Beth Curley, Charleston Stage's Director of Marketing

 Q: Where did you grow up?  Were there any activities you did as a child that led to what you know.

A: I grew up in Peoria, IL.  As a child, my mom would take me to touring Broadway shows like Les Miserables, A Chorus Line and Phantom of the Opera.  The moment I was exposed to these classics, I was hooked!  I remember locking myself up in my room for hours acting in front of the mirror and pretending that I was the characters I had just seen on stage.  There were many nights when I’d make my parents watch me perform.  I hate to admit it, but there was even a time when my friends and I dressed up like cats and made my parents watch us perform the entire Cats musical score.  My poor parents!  It wasn’t until my 7^th grade year that I began performing on stage with local community theatres and youth theatre programs very similar to what Charleston Stage offers for the youth community here.  It was from this exposure as a child where my love for acting and passion for theatre and the arts grew. 

Q: Where did you go to school?  How did this prepare you for your work in the theatre?

A:  I attended St. Ambrose University in Iowa.  It was from this educational setting where I made up my mind to pursue a career in the arts professionally, whether it was acting, designing, or working for a theatre company.  With a theatre department of 100 students, I acted in many mainstage productions and studio theatre productions, and I was also exposed to theatre design.  My theatre degree and art degree were very closely tied, and both departments worked hand in hand with my classroom projects.  I was able to emphasize my graphic design classes towards theatre projects like playbill design and poster design.  I was also a student designer for many studio theatre productions and even dove into the world of set design and costume design.  Basically, I wanted to learn it all!  In 2003, I graduated from St. Ambrose University with BAs in Theatre, Fine Arts, and Graphic Design. I then moved to Charleston and was very lucky to receive a job with Charleston Stage. 

Q: Describe briefly your work at Charleston Stage, the things you enjoy the most.

A: I am the Director of Marketing.  With this position I am able to utilize my graphic design skills.  I design show posters, playbills, newsletters, print and web ads, and all marketing pieces for the company.  I am also in charge of website maintenance and keeping our site up to date with the latest news, ticket information, show photos, and general company information.  I work closely with a Marketing team of three, where we are always looking for new ways to spread our message and keep the arts and theatre alive in the community.

Q: Share some aspect of your work that you’re really proud of.

A: I’m excited about the show logos I designed for next season.  Visually, I hope they make audiences excited too for the spectacular line up of shows we have in the months to come.  I’m also proud of the one-woman show Bad Dates that I acted in with Charleston Stage in 2008.  It was one of the most challenging acting endeavors I have ever attempted in my history as an actor.  I conquered many fears and put my memorization skills to the test.  I have to say, I now see stand up comedians and one-person performance actors in a different light.  I now know the challenges they face, and applaud them in their successes and night after night performances.  With this show, I also realized my own favorite aspect of acting…working with other actors on stage!  

Q: What do you do in your spare time ?

A: Well, I just recently got engaged, so I would say the majority of my spare time has been wedding planning.  Yes, I’ve become one of those obsessive brides.  I am also an actor and, not only act with Charleston Stage, but also with other local theatre companies in town.  Designer by day, actor by night – best of both worlds!

Q: Discuss one of your favorite shows you saw elsewhere.

A:  One of the most memorable shows I ever saw was a version of Oleanna by David Mamet.  The production was performed at a theatre festival and focuses on two characters, a struggle between a professor and his student.  The beauty of Oleanna is it can be directed many different ways with the audience favoring either character’s side of the story, depending on how the actor portrays his/her character.  In the version I saw, there were 4 actresses playing the role of the student and 4 actors playing the role of the professor.  Throughout the play each actor/actress would tag each other out and take on the role of student or teacher, each portraying the characters in a different light.  It was brilliant!  It kept the audience engaged, always going back and forth with who was right and who was wrong.

Q: Tell us about a fun experience you have had working with Charleston Stage.

A:  One of my favorite memories was working with my fellow co-workers during a volunteer night at the Charleston Stage Scene Shop.  Stefanie Christensen, Charleston Stage’s Technical Director, and Mike Christensen, Properties Master, had us working on all sorts of things to prepare for the opening of Fiddler on the Roof in 2008.  We were building sets and painting props and even blogging about our experience.  Overall, it was a great night.  I remember watching the production and admiring the props I saw on stage saying, “I painted that butter churn”.

Q: How can others get involved in your area?

A: Volunteer, volunteer, volunteer!  Any way you can!  When I first moved to Charleston I thought, “How can I get involved with the theatre scene?”  I went online and researched theatre companies in town.  One day I called up a local theatre company and said “I’d like to volunteer”, which lead me to be an assistant stage manager for a production, to acting on stage, to networking opportunities and then it eventually lead me to my position with Charleston Stage.  It all begins with volunteering and introducing yourself.  As far as volunteer opportunities with Charleston Stage, we have multiple ways for the public to get involved and join our team.  You can help our production team with costumes, set construction, and painting props and set pieces.  We have Front of House opportunities at each performance where you can volunteer to work in the box office or usher.  It’s a great way to meet our patrons and enjoy our shows.  There are also volunteer opportunities with our Administrative office.  Our office is always in need of help with fundraising events, galas, major mailings, and other general office work.  All you need to do is call (843) 577-5967 and tell us you’d like to volunteer.