Some may think the plays and musicals put on by the Troy Theatre Ensemble go off without a hitch, that the actors perform for two hours and that it’s calm behind the curtain. But really, backstage, there are students in all-black rushing to change the actors’ clothing, grabbing props left behind and touching up makeup, and the stage manager makes sure it all runs smoothly. As current stage manager Jennifer Wloszek’s senior year comes to a close, some are wondering who will be next. Junior Sallie Schroeder hopes it’s her.

“In my opinion, a stage manager gets things done,” Schroeder said. “A stage manager is in charge and makes sure that everyone works together nicely and that a lot of things are done. I feel I’ll be able to do that [if I’m elected stage manager].”

Schroeder has been in TTE since the last year’s musical “Guys and Dolls.” She said that even though being on tech crew is stressful, it’s worth it.

“I think the best part of tech crew is seeing the [finished product],” Schroeder said. “I also love the family that tech crew is.”

Schroeder looks up to Wloszek.

“I look up to Jen so much,” Schroeder said. “She gets everything done, she’s very respected and she does things nicely and isn’t mean about it.”

For Schroeder, tech crew is her main focus; she says that it is the only thing she’s good at.

“It gives me adrenaline and it makes me feel happy after when I can actually sit down and relax and look back and be like, ‘Wow, I did that,’” Schroeder said.

Schroeder wants to be a stage manager when she is older and work for a traveling theatre company.

“I love [tech crew],” Schroeder said. “It’s the only thing that I’ve done continuously that I’m actually in love with and never get sick of.”

Schroeder says that if she were to be stage manager next year, she would try to do it with as few mistakes as possible.

“I know there’s going to be flaws,” Schroeder said. “But making sure that people feel comfortable and able to talk to me and having the respect that a stage manager needs is really important.”

Schroeder feels she is a leader deep down and would be able to bring that out more if she was chosen for the position next year.

“I feel more like a leader in the theatre because I know what I’m doing and I like to help the newer and less experienced techies,” Schroeder said. “I do it because I love being a techie so much I want to be a part of it in [a deeper way.]”