running an errand like buying a birthday cupcake for a cast member. During especially busy times of the year, I joke that I’m a Tuacahn travel agent! I ended up booking close to 200 flights last year, and whenever company members are traveling, I’m on call in case any issues come up along the way.

 

I love that this position allows me to use both my organizational and creative sides. I’ve always loved puzzles, and Company Management constantly gives me opportunities to problem-solve, whether that’s figuring out travel schedules, piecing together housing assignments, or helping support company members through unexpected challenges. At the same time, Zoe and I also get to bring creativity and fun through opening and closing night parties, themed tech week snacks, and other morale boosters during long rehearsal days. One tech week theme during Finding Nemo rehearsals was “Professor Ray’s School Saturday”, which featured a spread of nostalgic lunchbox snacks like Dunkaroos, Uncrustables, and Capri-Suns. We also provided paper bags, and it was so cute watching everyone giddily “packing their lunches”. We have a wall in our office covered in signs from all of our ridiculous snack puns over the years.

 

One of the most rewarding parts of this job is getting to support the incredible artists and staff who make Tuacahn productions possible. Theater creates such an inclusive environment that brings together people from all different walks of life, and I feel grateful to play a small role in helping make their experience here enjoyable. I also can’t take for granted how lucky I am to work in such a gorgeous place. I’ll never forget one morning this past spring. I was onsite bright and early for a concert and wishing I was still in bed, when Zoe yelled at me to come outside as the sun was rising through the canyon and reminded me, “We get to look at THIS every day.” It was beautiful! Moments like that make me appreciate not only the stunning environment we work in, but also the amazing people I get to work alongside.