Jay Sheehan

Evangeline Rose Whitlock

Evangeline is a seasoned stage manager who has worked on and off Broadway, on national tours, regionally, and currently teaches future stage managers at Webster University how to thrive in the theater world.    BIO: Evangeline has worked on and off Broadway, in regional theatres across the country, on international and national tours, with ballet and contemporary dance companies, and with large-scale corporate and industrial events. In her current hometown, she has worked with the St. Louis Rep, the Muny, and the St. Louis Ballet. She has been a professor of stage management at Webster University since 2020 and holds an MFA in stage management from UC San Diego. In her non-theatre life Evangeline is a competitive figure skater and skates on an adult synchronized skating team in St. Louis. She enjoys reading, writing, hiking, cycling, and hanging out with friends and family!   Backstage Breakdown answers questions like:   1. What are the similarities and differences between Broadway, Off-Broadway, Regional, and Touring productions when working as a Stage Manager? 2. What’s it like being on the road with a show? 3. What excites you about Stage Management? What brings you back? 4. What was it like being a “professional freelancer” for fifteen years? 5. What made you stop freelancing and move to a full time professorship? 6. What have the last few years been like for you since making that change? Theme music by Barrett Riggins. BARRETT RIGGINS is a composer and lyricist based in Brooklyn. He won the 2025 Richard Rodgers Award for HELSINKI (Upcoming; The New Group, Selection; NAMT). He is represented by UTA and the Hybrid Agency.

Jay Sheehan

Jay Sheehan sits down with Allison & Elizabeth and has a candid conversation about mental health in both the classroom and the workplace.  Jay talks about his own challenges while encouraging others.  A multi hyphenate creative with an impressive resume who reminds us that no matter how far your career takes you, it’s important to never lose your belief in yourself and your compassion for others.     Jay Sheehan (he/him) Jay has been overseeing the production management and stage management areas for the School of Theatre, Television and Film at San Diego State University where he leads the Certificate in Entertainment Management Program for the School. In addition to leading the production management area, Jay teaches stage management, production management, event planning, and live concert production. A published author, Jay co-wrote the first textbook about production management in the United States. The Production Manager’s Toolkit has been an international best seller in the Routledge Press Toolkit series. The Second Edition was released on March 14th, 2023 Jay is a 20-year member of the United States Institute for Theatre Technology and was the recipient of the USITT Wally Russel Award for Outstanding Mentorship in 2022. He is a 30-year member of Actors Equity Association and spent his early career at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego. Jay’s resume is extensive.   He is also the owner of his own production company, Cue One Productions, whose event list includes the NFL Super Bowl, and Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game Special Events. He also produces many charity galas and corporate events across the United States. Backstage Breakdown answers questions like: 1. What is imposter syndrome? How does it affect us on a daily basis?  How does this affect professionals vs. students (is there a difference?) Does it ever go away?  2. How do we persevere in times of hardship?  3. How do you balance work and personal life?  4. What are Mental Health Days?   5. Join Jay, Allison, & Elizabeth through a guided meditation as they close out this episode.    Backstage Banter The Podcast  Bryan Runion and Jay Sheehan  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/backstage-banter/id1778487958 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/backstage-banter/id1778487958]    Production Managers Tool Kit  Second Edition  Cary Gillett and Jay Sheehan https://a.co/d/01r3BVSv [https://a.co/d/01r3BVSv]    Let Go It Will All Get Done  https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5cTakAaXNlsNAhZJGM2p6i [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5cTakAaXNlsNAhZJGM2p6i] Donna D’Cruz   The Four Agreements  https://www.amazon.com/Four-Agreements-Practical-Personal-Freedom/dp/1878424319 [https://www.amazon.com/Four-Agreements-Practical-Personal-Freedom/dp/1878424319] by Don Miguel Ruiz [https://www.amazon.com/Don-Miguel-Ruiz/e/B001JP23NM/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1] (Author), Janet Mills [https://www.amazon.com/Janet-Mills/e/B001JP0T9W/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_2] Theme music by Barrett Riggins. BARRETT RIGGINS is a composer and lyricist based in Brooklyn. He won the 2025 Richard Rodgers Award for HELSINKI (Upcoming; The New Group, Selection; NAMT). He is represented by UTA and the Hybrid Agency.

