In today’s AGMAzine Spotlight, AGMA Stage Manager Heather Olcott traces her unexpected journey from a college dance program to leading stage management roles at Dance Theatre of Harlem and Boston Ballet, reflecting on career pivots, perseverance, and finally recognizing the power of union representation. With Boston Ballet’s stage management team’s move to unionize and their recent first contract, this piece offers a thoughtful look at why asking for what you deserve matters, how solidarity strengthens the workplace, and what it means to build a sustainable future both onstage and behind the scenes.
Read Heather’s piece on page 12 of the Winter 2025 issue of AGMAzine.
A Stage Manager’s Journey to Union Recognition at Boston Ballet
By Heather Olcott, Stage Manager
In August 2025, AGMA and Boston Ballet announced the voluntary union recognition of the Company’s Stage Managers. In this reflection, Stage Manager Heather Olcott shares her journey, and becoming a member of AGMA means to her.
If you had told the 18-year-old version of myself that I’d become a Stage Manager, my response would have been, “What is a Stage Manager?” Sixteen years ago, I was a freshman at Point Park University, on my way to earn my Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance. That version of me had no idea how those four years would end up completely changing my career trajectory. It was then that I learned about the role of a stage manager. I soaked up as much knowledge and hands-on training as I could, all while continuing my morning pliés and pirouettes.
By the time I graduated, I realized that I’m more comfortable calling spotlights than being in one.
From the time I began pursuing this new career path, I felt I was behind compared to others in the industry. For years, I hustled to gain credibility as a stage manager and grow my resume. I said “yes” as often as possible, wanting to expand my experience. In retrospect, my focus was so intent on what to accomplish in the short-term that I couldn’t comprehend the reality of my long-term dreams and goals.
In 2017, I landed the job as the Stage Manager with Dance Theatre of Harlem. It was the most prestigious opportunity and the most consistent job to date for me. During my time there, I realized that this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my career: stage management in dance, specifically. While I enjoy working on musicals and plays, my passion has been in dance since before I could walk.
As the industry resumed live performances in 2021, I decided it was time to take a leap in pursuance of my own career growth. Fast forward to today, in which I am in my fifth season as the Stage Manager with Boston Ballet.
Up until now, my entire stage management career has been non-union. I knew that AGMA existed and that stage managers can be part of AGMA, but I never explored more into why and how to join and what that could mean for me. It wasn’t until I began looking at this job in the long term that I began to understand what a difference being part of the union could mean for me.
The decision to unionize took time, deep thought, and extensive research. The fact that Boston Ballet voluntarily recognized us so quickly speaks volumes about the importance of the work we do and the solidarity we share as part of the larger artistic team.
So, what does adding the stage management team at Boston Ballet to the AGMA contract mean to me? It means the opportunity to align with our industry colleagues on the terms and conditions of our work. It also means having representation for negotiations and the support of the Union behind me. In addition, having both dancers and stage managers represented together underscores that we are partners in the same art form: one on stage and one behind it. Most importantly, it means setting the company and future stage managers up for success in terms of an equitable contract, securing longevity between the two.
I was given a wonderful piece of advice once: “The answer is always no, if you never ask.” If you can be brave enough to ask, the answer might just be “yes.” I want to thank everyone who supported me and encouraged me to have my voice heard. I am honored to be part of this monumental moment for AGMA and Boston Ballet.