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Earn Your BFA in Stage Management from the Sargent Conservatory of Theatre Arts

Webster's Sargent Conservatory of Theatre Arts offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in Stage Management. Stage managers work on every phase of a production process, from prep to closing night. They facilitate communication among directors, choreographers, writers, designers, actors, office staff, and other collaborators, in addition to running rehearsals and attending meetings. Once installed in the theatre, the stage manager coordinates all production elements and calls the cues of the show for technical rehearsals, previews and performances. After official opening, the stage manager becomes responsible for maintaining the production’s artistic integrity.

A typical stage management major can expect a well-rounded engagement with the theatre process that involves both classwork and production work.

An actor with their back to the audience faces a large group of actors depicting activists holding protest signs.

Blood at the Root, 2023

A large group of actors and musicians are singing, dancing, and playing instruments. The stage is set with low, multi-tiered. Stairs, red velvet curtains, pillars and a large door in the center.

Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812, 2024

Two actors in brown and white clothing are in an office space. One sits cross-legged with his eyes closed and the other stands. Sheets of paper are everywhere, scattered all over the floor, hanging from the ceiling in the background, and paper confetti is floating on both sides.

The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, 2024

A woman is kneeling, head to the ground with her hands tied behind her back. Another actor holds a sword over her head. Four actors dressed in robes surround them watching. They are in front of a crumbling stone wall with arches and ivy.

Silence, 2024

Two women are talking in a rustic bar. One is standing and she holds a book and pen. The other sits on a bar stool. The bar is blue and is in front of a winder with views of pine trees against an evening blue sky.

The Spitfire Grill, 2023

The stage is dimly lit in a dark, vibrant blue. In the center, two actors in period clothing kiss. They are surrounded by other actors doing a couple’s dance.

Romeo and Juliet, 2023

Choose Webster for Your Stage Management Degree

Build Real-World Skills for a Career in Stage Management

The Sargent Conservatory trains the next generation of leaders in the theatre and live events sector by blending classroom training with practical work. Students receive instruction and one-on-one mentorship from industry professionals with a vast range of experience, including Broadway, off-Broadway, regional, dance, corporate events and opera. Stage management students also have the opportunity to intern and assist on productions with professional companies in St. Louis and across the country. Through study abroad programs, stage management students can build a rich global experience.

Train with the Pros

Sargent Conservatory’s training program benefits from several professional partnerships, including collaborations with the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, St. Louis Shakespeare Festival and The Muny. We share our space with The Rep and with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis. We are able to offer students unparalleled opportunities to work alongside professional theatre artists, stage managers, directors and designers in the city’s thriving theatre scene.

Mentorship from Experienced Faculty

Sargent Conservatory’s faculty are working professionals and dedicated educators committed to nurturing their students’ artistic growth. Learn more about the individual accomplishments of our faculty. Their work includes Broadway, off-Broadway, regional and international credits, as well as projects in a variety of other fields (film, television, voice-over, corporate events). Several faculty members are currently employed by our professional partners. As a result, students in our stage management program consistently have the opportunity to work in professional endeavors.

Actor wearing beret, striped shirt and red pants gestures broadly on a dock
Entire ensemble on stage with instruments, dancing with confetti falling
Three actors in dresses sing and dance

Featured Alum

Our alums include Maram Samaha (BFA in Stage Management, ’19), who currently works as the production manager for Florentine Opera Company. Photos highlight “Love’s Labour’s Lost,” which Samaha stage-managed for the Conservatory in 2019.

Alumni Spotlight
Meet the Faculty
Professional Partners
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Webster's Sargent Conservatory Curriculum

The trajectory of courses begins by building a foundation in the technical skills of stage management through Assistant Stage Management production assignments and classes that include:

  • Stage management 1
  • Stage management seminar
  • Fundamentals of design
  • Technical production: scenery, lighting, sound, crafts
  • Scenography
  • Drafting
  • Theatre history
  • Introduction to drawing

In the second year, students explore the interpersonal/intrapersonal aspects of a stage manager’s work and focus on the relationships forged in a theatrical process. ASM assignments continue to hone critical skills for running rehearsals and performances. Key classes include:

  • Stage management 2
  • Stage management seminar
  • Stage management topics
  • Vectorworks
  • Rendering
  • Visual history
  • Fundamentals of musicianship

Whether it’s through a production stage management assignment in the Conservatory season or through a production assistant assignment with one of our professional partners, stage management students will put skills learned in the classroom to practice. Coursework becomes increasingly specialized, while at the same time affording students the chance to explore electives in the design program. Classes might include:

  • Stage management 3/4
  • Stage management seminar
  • Stage management topics
  • Lighting design
  • Additional design electives

The fourth year aims to provide a smooth transition into professional practice. Production assignments will serve to round out a student’s resume, and preparation for the Senior Portfolio Open House will entail creating a website and fine-tuning interviewing skills. Classes typically involve:

  • Stage management 3/4
  • Stage management seminar
  • Stage management topics
  • Sound design
  • Professional practice
  • Additional design electives
Explore the Program

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Stage Management

Find out more about our Stage Management courses, learning outcomes and more.

Discover the Sargent Conservatory of Theatre Arts

Program Details

Explore our catalog for more details about courses, modalities and admission requirements for the Stage Management degree.

Locations

The stage management major is offered in person at our Webster Groves, Missouri, campus.

Theatre Scholarships

Almost every full-time undergraduate student at Webster University receives some sort of financial aid. Webster’s Office of Financial Aid is committed to making a college education affordable.

Additionally, the Sargent Conservatory of Theatre Arts awards annual scholarships designated specifically for theatre majors. In 2023-2024, the department awarded over $225,000 in scholarships to its students. Most of these awards are reserved for our third- and fourth-year students. Every year we allot some scholarships to first-year students. These awards are made in consultation with the recruiting faculty and with the Office of Financial Aid. There is no separate application process. Please contact Andrew Laue, Associate Director of Fine Arts Admissions at lauear@webster.edu, for additional information.

Delaney Dunster
Student Success

“With the skills I have gained from my professors, classmates and experiences at Webster and beyond, I am equipped to walk into any rehearsal room and ensure that the cast and creative team feel supported throughout the process.”

Delaney Dunster
Delaney Dunster

BFA in Stage Management, ’22

Actors dressed in period clothing interact on multiple levels of the stage. The set has archways and stairs leading to a balcony with decorative, metalwork railing and climbing flowered vines.

Apply Today for the BFA in Stage Management

Actors dressed in period clothing interact on multiple levels of the stage. The set has archways and stairs leading to a balcony with decorative, metalwork railing and climbing flowered vines.

Webster's Sargent Conservatory of Theatre Arts is committed to your artistic growth and academic success. The first step is to fill out an application.

Contact Evangeline Rose Whitlock, Assistant Professor of Stage Management

Step 1: Complete Your ApplicationStep 2: Schedule Your Audition

Get Started on Your Bachelor's Degree in Stage Management

Take the next step toward earning your BFA in Stage Management — we are here to help you get started.

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Contact the Admissions Office to Find Out More

If you have more questions about the program, your application or other enrollment-related inquiries, contact our Admissions Office.

Call 314-246-7800 or 800-753-6765 or send an email to admit@webster.edu.