We had the good fortune of connecting with Jackie Lenz and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jackie, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
As a Stage Manager in the Atlanta Theatre Community, I think the strongest asset to my personal success has been the importance I place on taking care of the people under my watch. Theatre in Atlanta and beyond has undergone a lot of changes since 2020, but even before that I always tried to make sure that I was advocating for people on all sides of the table and making sure their concerns were heard and addressed. It can be easy in the field of entertainment to focus on the product, (the beautiful dance numbers, the voices, the extravagant sets and costumes, the props and lights), but none of that matters if the people onstage and offstage don’t feel safe enough to tell their stories. Since I was in college and realized that Stage Management was my passion, I have tried to prioritize keeping my cast and team safe (both mentally and physically). When people feel comfortable, their work shines even brighter. That goes to every designer on the team, every cast member on the stage and all of the crew members and stage managers that make the shows possible. I can’t do my job without them and it’s important to me that they know how much their work is seen and appreciated.

Stage with performers, colorful lighting, and audience in foreground, set for a musical or theatrical performance.

People hold bee plush toys in front of a banner and a window with sunlight, indoors. The banner reads 'The 25th Annual Spelling Bee.'

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I think the thing that sets me apart the most as a Stage Manager is that you can tell within 2 minutes of meeting me that it is truly my favorite thing in the world to do. I love theatre, every job and position within the process of a show is unique and important in their own ways. But I feel extremely lucky that I get to work within one of the most fundamental parts of a production. As a Stage Manager, you are the foundation upon which a show is built and operates. You help coordinate communication and logistics from the creative team to the cast, you run the show every night. You are the reason the lights come on and the performers are seen. Every time someone leaves a theatre asking “how did they do that?” you can almost guarantee that a Stage Manager is the reason it happened. I love being a part of the magic of live performance and I think that shows through on every show I work.

The stage is set with a blue and white backdrop, decorated with hanging lanterns and ornate wooden frames, ready for a performance.

Four women standing together indoors, smiling, with books and colorful string lights above them.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If we are starting at the very beginning of the day, I would take them to get coffee at either Aurora Coffee in Little Five Points or Bizarre Coffee in Roswell. Although Bizarre is a little ways OTP, it has some of the most unique and delicious drinks I have ever tried from a local shop. For ITP, I love Aurora coffee. The “Hula Bear” (a cold brew coffee made with chocolate milk and coconut syrup) is so yummy and refreshing. They have a bunch of options to try from as well as some great cookies and pastries. Plus being right in the heart of Little Five means you can explore one of the most unique and fun neighborhoods in the city.

For the daytime, my friends and I love to set up hammocks in Piedmont park or anywhere with plenty of tree cover. We bring books and snacks and get to be together while also enjoying time to ourselves. Of course, if you have to do something activity based, my favorite place in Atlanta will always be the Georgia Aquarium. They are focused on education and conservation efforts so not only will you get a remarkable day, but you also know that you are supporting an institution that is inciting positive change.

My favorite dinner spots in the city are always along Buford highway, and Northern China Eatery has the best soup dumplings in Atlanta, point-blank, period. No matter where you go on Buford, you are sure to have a great meal at a local spot and support a small business. Plus its a great place for exploring food you haven’t tried before. Everything is authentic and homemade, it’s impossible to walk away without trying something new.

And of course the evening is meant to be spent at a theatre in Atlanta. We have a hugely diverse pool of regional, professional theaters that employ local artists first. It doesn’t matter if you’re in the mood for puppetry, comedy, drama or musicals, there will always be a performance happening that is sure to remind you of why the live arts are so important.

Two women hugging and smiling in a social setting with people and a bar in the background.

Two people taking a selfie outdoors, smiling with trees and a person in the background.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First and foremost I have to extensively thank and love on my amazing parents. My mother is a Music Therapist and my father was the Director of Coverage for CNN en Español up until 2024. They taught me from a very young age that I have to follow my passions and dedicate as much of myself as possible to those passions to ensure their success. My Mom taught me how to live and love fiercely. I wouldn’t have wanted to pursue a career in the arts if she hadn’t been blasting show tunes in the car from the time I was a kid. She always fostered my love of music, reading, and theatre and encouraged me to keep pushing. She’s the one who taught me that if something is what makes me want to wake up in the morning, then I can find a home and career within it. Plus she’s the best audience member at every show I work! And my Dad is the hardest worker I have ever met. He worked tirelessly throughout my childhood and adulthood to provide for me and Mom in ways I could only dream of matching. It is his work ethic combined with my mom’s passion that brought me to where I am, and turned me into the Stage Manager that I am today. I am outrageously lucky to have the two of them in my life and to have their support carry me through so much.

I also have to give a special shoutout to my partner, Gray, who is my favorite person and biggest fan. He has never missed one of my opening nights since we started dating and I hope that never changes.

And finally to my friends, each and every one of them. From the Stage Managers I’ve worked with who have become my closest confidants, to my college roommates, and beyond. Each one of you have been supportive of me in ways I never knew I could have and I wouldn’t be the person I am without you all. You remind me of what resilient and enduring friendship is at all times. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Instagram: jackielenz16

A young man wearing a headset and black shirt stands next to a smiling woman in a white and green patterned top inside a restaurant with stone walls and string lights.

Person with long hair and makeup, sitting with chin on hand, reflected in a mirror with wooden panels, dim lighting.

Image Credits
Casey Gardner Ford (Production photos of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical at Aurora Theatre)

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