The StageLync Podcast

Episode 199: Tech Talk and Stage Stories with Jack McLean (Audio)

A lifelong fan of live music and entertainment, Jack found his passion for live performance in Glasgow, Scotland, working as a local stage hand loading in and out of all the touring bands that came through and he has now been working in the live entertainment industry for 20 years across live concerts, cruise ships, theme parks, large-scale resident aquatic shows and hotel casino operations.
This journey led Jack to Royal Caribbean, where he played key roles in the technical aspects of their ships and was selected for the startup phase of their newly built ships, Oasis, Allure, Quantum and Anthem of the Seas. Jack later ventured into stage management with Dragone, The Han Show in Wuhan, and Motiongate in Dubai. During the pandemic, Jack transitioned to retail management but returned to Royal Caribbean as Entertainment Technical Director for the launch of Wonder of the Seas.
Currently serving as the GSM at La Perle, Jack has seized an opportunity to apply his extensive skills in a place that holds deep significance for both him and his family.
“ATTENTION SPOTIFY LISTENERS: IF you want to WATCH this with VIDEO, you can also subscribe to our video version:
https://open.spotify.com/show/5e9KnBRZdjUTXTvCe6Nrqm?si=6639537c61044396”
@theatreartlife
Thank you to our sponsor @clear-com
The TheatreArtLife Podcast is a branch of our larger TheatreArtLife Community. Come visit us at www.theatreartlife.com

Episode 199: Tech Talk and Stage Stories with Jack McLean (Video)

A lifelong fan of live music and entertainment, Jack found his passion for live performance in Glasgow, Scotland, working as a local stage hand loading in and out of all the touring bands that came through and he has now been working in the live entertainment industry for 20 years across live concerts, cruise ships, theme parks, large-scale resident aquatic shows and hotel casino operations.
This journey led Jack to Royal Caribbean, where he played key roles in the technical aspects of their ships and was selected for the startup phase of their newly built ships, Oasis, Allure, Quantum and Anthem of the Seas. Jack later ventured into stage management with Dragone, The Han Show in Wuhan, and Motiongate in Dubai. During the pandemic, Jack transitioned to retail management but returned to Royal Caribbean as Entertainment Technical Director for the launch of Wonder of the Seas.
Currently serving as the GSM at La Perle, Jack has seized an opportunity to apply his extensive skills in a place that holds deep significance for both him and his family.
@theatreartlife
Thank you to our sponsor @clear-com
The TheatreArtLife Podcast is a branch of our larger TheatreArtLife Community. Come visit us at www.theatreartlife.com

Episode 198: The Art of Stage Management with Jacqui George

Jacqui has been working in Stage and Production Management the last 25 years. with a major focus on Conservatoire training. She has taught at several conservatoires and is a Master of Education and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. In 2018 Jacqui became joined the senior leadership team at Sharjah Performing Arts Academy to design and implement a Conservatoire performing and production arts undergraduate training in the MENA region.   
Jacqui has worked with professional companies such as National Theatre Wales, National Youth Theatre of Great Britain and Shared Experience. She has toured the UK extensively, produced Rep seasons in the West End, and internationally worked in Shanghai; World Expo, Berliner Festspiele, and Paphos; City of Culture. Jacqui also enjoys producing work with her and her husband’s company We Made This. 
Jacqui was one half of Stand By Please, the stage management podcast with Antonia Collins and she is Project Director for World Stage Design 2025.
 
@theatreartlife
Thank you to our sponsor @clear-com
The TheatreArtLife Podcast is a branch of our larger TheatreArtLife Community. Come visit us at www.theatreartlife.com

Episode 197: A Life on Stage with April Leopardi (Audio)

April portrays the leading character “Darkness” in “Awakening” at Wynn Las Vegas. She started her dance career at age 15, dancing for the Kentucky Derby. After portraying Cassandra in “CATS,” she toured worldwide performing on cruise ships, resorts, and casinos. April performed for “The Latin Grammy Awards” for six seasons alongside music artists such as Pitbull, Marc Anthony, Enrique Iglesias, J Balvin, Gente de Zona, and Major Lazer. She toured one season with Charo and two seasons with Broadway’s “The Illusionists.” April opened “Totally Outrageous Brunch,” was the dance captain for “Vegas! The Show,” and the assistant choreographer for “Zombie Burlesque.” April’s television credits include the CW’s “Masters of Illusion," “America’s Got Talent," and Fox’s “Game of Talents."
April was raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, and currently resides in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“ATTENTION SPOTIFY LISTENERS: IF you want to WATCH this with VIDEO, you can also subscribe to our video version:
https://open.spotify.com/show/5e9KnBRZdjUTXTvCe6Nrqm?si=6639537c61044396”
@theatreartlife
Thank you to our sponsor @clear-com
The TheatreArtLife Podcast is a branch of our larger TheatreArtLife Community. Come visit us at www.theatreartlife.com

Episode 197: A Life on Stage with April Leopardi (Video)

