Wagner SRMT (Student Run Musical Theatre)
Wagner College is known for its thriving, incredibly high quality student run theatre scene. One of the most prevalent and relevant producers is Wagner Student Run Musical Theatre, which produces between 2-4 productions per year by and for Wagner College Students. The goal of the organization is to give performance, design, and directing opportunities to those who are not involved in current WCT productions; and to give experience in producing to those on the board of the organization. The organization aims to give students experience in working with tight budgets, and to give value experience performing and working in non-proscenium spaces.
I joined the SRMT Executive Board in my Sophomore Year as the Company Manager.
In this organization, the Company Manager was responsible for creating, distributing, collecting, and organizing all contracts for SRMT's productions-- which usually consisted of 20-40 individual documents.
The Company Manager was also in charge of hiring, training, overseeing, and ensuring that all Stage Managers for its productions were successful in their positions. I provided paperwork as needed, sent weekly check in emails, and handled any issues as they arose.
The Company Manager was also responsible for distributing a Post Mortem survey for each production, conducting a meeting discussing all responses to the Post Mortem, and managing and presenting the findings and solutions of said meeting to the Executive Board of SRMT.
Company Manager was a huge job, and I learned a great deal about time management, organization, and arts administration. I held this position for my Sophomore and Junior year. While in the Company Manager position, I was on the producing and selection team for the following productions:
Yo, Vikings!
The Ghost Light Cabaret
Godspell
The Wizard of Oz
Scab
Big Fish
The Starry Night Dance
Songs for a New World
The DTM Cabaret
For my Senior Year, I was promoted to Vice President and Graphic Designer for the organization.
The Vice President of the organization heads the Executive Management board, which includes the President, Vice President, Company Manager, Production Manager, and Technical Director. As these are the biggest roles within the organization, the Vice President is responsible for ensuring all parties are completing their job duties effectively.
The Vice President also assists the President with their duties, helping as needed. Common things I assist with are submitting show rights applications, scheduling and interviewing directors on their pitches, assisting in planning and delegating duties for fundraising events, running Executive Board meetings, and overlooking the organization as a whole.
I also took on the role of Graphic Designer, and create all logos, posters, and social media posts for SRMT. Some of the work I have done thus far can be found below.
So far this year, I have been on the producing and selection team for the following productions:
Spring Awakening
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
The Jazz Club Social
I am incredibly, incredibly proud to be a part of this organization. The work we do is immensely important, and the art we produce is beautiful. My college experience would not be what it was without this club, these opportunities, and the people involved.
Wagner's "The Spin Cycle" Improv Troupe
The Spin Cycle Improv Troupe is an outlet for students to perform improvisational comedy and sharpen their improvisation, public speaking, and team reliance skills. The troupe is audition only, and is known for its highly selective audition process. A troupe of 18-20, the club performs 4 improv shows a semester, whether they be musical improv, games à la "Whose Line Is It Anyways", or long-form improv. Spin Cycle also offers workshop opportunities to the Wagner College community, giving the space for students of all years and experience levels to have fun and strengthen their improvisational skills.
For my Sophomore through Senior years, I have been elected the Production Manager of the troupe.
The Spin Cycle Production Manager is the only non-performing member of the troupe. They are the manager of the group in every sense; booking spaces, handling club affairs with the Board of Student Engagement and Activities, creating and sending out schedules, timekeeping, running auditions, handling internal problems, ensuring the club constitution is upheld, and any other miscellaneous technical or managerial tasks.
I have felt immensely lucky to work with a group of such talented individuals. I feel thankful they have trusted me time and time again to manage the inter-workings of their beloved troupe.
