Description

Rachael Ellis talks to us about the various levels of theatre and her time working for City Theatre in Pittsburgh. 

RACHAEL ELLIS (she/they) is honored to serve as the Company Manager for City Theatre in Pittsburgh, and also loves being a part of the Patron Services team as a Box Office Associate. Over the years, Rachael has worked in various production, managerial, and patron-based positions. Highlights include Contemporary American Theater Festival (Associate Company Manager 2022, 2023, & 2024), Pittsburgh CLO (Props Intern 2018), Pittsburgh New Works Festival (Stage Manager for I Forgot to Worry, 2018), USITT (Stage Management Mentor Project, Mentee Class of 2019), New Hazlett Theater (Stage Manager), Kelly-Strayhorn Theatre (House Manager), a member of the inaugural class of Beth Morris Projects: Producer Academy, and The Walt Disney Company (Character Attendant, Walt Disney World). She is certified in Mental Health First Aid and Psychological First Aid. A cum laude graduate of Allegheny 

College (2019), her senior thesis focused on equity, diversity, and inclusion within theatrical management. 

Rachel Ellis LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachael-ellis-63a77b106/

Backstage Breakdown answers those big questions like:

1. What does it look like to work at a community theatre vs. the professional world?
2. What is it like to rise through the ranks at a regional theatre and wear multiple hats?
3. What is imposter syndrome and why does no one realize theater is harder than sports OKAY?!
4. How do we get more EDIA (Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility into our theaters?

Theme music by Barrett Riggins.

BARRETT RIGGINS is a composer and lyricist based in Brooklyn. He won the 2025 Richard Rodgers Award for HELSINKI (Upcoming; The New Group, Selection; NAMT). He is represented by UTA and the Hybrid Agency.