April portrays the leading character “Darkness” in “Awakening” at Wynn Las Vegas. She started her dance career at age 15, dancing for the Kentucky Derby. After portraying Cassandra in “CATS,” she toured worldwide performing on cruise ships, resorts, and casinos. April performed for “The Latin Grammy Awards” for six seasons alongside music artists such as Pitbull, Marc Anthony, Enrique Iglesias, J Balvin, Gente de Zona, and Major Lazer. She toured one season with Charo and two seasons with Broadway’s “The Illusionists.” April opened “Totally Outrageous Brunch,” was the dance captain for “Vegas! The Show,” and the assistant choreographer for “Zombie Burlesque.” April’s television credits include the CW’s “Masters of Illusion," “America’s Got Talent," and Fox’s “Game of Talents."
April was raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, and currently resides in Las Vegas, Nevada.
@theatreartlife
Thank you to our sponsor @clear-com
The TheatreArtLife Podcast is a branch of our larger TheatreArtLife Community. Come visit us at www.theatreartlife.com

Episode 196: Stage Automation with Alex Panek (Video)

Alex is a Local 1 IATSE member and current Head of Automation at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. He received his bachelor's degree in Technical Production at Boston University and subsequently attended UNC School of the Arts receiving a master's degree in Stage Automation. Prior to the Met, Alex worked at TAIT Towers as a controls integrator working on a variety of projects from concert touring to theme parks.
@theatreartlife
Thank you to our sponsor @clear-com
The TheatreArtLife Podcast is a branch of our larger TheatreArtLife Community. Come visit us at www.theatreartlife.com

Episode 196: Stage Automation with Alex Panek (Audio)

Alex is a Local 1 IATSE member and current Head of Automation at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. He received his bachelor's degree in Technical Production at Boston University and subsequently attended UNC School of the Arts receiving a master's degree in Stage Automation. Prior to the Met, Alex worked at TAIT Towers as a controls integrator working on a variety of projects from concert touring to theme parks.
“ATTENTION SPOTIFY LISTENERS: IF you want to WATCH this with VIDEO, you can also subscribe to our video version:
https://open.spotify.com/show/5e9KnBRZdjUTXTvCe6Nrqm?si=6639537c61044396”
@theatreartlife
Thank you to our sponsor @clear-com
The TheatreArtLife Podcast is a branch of our larger TheatreArtLife Community. Come visit us at www.theatreartlife.com

Episode 195: Technical Direction with Tania Ordoñez Prieto (Audio)

Tania Ordoñez Prieto has always had a passion for technical theatre. She moved from her hometown Chihuahua, Mexico to Mexico City, where she began as a production assistant in Teatro Telcel. She rose quickly through the ranks, bringing Broadway shows like Mary Poppins and Wicked to Mexico.
Over the past 15 years, She has worked for companies such as Cirque du Soleil, Dragone and Disney, and has experience in developing, supporting,and operating all aspects of theatre, concerts, circus and spectacle on land and at sea.
After joining Celebrity in 2019 as Technical director on Edge,  Tania has been the inaugural technical director for Apex, and has been the technical director in the shipyard in Saint Nazaire for new builds Beyond and Ascent. 
“ATTENTION SPOTIFY LISTENERS: IF you want to WATCH this with VIDEO, you can also subscribe to our video version:
https://open.spotify.com/show/5e9KnBRZdjUTXTvCe6Nrqm?si=6639537c61044396”
@theatreartlife
Thank you to our sponsor @clear-com
The TheatreArtLife Podcast is a branch of our larger TheatreArtLife Community. Come visit us at www.theatreartlife.com

Episode 195: Technical Direction with Tania Ordoñez Prieto (Video)

Tania Ordoñez Prieto has always had a passion for technical theatre. She moved from her hometown Chihuahua, Mexico to Mexico City, where she began as a production assistant in Teatro Telcel. She rose quickly through the ranks, bringing Broadway shows like Mary Poppins and Wicked to Mexico.
Over the past 15 years, She has worked for companies such as Cirque du Soleil, Dragone and Disney, and has experience in developing, supporting,and operating all aspects of theatre, concerts, circus and spectacle on land and at sea.
After joining Celebrity in 2019 as Technical director on Edge,  Tania has been the inaugural technical director for Apex, and has been the technical director in the shipyard in Saint Nazaire for new builds Beyond and Ascent. 
 
@theatreartlife
Thank you to our sponsor @clear-com
The TheatreArtLife Podcast is a branch of our larger TheatreArtLife Community. Come visit us at www.theatreartlife.com

Episode 194: Integrating Theater Technologies at Sea with Jon Shaw

Jon, originally from England, grew up in Australia and Zambia due to his father's engineering career. After studying Maths and Engineering, he discovered a passion for theatre and began with RCI in 1996. Recognized for his talent in automation, Jon quickly rose to Production Manager, assisting in world-renowned ship builds, such as Voyager and Oasis of the Seas. Over the years, he has collaborated on major productions and recently worked on pioneering cruise projects in India and Italy. Jon is now a freelance Automation Tech and working with SPARK as a consultant. Offstage, he enjoys motorcycles and scuba diving.
 
@theatreartlife
Thank you to our sponsor @clear-com
The TheatreArtLife Podcast is a branch of our larger TheatreArtLife Community. Come visit us at www.theatreartlife.com