Santa Fe Opera Stage Crew Apprentice

Opera Creative Teams

The Barber of Seville

Conductor: Iván López-Reynoso

Stage Director: Stephen Barlow

Scenic & Costume Designer: Andrew D. Edwards

Associate Scenic & Costume Designer: Rebecca Gunstone

Lighting Designer: Christopher Akerlind

Choreographer: Mitchell Harper

Fight & Intimacy Directors: Rick Sordelet and Christian Kelly-Sordelet

Chorus Master: Susanne Sheston

Changeovers and Maintenance

Photos courtesy of Matt Crossman, Madi Morrissey, Nick Hunley, and Charlie Capps

In the summer of 2022, I served as an apprentice of the stage crew and the Santa Fe Opera. The main task of the stage crew was to complete nightly (or sometimes bi-daily) changeovers of the scenic elements for all five rotating repertory shows of the opera season. It was also the stage crew's job to maintain the opera house and provide daily cleaning.

Changeover Timelapses

Courtesy of Matt Crossman

Serving on the Crew

Photos courtesy of Matt Crossman, Madi Morrissey, Nick Hunley, and Charlie Capps

The other main portion of the apprenticeship is serving on the stage crew for some of the operas. I was on the crew of Carmen, The Barber of Seville, and M. Butterfly. This meant attending all tech rehearsals, shift rehearsals and performances for these operas.

This also meant I had to be costumed if necessary for these shows.

Opera Production Photos

By Curtis Brown Photography

The Barber of Seville

Scenic Design by Andrew D. Edwards, photo by Curtis Brown Photography for the Santa Fe Opera

Taking Over the Opera

On top of being on the crew, the opera allows the apprentices to completely run the opera for two nights with little supervision. Positions are applied for by all and are assigned by the supervisors for the two nights of scenes. I was assigned to be the Show Crew Supervisor. For more information check out: Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Scenes