I don't want to make a big deal out of this, but it's kinda a big deal.

(This will suffice.)

So! Zip back to earlier in 2018, when we were clearing production books from all the locations that were in JCG's name (instead of ADP). The interns mentioned that they were seeing my name on a lot of them, and wondered if I knew how many productions I had run for the Players. I joked that it was better to block out some of them, life went on, etc.

But my brain kept thinking about it. And so I made a list of times when I was lead SM.

First, it was every "show" (Mainstage or CT), but some of the Easters fit that definition, and if you include the Easters, then you might as well include the Spotlighters (heaven knows those headaches might as well count for something). Made a note of times that I covered productions or ASMed, but decided those shouldn't count to the final tally. I added up where I was, then looked ahead at when I'd hit the next big number.


Cut to about three weeks ago, when I was asked to cover the Bing Crosby Christmas concert. (There was concern that one of my many "Hannah's not stage managing a Christmas show, so let's do stuff" plans would interfere with, well, being asked to stage manage a Christmas show after all.) Even though it was described as an SM position, there were a number of things that made it sound like it might fall somewhere in-between instead. Basically, I wasn't sure if it should count on the list because there were going to be some key duties (most notably, calling light and audio cues) not part of the gig.

I run some rehearsals, send *all* the emails, negotiate some scheduling confusion, and eventually we're at the second (and final) performance. Because these are relatively new concerts, the main star is still recording them to listen back later. (In fact, he made edits between the first and second night, so way to be awesome, JB.) He had issues with the recording app on his phone, so he went onstage for A2 without a recording going ... so of course I pulled out my phone once he was set onstage and started recording on his behalf. He has one spot offstage during the act, and was talking to me in the wing while again fighting his phone. I let him know that he didn't need to worry - I was recording for him and would send the file to him after. Happy, he swapped over to the messenger app, so he could confirm that he had my number. I reminded him that I should already be in his phone (we texted a little before the first rehearsal), but it was just long enough to see I was listed as "Hannah Houston SM" in his phone.

I had already basically decided to count the concerts, but that firmed up my decision. If the star considers me the stage manager, who am I to quibble.

And so, after this [very lengthy - jeepers, Smith] to-do, be aware that this week marked my 60th production as lead SM for the Players. Ta-da.