My name is Laney Schwantes and I’m a production manager and stage manager based in New York City. I’m originally from Melbourne, Australia and grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area where I gained a reputation for putting on plays at the playground.
I graduated magna cum laude from Fordham University with a B.A. in Theatre Design and Production, occupying many leadership positions throughout my time such as Production Stage Manager, Studio Production Manager, Mainstage Audition Coordinator, Clerical Program Manager, and Student Ambassador to Design and Production Faculty.
Recently, I’ve served as the Assistant Production Manager at the Williamstown Theatre Festival for their revolutionary and experimental 71st season, the 2024 production management apprentice at Theatre Aspen, and production stage manager of Horoscope by Rajiv Joseph directed by May Adrales at Fordham University.
As a theatre manager, I strive to facilitate a holistic artistic process through a foundation of intentional collaboration, organization, and communication. A strong advocate for accessibility and equity for all, my interactions create a compassionate space in which to meet people with kindness, curiosity, and understanding. In my work, this looks like providing paperwork in dyslexic friendly fonts, offering one on one meetings to discuss ways to best support actors in the rehearsal room, and facilitating conversations to create community guidelines that keep us safe and accountable. In every space, safety is my number one priority, achieved through open communication and preparedness for all kinds of situations. I am a quick thinker, a determined problem solver, and my open mindset yields the most creative, unexpected solutions.
