April 16, 2025 —Molly Emmens '25 and Rhiannon Moline '25 explored the world of technical theatre at the annual United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) Conference in Columbus, Ohio.

Molly, a social work major, was accepted to the Stage Management Mentorship Program. She learned one-on-one from working stage managers, participated in round table discussions and attended networking events.

“The big overlap between stage managing and social work is working with people, advocacy, communication, and understanding systems,” Molly said. “Through social work, I better understand how to have uncomfortable conversations with actors, how to navigate struggles between departments, and how to resolve conflict.”

The conference challenged Molly to develop her stage management skills in a different setting than a rehearsed performance. She stage-managed a conference event, the Legacy Celebration, under guidance from Whitlock.

Molly Emmens '25 stage managing the Legacy Celebration with her mentor Evangeline Whitlock, a professional off-Broadway stage manager. Photo courtesy of Molly Emmens '25.

“In theater, each moment with a cue is perfectly defined,” said Molly. “You follow the script line by line. In event calling, there’s a lot more improv. There are scripts, but people deviate from them, and you have to roll with the punches.”

Rhiannon, an English major with a concentration in theatre, served as a Conference Assistant, where she worked alongside working professionals and learned about the intricacies of running an event with thousands of attendees. The USITT conference emphasizes mentorship opportunities in technical theatre, with Rhiannon experiencing all the conference had to offer.

Rhiannon Moline '25 in the Nelly Goletti Theatre. Photo by Karissa Lattin '25.

“I helped support conference events on a big and a small level—from lost and found to escorting presenters and conference personnel from room to room,” Rhiannon said. “I learned a lot from professional production managers and attended educational sessions that taught me skills I can add to my production management toolkit.”

Outside of theater, Rhiannon is involved with Marist Music and plays flute with the Marist band. In 2022, she served as the live narrator during President Kevin Weinman’s inauguration.

“Rhiannon has been a regular fixture in stage and production management for shows on campus, and she pairs this with her music department experience,” said Dr. Eileen Curley, Professor of English/Theatre and Director of the theatre program. “An entire suite of management opportunities opens up due to her understanding of instrumentation and musicians' needs, ability to read music, and familiarity with the breadth of theatre.”

The skills developed through performing arts education don’t just apply to the world of theatre—skills like organization, project management, and teamwork are necessary in any industry.

Rhiannon Moline '25 and Molly Emmens '25 at the USITT conference. Photo courtesy of Rhiannon Moline.

“Theatre folks learn by doing and from others; new experiences and networking are crucial,” said Dr. Curley. “These programs are designed to provide students with experiences beyond what their campuses can offer and do so with new mentors from throughout the discipline.”

The USITT conference, which ran March 5 through 8, annually brings together people passionate about live entertainment. The conference emphasizes the principles of education, engagement, and exploration.

About Marist Theatre
Marist’s Theatre program includes an English major concentration and a minor. To learn more about the program and the theater scholarship, click here.