A Rhizomatic Analysis of Stage Management in Modern Alberta Theatre Practice: Keeping the Breath Alive

Abstract

This is a study of the role of technology in the stage management profession, with a specific focus on professional and social practices, in Alberta theatres. Through the interviews I conducted with five professional stage managers in the summer and fall of 2018, I investigate how stage managers interact with technology, and how professional and social practices are changed. There is no unilateral outcome when participants report on the impact of technological developments on the profession. This is where Deleuze and Guattari construct of rhizomes is used to interrogate the role of technology in bringing breath of fresh air into stage management and its impact. Rhizomes exist where there is a need to make connections between different practices, experiences and scholarly conversations related to how technology is changing stage management practices in Alberta. Further, I trace outcomes and possibilities for new technology driven perspectives and practices in stage management, and argue for the importance of technology to enhance the perceived quality of the stage management profession and keep its breath alive.