Jamie Torres

Jamie Torres (He/They) is a multi-hyphenate theater creative who thrives during the chaos and doesn’t back down from their beliefs.    BIO: Jaime is a theatre artist born and raised in NYC, growing up in the Bronx, Jaime starting dancing at the age of 7 and then singing in middle school, it wasn’t long until they were in love with theatre. Unfortunately college for theatre wasn’t an option so they had to pivot. Jaime attended The Fashion Institute of Technology or FIT and graduated with a BFA in Fashion Design. Merging the worlds of theatre and fashion quickly set them on the path of Costume Design and Wardrobe. It allowed them to establish themselves in the theatre community earlier than most of their contemporaries and gain experience as a theatre professional. Jaime worked steadily in Theatre, Opera, and Concert Dance up until the pandemic, and has been fortunate to continue working steadily post, most notably as the original wardrobe supervisor for the hit Off Broadway Show TITANIQUE which opened in 2022 At The Asylum Theatre and moved to the The Daryl Roth.    Backstage Breakdown answers questions like: 1. How did you get involved in the costumes and wardrobe world of theater? 2. What is a wardrobe supervisor? What is their relation to the stage manager? 3. What does a typical day at work look like for you? 4. How do you try to achieve a work / life balance in this industry? 5. How do you keep yourself healthy during a 8 show week?     Instagram/TikTok: @jaimester88   Dance with Jamie:  Steps on Broadway (“Lastic Stretch”)  Monday’s @ 1:30pm  Online or In Person    Dance with Jamie:  Broadway Dance Center  Thursday’s @ 12:15pm  Friday’s @ 10:45am   Theme music by Barrett Riggins. BARRETT RIGGINS is a composer and lyricist based in Brooklyn. He won the 2025 Richard Rodgers Award for HELSINKI (Upcoming; The New Group, Selection; NAMT). He is represented by UTA and the Hybrid Agency.

Priscilla Villanueva

Priscilla is a managerial mastermind. She is an AEA Stage Manager and an ATPAM Company Manager who has a plethora of experience in managerial roles on various levels of theatre in New York City and beyond.  Bio: Priscilla Villanueva is a New York-based stage manager and AEA member. They have graduated from City College of New York with a B.A in Theatre. They have worked for The Bushwick Starr, Theatre for the New City, Signature Theatre, The Kraine Theatre, Playwrights Realm, and The Sappho Project. Off-Broadway credits include: The Siblings Play, Cullud Wattah, Neurosis, Locusts Have No King, and Play On! Shakespeare festival. Peace and Love…    Backstage Breakdown answers questions like: 1. How did you get into theatre? 2. What is a Stage Manager? What do they do? What qualities do they need? 3. How do you make those tough or quick decisions? 4. Let’s chat Company Management! What made you decide to move into this? 5. What’s your advice to people who are shooting their shot and not getting the results they want? 6. Work / Life Balance! Tell us more.  @villanueva.priscilla Theme music by Barrett Riggins. BARRETT RIGGINS is a composer and lyricist based in Brooklyn. He won the 2025 Richard Rodgers Award for HELSINKI (Upcoming; The New Group, Selection; NAMT). He is represented by UTA and the Hybrid Agency.

Leon Jones

Leon is an all around super human multi-hyphenate with professional experience as an actor, company manager, marketing manager,  general manager, and producer on the regional, Off-Broadway, and Broadway stages.    BIO: An award-winning creative producer, artistic administrator, multi-hyphenate, Leon Jones (they/he) is committed to creating space for other BIPOC/LGBTQIA+ artists on stage and off. Leon began their professional career playing Macduff’s Child in Berkeley Rep’s Macbeth, starring Frances McDormand and Conelth Hill. They have worked with renowned regional companies such as Abingdon Theatre Company (Artistic Associate), California Shakespeare Theatre (Company Member), San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Company (Associate Producer), and Marin Shakespeare Company (Education Director). Most recent credits, PICTURES FROM HOME (Assistant Company Manager - Broadway debut), Associate Producer for the upcoming Off-Broadway production of TROPHY BOYS, Client Services Coordinator at AKA, and Associate General Manager and Company Manager positions for several Off-Broadway productions and a national tour of ON YOUR FEET. www.leonjonesjr.com | IG: @theleonjones   Backstage Breakdown answers questions like:   1. You were a child performer! Tell us more.  2. How did you transition into the management side of theatre from there? 3. How did you get to New York from California? 4. What the heck does a Producer do? How do they work with Stage Managers? 5. What does a General Manager do? How do they work with Stage Managers?   @theleonjones Theme music by Barrett Riggins. BARRETT RIGGINS is a composer and lyricist based in Brooklyn. He won the 2025 Richard Rodgers Award for HELSINKI (Upcoming; The New Group, Selection; NAMT). He is represented by UTA and the Hybrid Agency.