Maggie Waite ’25 (Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Design & Production – Sound Design & Reinforcement) currently serves as a senior production manager with Princess Cruises’ entertainment division, a role she began shortly after graduating from Shenandoah Conservatory.

Waite entered Shenandoah’s theatre design and production program as a sound design and reinforcement student and quickly gained hands-on experience working on conservatory productions. “The program’s structure allows you to specialize in the area that interests you most while still gaining broad knowledge across all departments,” said Waite.

Through her summer theatre work, Waite developed an additional interest in production management. Although Shenandoah did not offer a formal production management program, faculty supported her exploration of the field through individualized mentorship and production management opportunities while she continued her studies in audio. “The faculty worked closely with me and supported my continued audio degree while providing personal mentorship and work in production management,” she said.

Waite credits the conservatory’s emphasis on experiential learning and professional practice with preparing her for her current career. “I’ve found that the most impactful learning comes from the hands-on experience you receive,” said Waite. “Being thrown into real-world situations and treating every moment as professional practice teaches you more about the industry’s inner workings than anything else.”