Shining Stars

Jodie Wilkinson

Keeping a cast and crew of creatives on task and in sync can be challenging, to say the least. It takes someone with the skills of a master strategist, communicator, and diplomat. Fortunately, Theatre Ancaster has found its match in Stage Manager extraordinaire, Jodie Wilkinson. A relative newcomer to the company, Jodie has quickly become an integral member of our production team since joining in 2023.

Jodie majored in Stage Management & Props at Sheridan College’s Technical Production for the Performing Arts Industry program. Though she hadn’t worked in live theatre for several years, she was eager to return to stage managing. “Coming back to my theatre roots has always been on the ‘bucket list’ for me,” says Jodie. To get that ball rolling, she reached out to become a volunteer with Theatre Ancaster.

Directors Krys and Al Croxall just so happened to be searching for a Stage Manager for their play The Foursome, when Jodie’s volunteer application caught their eye. “I submitted the application and they contacted me the next day regarding my stage managing experience,” explains Jodie. “It was just lucky timing I guess.”

Lucky indeed: “Long story short, Jodie was a great Stage Manager, and we couldn’t have had a better team member,” says Al. “Her training showed immediately as she quickly got a handle on the Stage Manager’s various tasks, as well as working with our props. She contributed strongly to producing a quality show and handled the cast and crew tactfully and confidently.”

According to Jodie, Stage Manager is “a job that is multifaceted, depending on the needs of the production.” This is certainly true of her current role as stage manager for the over-the-top comedy The 39 Steps. Director Rob Ciccotelli explains that the play “has as many lighting cues, sound, projections and props as a full-scale musical.”

It’s a challenge Jodie has risen to. “Jodie does an excellent job keeping everything organized and on cue,” says Rob. “She is one of the most organized and efficient stage managers I’ve ever worked with. She keeps me on schedule and on task—not always an easy feat. She is always positive and tries hard to keep up morale. We couldn’t do this show without her!”

Despite all the hard work, it’s fair to say that Jodie is having some fun too. “I did not expect to laugh so much,” she says. “Even after rehearsing for the last several months, this cast still has me genuinely laughing out loud! I think Theatre Ancaster’s audiences are in for a real treat.” The 39 Steps will also mark Jodie’s first time working in Ancaster Memorial Arts Centre’s Peller Hall, an opportunity she’s excited about: “It’s such a great theatre space.”

When she isn’t busy backstage, Jodie is a talented pet portrait artist. One of her specialties is creating one-of-a-kind leather keychains with hand-painted portraits. She’s also a proud and devoted dog owner. “I have had two Bernese Mountain dogs in my life, Amelia was my first and currently I have Emilia,” says Jodie. “They have both been the biggest joys of my life.”

Ultimately, Jodie sees a Stage Manager’s key role as communication. The Stage Manager is “a central point between the creative and technical departments, as well as administrative. They are the right hand to the Director to help facilitate their vision and communicate what happens in rehearsals to the key department leads, as well as a resource for team leads to get the information they need to complete their tasks.”

Given her focus on communication, it should be no surprise that Jodie considers the people at Theatre Ancaster the most enjoyable part of her job. “I have met a few cherished friends through Theatre Ancaster,” she says. “We have a great group of creative people that share the same passion for live theatre as I do.”