Staff Spotlight: Carli DiFulvio, Company Manager at the American Airlines Theatre

Staff Profile:

Name: Carly DiFulvio

Position: Company Manager, American Airlines Theatre

Years at Roundabout: 3ish?

Q&A:

Q: Give us a brief background of your career leading up to working at Roundabout.

A: I majored in Theatre Arts Management at Ithaca College and initially really wanted to go into arts marketing. I interned at SpotCo (an ad agency here) and at an agency in London but then became more interested in the management side of things. I was hired by Roundabout in 2006 to work in their business office and really enjoyed my time there. I asked one of the company managers if I could meet her and shadow her during a show. The night I was there the entire sound system crashed (it was a musical) and she had to go into complete crisis mode. I loved it. I then switched my focus to company management and was working Off-Broadway when Roundabout hired me to cover that same company manager's maternity leave. I was her assistant on The 39 Steps and then took over when she went to have her baby. And I just never left!

Q: What exactly are your duties as a company manager?

A: Lots. My job is described as management's representation at the theatre so the general summary is a liaison between management and the artists, crew etc. at the theatre. I do anything that has to relate to that, as well as working closely with the General Manager to handle the day to day business of mounting and running a show. To list whatever pops into my head - I handle payroll for the union members at the theatre, all housing and travel for the artists including finding apartments, tracking and coding of invoices, obtaining Work Visas for any artists from out of the country, contracting the assistant and associate designers, setting up and processing  house seats, coordinating the opening and closing night parties, making sure there are enough people in the house, dealing with injuries and emergencies, answering questions and calming concerns and just overall making sure everyone involved in the production feels taken care of and has what they need to do their job. Those are the basics, but if something comes up that needs to be done I'll do it.

Q: What is a typical day like for you?

A: Ha! Typical? What does that mean? I wake up (or am woken up) and immediately check my phone and email. I'll have a pretty good idea of how my day will go based on that, but no day is even close to being the same and it's pretty much just going with the flow. It also varies if we're just in rehearsal, in tech, previews or just running the show. I work Tuesdays through Sundays and usually am working on between 2 and 3 shows at a time with the way the American Airlines Theatre is scheduled. On a normal week I work from around noon until after the evening show goes up. During tech I'll work from around 10am until midnight. During the day I do on office work and then head backstage an hour or so before the show to make sure everyone is set back there. I do have a routine before the show that is to around half hour to visit everyone's dressing room to check in, say hello and see if they need anything. I think it's nice for everyone to know that if they have a question or need a house seat that they won't have to chase me down. It's also just great to see the company every day!

Q: Any funny backstage stories?

A: Yes...however I probably shouldn't talk about most of them...but I was in the tabloids with Sienna Miller once...my friends thought that was pretty funny. (I was walking with her outside of rehearsal) Also seeing the Cagelles in full drag and make up at 6:30am at the Tony Awards rehearsal was pretty wonderful.

Q: Do you have a favorite "space" inside the theatre?

A: I love standing at the back of the house (usually on the house left stairs to the balcony) during a first preview and seeing the audience take in the show for the first time. Standing there after you have just completed a long tech and seeing everything come together for the first time is quite magical actually. It brings me back to when I was a little kid and reminds me that I am doing what I always wanted to do. It's when all the stress, hard work and long hours is worth it because you had a hand at making a Broadway show happen.

Q: If you could change careers for one day what would you be?

A: Probably something completely different that has nights weekends free (I work six days a week Tuesday - Sunday.) If it's just for a day, something away from the city. Maybe a ski instructor or a tour guide. I have always thought being a tour guide in some place really cool would be a great job. Let's go with a tour guide in Italy or London or someplace like that.

Q: When you're not working you...

A: On the few moments I don't spend in the theatre I'm usually out with friends, cooking or going out to eat, taking walks around the city, going to Central Park or seeing theatre. I have also recently gotten into watching sports, so that too. On Mondays (my day off) my boyfriend and I like to drive outside of the city or take small day trips. I think it's important to get out of the city and the craziness every once in a while.

Q: What is your favorite part of the job?

A: The moments you get to stop and say, "Is this really happening? Is this really my life?" Whether it's working with a celebrity you really admire, or being invited to something really cool, working with theatre legends or just being a part of theatre history. Last year I was invited to go to a surprise party for Christopher Hampton at Philip Glass' apartment. In the middle of the party Philip gathered everyone into his living room and just started playing for us. Moments like that happen often with my job. Its times like that I'm reminded how much I love what I do.

 Run into Carly at The American Airlines Theatre  - currently the theatre toThe Importance of Being Earnest through March 6, 2010.