On July 24, DGA members gathered both online and in the DGA’s New York boardroom for an enlightening evening covering the world and work of Stage Managers during the event, “All the World’s a Stage and We are Here to Manage It!” DGA Stage Managers and the Future of the Industry. Jointly hosted by the Eastern AD/SM/PA Council and the Eastern Region Special Projects Committee, the panel featured veteran Stage Managers Terry Benson, Jeffrey Pearl, April Smith and Dominick Tringali in a conversation moderated by Stage Manager Dan J. Frank.

Following a welcome from Frank, the panelists shared their experiences working at various networks and entertainment platforms and discussed the challenges of the Stage Manager’s role.

Tringali spoke about how Stage Managers still play an important role even as new technology is introduced. Recounting an experience where a virtual monitor failed, and he was there to hand off virtual cards to the presenter Tringali said, “I must have given them two cards, which doesn’t seem like a lot, but this was the Super Bowl and whether it was a sponsor or a promo, that is a pretty hefty stuff as far as what may or may not have been able to be said at a given time.”

Pearl advised that Stage Managers should, “know all of the different elements that go into making up your event, because with a Producer and a Director sitting in a truck somewhere, you are the leader on the ground. You are the manager of this stage. So, your awareness of what’s going on of all of the elements helps to make it better and stronger. But it’s getting harder and harder as the elements become more modernized, more computerized, and we don’t necessarily have the time, or the production has the willingness to allow us to learn those things.”

For Smith, keeping an eye towards set safety is always a priority. “I will always point out something I see on a set that’s not right. I will always point out the need to make sure everyone is safe. That’s something that’s automatic.”

And Benson shared how he prepares for a job. “Whatever the stage is, I tried to get a floor plan and then I would go all around the stage and figure out how do I get from here to the control room, from here to the dressing room. Where’s the green room? Where are the bathrooms? Know what your physical layout is and get to know all the people on the crew, and everybody else you’ve got to deal with.”

See video from this event in the gallery below.

ABOUT THE PANELISTS:

Terry Benson A DGA Stage Manager since 1970, Benson’s first job was on season 2 of the classic series Sesame Street. He has also worked as a Stage Manager on talk shows, game shows, news programs, awards shows, documentaries, soaps, sports programs and commercials. He has worked the Dupont Awards at Columbia for 37 years, Carnegie Hall Opening Night for 15 years, and Met Opera for 35 years.  He has served on the Eastern AD/SM/PA Council in various capacities for 45 years. For his career achievements and service to the Guild, Benson was the recipient of the 2007 Franklin J. Schaffner Achievement Award.

Jeffrey Pearl Pearl’s Stage Manager credits include entertainment projects such as It’s Showtime at the Apollo, Uptown Comedy Club, Apollo Comedy Hour, The Tony Awards, The Grammy Awards, MTV Video Music Awards, Latin Grammys, and Country Music Awards; sports programming including games for the New York Knicks, New York Rangers, New York Islanders, New Jersey Devils and Red Bulls Soccer; and he also subs in for at Good Morning America and Today. A DGA member since 1995, Pearl serves as a member of the Eastern AD/SM/PA Council.

April Smith Smith’s Stage Manager credits include episodes of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Tamron Hall, The Amber Ruffin Show, Legendary, Teen Mom, Desus and Mero, Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, Showtime at the Apollo, Back on the Record With Bob Costas, 2 Dope Queens, $100,000 Pyramid and The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore; and specials such as the 2025 Met Gala Red Carpet, MTV Video Music Awards, Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve, Unplugged: Lady Gaga & Tony Bennett and Full Frontal with Samantha Bee Presents Not the White House Correspondents' Dinner. A DGA member since 2015, Smith has served as 1st Vice Chair of the Eastern AD/SM/PA Council, as a co-chair of the Eastern Diversity Steering Committee.

Dominick Tringali Tringali’s Stage Manager credits include numerous local and national sporting events such as games for MSG Networks (Knicks, Rangers, Devils, Islanders, Yankees, Mets, Red Bulls, Liberty), YES Network (Yankees, Nets, NYCFC), ABC/ESPN (Monday Night Football, NFL and NBA Drafts, NBA and NHL games, U.S. Open Tennis, the Heisman Trophy Show), FOX Sports (NFL including 4 Super Bowls, MLB including 12 World Series and All-Star Games, Big East Tournament, U.S. Open Golf Championship, Belmont Stakes, Indy 500), CBS Sports (NFL and NCAA Basketball Tournament) and NBC Sports (NHL). He has also worked the coverage of the Columbus Day and Veteran’s Day Parades. Tringali has been a DGA member since 1991.

Dan J. Frank (moderator) Frank’s Stage Manager credits include various programs on Fox Sports and specials such as Wanda Sykes: I’m an Entertainer. He is also the Field Stage Manager for the MLB playoffs since 2013. Frank has been a DGA member since 2014 and has served on the Eastern AD/SM/PA Council since 2024.

About the Council:

The Eastern AD/SM/PA Council is the elected body that represents the Guild members who reside in the Eastern region and work in television as Associate Directors, Stage Managers or Production Associates.

• For more information about the Council, click here to visit their web page.