Spotlighting. Set Design. Stage Management. That’s where the magic of theatre happens. And for Courtney Swank, that’s where her career will take flight. 

 Most “theater kids” hold vivid memories of the first time they walked into an auditorium and watched a play production. Courtney’s story is no exception. She was a young child, and her parents took her to Broadway to see Sherman and Sams’ Chitty Chitty Bang Bang; from that day forward, she was captivated by the stage and musical artistry. 

 It wasn’t until her freshman year of high school, however, that Swank fulfilled her childhood wishes of working for the stage. She enrolled in the theater program one semester, and once the opportunity arose, she dove straight into the technical field—lighting, sound operating, spotlight management, and queuing the effects board. and dove straight into the technical field—lighting, sound operating, spotlight management and queuing the effects board. She loved her time in the classroom; what’s more, she loved her behind-the-scenes role. She continued to pursue stage production and to develop her theatrical skills, but she considered her involvement a hobby, nothing more. 

As a high school junior, Swank’s family moved from their Colorado hometown to Hickory, North Carolina. Her new high school did not have a theater program. At first, the absence of theater posed no issue to Swank; she wanted to pursue higher education in photography. Later on, however, she realized how empty she felt without a bit of the stage in her life. 

Swank made the decision to transfer to Fred T. Foard high school. She fit right in at Foard, where theater was a lively and active part of the school community. “[That time] made me realize how much I depended on theater and how much I actually loved doing it,” she recalled. “When I got to join a theater program once again, I learned that I couldn’t picture myself not doing it. My experience helped me realize this is what I want as my career, but it left me with one question—how do I accomplish that?”  

 By the time she applied for college, Swank was set on earning a degree from a fine arts program. She researched many colleges, but it was CVCC’s AFA in Theatre program which called her heart. And, considering the cost and time efficiency of a Catawba Valley education, she quickly found her place in Red Hawk Nation. 

 Courtney took a large step during her first semester in the program when Kim Stinson, then Director of the Theatre program, asked Courtney if she wanted to manage the upcoming Black Box Theater production. 

 “During our first little project we were doing in my play production class,” Swank said, “Kim decided she would like me to be the stage manager. That was my first introduction to stage management. I loved it!” 

 Unfortunately, the production occurred the same year CVCC had to implement Covid-19 restrictions. This altered the format of their performance—rather than a full musical or play, the department organized a monologue sequence. It was not the musical theater that Swank was used to, but by opening night, she felt impressed with the ways the CVCC Theatre Department pulled off the elements of a mainstage show. Swank and Stinson worked together to orchestrate a full production complete with choreography, costumes, engaging speech, stage lighting, and fun set pieces.  

 It was a challenge no doubt. That first semester built her strengths and weaknesses. Despite the learning curves, however, Swank still loved her role and loved what she experienced.  

 As the semesters rolled on, Swank received greater experiences than this. 

In the Spring of 2021, she became stage manager for an original CVCC Black Box Theatre production. The script, based on fables and folklore, was a whimsical text that she took the liberty to experiment with. She engaged with the student actors and prepared them for their performance at Southside Park in Newton, NC, the same location where local community theaters hold productions like “Shakespeare in the Park”. 

After her time at CVCC had come to an end, Swank transferred to UNC Greensboro to earn her BFA in Drama in Design & Technical Production. At first, she was nervous that the university would not give her credit for every course she took at CVCC; however, Swank was relieved to experience smooth transfer process from the credits in her AFA in Theatre to the Bachelor’s of Fine Arts program.  

Right now, while her studies progress, her favorite aspect of her degree is stage management. 

As stage manager, Courtney is with the show from beginning to end, from the first design meeting to the final set strike. It is a creative’s dream to watch the performance progress and see their visions come to life through collaboration and design. That’s part of the magic of theater—each player, from set and sound designers to costume and light designers, has their own idea of what the show could look like. Somehow, every time, the show fits together like a puzzle once cast and crew enter the auditorium space.  

“I have full faith in the actors and actresses and what they are doing,” she says. And, by showtime, Courtney’s hard work is over. She gets to sit back, relax, and watch the performance take flight.  

 Her next step will be to branch out into the Greensboro community. One of her goals is to become more involved in theater conferences.   

“[Networking at conferences] might strike up a summer internship,” she said. “I have one additional semester before I graduate, so with a summer internship, I’m hopeful to find a jumpstart with local productions. After that, I might search for opportunities around Greensboro, Hickory, or even Boone.”  It’s a matter of finding a place where her talents can grow and where she fits the atmosphere that actors and producers have built for themselves. 

“I’m a big theater and musical person, and my end goal is to stage manage a Broadway show. I love Broadway.”  

Courtney received the privilege of learning under a mentor who, herself, holds a background as a Broadway stage manager. Because connections are key to industry success, Courtney is optimistic about learning and networking with professionals like her mentor. 

Courtney will graduate with her Bachelor’s in Theater & Technical Design in December 2024. For her graduation present, her parents booked another trip to New York City. For the second time, Courtney will go to Broadway and watch her favorite show—Schwartz and Holzman’s Wicked.