Mike at the tech table during the production of I Was A Rat at the Stan Rogers Stage in Centennial Park, July 2024.
Mike Walters keeps Pine Tree Players’ productions running smoothly, often without the audience ever realizing just how much he’s doing. As stage manager for the upcoming The Importance of Being Earnest, Mike plays a central role behind the scenes, drawing on years of experience with Pine Tree Players as a backstage crew, tech operator, actor, and stage manager.
For Mike, stage management is all about preserving the artistic integrity of a production.
The biggest thing to do as the stage manager is maintain the director’s vision once the show goes into the performance run.
That means careful note-taking, precise timing, and calling each cue so the show unfolds seamlessly night after night. It’s a role that requires both big-picture awareness and attention to the smallest details.
Mike operating the lighting board alongside intimacy director Anastasia St Amand and director Lauren Hawkeye, during a rehearsal for Seminar at the Miners’ Union Hall (Nov 2025).
What he enjoys most is watching the many moving pieces of a production come together. From the first rehearsal where everyone gathers around a table with scripts in hand, to the fully realized performance on stage, Mike finds satisfaction in seeing the show take shape. “I think what I like the most is seeing all the different elements and people coming together to take the show from words on a page to what the audience sees on stage,” he says. Whether he’s setting up the rehearsal space or double-checking that set pieces, props, and costumes are all in place on show day, he thrives on the process of turning ideas into a shared experience.
Director Kelsey James and Mike Walters during a rehearsal for Treasure Island, May 2025 at the Miners’ Union Hall.
Keeping everything on track takes organization and adaptability. Mike jokes that part of the job is “looking organized even when you aren’t,” but his system of detailed notes and collaboration with his fellow team members ensures that nothing falls through the cracks. From coordinating designers to managing timing down to the second, he’s always thinking about the flow of the show, something audiences rarely notice unless something goes wrong. In Mike’s view, if the audience is aware of the mechanics, then he hasn’t done his job.
Mike installs a stage light for the February 2025 One Act Play Festival at the Miners’ Union Hall.
Sometimes there are challenges along the way. One of the most difficult moments Mike has faced was navigating an onstage injury that left the cast short-handed. What stood out to him wasn’t just the challenge itself, but the way the Pine Tree Players community rallied together to support one another and keep the show going. For Mike, that sense of cooperation is key to a successful production.
Being a stage manager is a big responsibility but there are also moments of pure reward. From his spot in the booth, Mike gets a unique perspective on the audience and can see their reactions, hear their laughter, and feel the energy of applause.
Witnessing all the laughs, tears, and applause makes all the work worthwhile.
Through his time with Pine Tree Players, Mike has built skills in scheduling, coordination, and managing multiple moving parts at once. But more than that, he’s found a deep appreciation for the full arc of a production, from the first read-through to the final standing ovation.
Pine Tree Players is grateful for volunteers like Mike Walters, whose steady presence behind the scenes helps bring every performance to life, one perfectly timed cue at a time.
told to and abridged by Jen Tweddell
About the Author: Jen is passionate about building community and is constantly in awe of the talent and creativity of folks in the Bow Valley. When she’s not producing plays or chairing board meetings you can find Jen out on her bike or cross country skiing.