If you had asked me just a short 53 days ago what I will be doing in 2 months the answer would have been simple…I would be working at “Pret A Manager” as Shop Team leader with a possibility of training to become Assistant Floor Manager. The answer would have probably been the same if you had asked me what I’ll be doing in a year.
I’ve lived in Chicago for 1 year. I came to work in theater, which is what I started doing. I got a day job at Pret and then I worked in theater at night and on the weekends. I worked 2 gigs back to back as soon as I came to Chicago and then I had this sort of crisis where I needed to take a break from theater. I was ok with it at the time…I was only going to do that for a few months. But then Pret happened. I’m not really sure how, but it sucked me in. I got stuck. They were offering me raises and promotions (which ended up not being such a great experience but that’s not what this post is about). I kept saying to myself, “I’ll see how this goes” and I kind of forgot why I came to Chicago. I was turning down gigs and as time went on I became more depressed about it, but as I said, I felt stuck and didn’t really know what to do about it.
Then, out of nowhere, just 52 days ago, I get an email asking me to apply for the production stage manager position at the Taproot Theatre Company in Seattle, Washington. WHAT?!!! I researched the job and the theater. This was a full time, salary plus benefits job. Again I say WHAT???!!!!!! I didn’t even think those existed in the non-union world. In fact, this is one of the very few non-union theater companies that has this kind of job. I never in a million years thought I would ever have a salary job. CRAZY!!! Two weeks later they fly me out for an interview (which with the time difference and the plane flights, I was up for a total of 23 hours that day…it was a long and tiring day) and I loved it there. And then…just two days later…they offered me the job. One more time I have to say WHAT??!!!!!!!!! I couldn’t believe it. I found the job I was always hoping to get. I think it’s a rare thing when your passion and your career are the same thing…and I can’t believe that I was given this opportunity.
The job started in exactly one month. I had ONE MONTH to uproot my whole life…again…to a strange new city where I know practically no one. Although I was kind of freaking out about how fast this came along…I had never been more excited for anything in my life. It reminded me of the feeling I had when I was finally accepted into grad school. I feel so blessed to have had these amazing opportunities just find me.
I packed up a truck and drove across the country (a three and a half day trip). I LOVED IT! On a side note…Montana may be one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen.
I have now been in Seattle for a grand total of 48 hours. I started my job yesterday. I can’t believe I’m here.
I’m so excited to begin this new adventure in my life.







