Where Every Stage Begins with Opportunity
About Us
Rough Magic Stage is a wishlist of ideas and services from which ALL Technical Directors (and Performing Arts Teachers) would or could possibly benefit. Basic services like a technical arts inventory, localized professional development for teachers, in-house intensive workshops for students, and bespoke production planning are the kind of personal attention that is missing from many like-minded consulting businesses, which are focused mainly on performance. This holistic enterprise, however, is made up of technicians, designers, stitchers, builders, and stage managers, as well as actors, dancers, and singers.
Our People
Dr. David J. Graybill Jr. is a Technical Director with a career spanning two decades and a performing arts career spanning three. He has taught Master's level classes and high school/ middle school classes in Theatre Design. He holds a Ph.D in Shakespeare Studies from The University of Birmingham (UK) and The Shakespeare Institute in Stratford-upon-Avon. He has a Master's in Educational Theatre from NYU/ Steinhardt and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting from NYU/ Tisch School of the Arts. Through his experience, the ideas behind Rough Magic Stage began to take shape...
Our Mission
Rough Magic Stage offers continuing education & professional development to arts educators, as well as production and performance training in stagecraft and technical theater for students in New York.
Bringing equity to New York’s model of quality in educational theatre through access to artistic development, shared resources, and subsidized assistance for all established and aspiring performing arts programs.
Our Program
Rough Magic Stage was founded to fill a critical gap in arts education: providing schools with specialized consulting and educational support focused exclusively on technical theatre and production.
Rough Magic Stage is a non-profit organization in New York State dedicated exclusively to helping schools build sustainable, high-quality technical theatre programs. Bespoke services range from theatre audits and inventory management to curriculum development and long-term program planning.
Our goal is not simply to produce better performances. It is to strengthen educational theatre by ensuring that every school, regardless of size or resources, has access to the expertise needed to create safe, inclusive, and exceptional learning experiences behind the scenes as well as on stage.
Expert Consulting
01
Program Assessment
02
Theatre Safety & Facility Support
Helping schools maintain safe, organized, and sustainable theatre spaces.
We provide practical guidance to keep theatres operating safely and efficiently.
Can include:
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Safety inspections and compliance guidance
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Equipment maintenance planning
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Storage design and organization
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Shop and classroom improvements
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Department clean-up and space optimization.
A comprehensive assessment of your theatre program and facilities.
Our audit provides a clear picture of your program's strengths, needs, and opportunities for growth.
Can include:
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Department Inventory
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Technical theatre curriculum and lesson plans
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Technology orientation and equipment training
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Program recommendations and implemenation roadmap
03
Production & Event Consulting
Customized support for theatre productions, concerts, events, educators, and students.
From the first rehearsal to opening night, we help build strong technical theatre programs and confident production teams.
Can include:
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Teacher professional development
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Student technical theatre intensives
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Stage management training
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Production planning and workflow
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Lighting, sound, scenery, costumes, and front-of-house training
Expert Consulting
04
Auditorium/ Theatre Renovation Consult
05
Professional Development: A Guide for Educators
Are you renovating your auditorium or theatre?
Having worked through two multi-million dollar renovations for high school performing arts spaces asa technical theater director, we can anticipate the needs (and pitfalls) of your project.
Can include:
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Liaison with architect
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Budget recommendations
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Hardware/ Network design
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Site Management
Need a lesson on how to operate anything in the theater?
We can hold as professional development session or an informal chat all about how to use all of the equipment in your theater. This is workshop built around using all of the equipment you can use everyday, from lights and sound to all of the tools in the scene shop and costume closet.
Can include:
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Workshops for 1 to 12 educators
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Lessons tailor made for your equipment & production needs
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Production Mentorship
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Event & Concert Management Lessons, as needed
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Tech / Show Week Assistance
06
Design for Beginners: A Student Intensive
Students needing or wanting lessons in Lighting, Set, or Sound design?
We can host or help you host workshops at your school in many different topics, including how to focus lighting fixtures, use tools to build sets, or program the lighting and sound boards.
Working in: Stage Schematic(s) by hand or computer; Board Operation; Hang/Circuit/Focus of Lighting; Live Mixing at the Soundboard; Programming the light board; Crafting a Soundscape; Stage Management; Production Management; Tech / Show Week Mentorship
Can include:
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A 4-hour intensive workshop -or- weekly classes
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Unit/ Lesson Plan Curriculum
