Backstage Breakdown

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.

Jen Ash

Jen Ash is a phenomenal stage manager who has worked extensively as a Stage Manager in New York, on Tour, and beyond. She talks openly with us about the professional world, friendships, and how to balance business and pleasure.      Bio: Broadway: A  Wonderful World, Days of Wine and Roses, SIX, POTUS, Dear Evan Hansen, Wicked  Tours: Come From Away, Hadestown, Wicked, IF/THEN, Off-Broadway: CATS: The Jellicle Ball, Everything’s Fine, FuerzaBrutaWAYRA, Peter and the Starcatcher, Satchmo at the Waldorf, Bill W. And Dr. Bob. Regional: Goodspeed, Paper Mill Playhouse. Originally from El Paso, TX.   Backstage Breakdown answers questions like: 1. How did you decide to pursue stage management? 2. What does stage management mean to you? 3. Why do you continue on this path?  What do you love about management?  4. What is unique to subbing on a tour as opposed to touring full time with a company?  5. What did you /do you keep on person at all times while touring?  6. How does calling the show differ when on tour?  7. How did you get started on broadway?  8. Can you describe what a typical day looks like when calling a broadway show? 9. Are all broadway calling booths created equal? Tell us about the unique spaces you’ve called a show in.  10. Tell us about the relationship between the stage manager and the performer.  How do you interact with performers as the stage manager/asst. Stage manager?  11. What’s the most exciting thing about being a broadway stage manager?    Instagram: @jendashash

Kyra Bowie

Kyra Bowie is a performer turned amazing stage manager who has worked extensively in the new york city theatre world. She talks with us about her journey to being “behind the table" and   Kyra Bowie is a NY based Stage Manager and co-founder of Transcend Streaming. Projects that excite Kyra are new works, technically challenging productions, and stories that bring up questions that might not always be something easy to grapple with. Select credits: SEE WHAT I WANNA SEE (PSM | Out of the Box Theatrics), OUR CLASS (PSM | MART Foundation), BASEMENT, IL (PSM | NYSAF), HOUSE OF TELESCOPES (PSM | Pipeline Theatre Co), BABY FOOT (PSM | Walkerspace), JUST TELL NO ONE (SM | Lincoln Center), THE ORCHARD with Jessica Hecht & Mikhail Baryshnikov (BA-RISH-NIH-KOF) (PSM | Arlekin Players Theatre) HAPPY LIFE (PSM | Walkerspace). www.KyraBowie.com [http://www.kyrabowie.com/] Backstage Breakdown answers questions like: 1. Does an acting or performing background help or hurt a career in stage management? 2. How do you transition into stage management from acting or another area of theater later in life? 3. Gatekeeping, gir! 4. Let’s talk events! How is event stage management different from theatrical stage management? How do you prepare? 5. Going Digital! What does it mean as a Stage Manager and what could it mean for theatre at large? Instagram: @kyrabowie www.KyraBowie.com [http://www.kyrabowie.com/]