HeadsetChatter
@headsetchatter.bsky.social
Stage Manager. 2nd ASM on the North American Tour of The Lion King (Rafiki Company). Addressing the elephant in the room.
Profile 📷: Matthew Murphy
Profile 📷: Matthew Murphy
Thanksgiving is one of the more special days of the year when our tour family comes together for dinner as a true family. Company management always provides a truly special setting, the Vegas version of which was to book the Eiffel Tower Restaurant. Delicious food, and a stunning view!
November 28, 2025 at 1:28 AM
Thanksgiving is one of the more special days of the year when our tour family comes together for dinner as a true family. Company management always provides a truly special setting, the Vegas version of which was to book the Eiffel Tower Restaurant. Delicious food, and a stunning view!
In-unit laundry: When your brand new hotel hasn’t received its laundry machines yet.
November 25, 2025 at 6:56 PM
In-unit laundry: When your brand new hotel hasn’t received its laundry machines yet.
It’s management’s favorite day, a tradition that’s been going on for YEARS:
Stage management posts our rather dark Lion King take on daylight saving time on the callboard, and company management sends a Cher-themed reminder email.
(There are also versions for the spring.)
Stage management posts our rather dark Lion King take on daylight saving time on the callboard, and company management sends a Cher-themed reminder email.
(There are also versions for the spring.)
November 2, 2025 at 5:04 AM
It’s management’s favorite day, a tradition that’s been going on for YEARS:
Stage management posts our rather dark Lion King take on daylight saving time on the callboard, and company management sends a Cher-themed reminder email.
(There are also versions for the spring.)
Stage management posts our rather dark Lion King take on daylight saving time on the callboard, and company management sends a Cher-themed reminder email.
(There are also versions for the spring.)
We’re filming some really fun social media content this week. Today I’m mic’d up for Circle of Life. I feel like an NFL player or something. 🤣
October 29, 2025 at 7:37 PM
We’re filming some really fun social media content this week. Today I’m mic’d up for Circle of Life. I feel like an NFL player or something. 🤣
They call Denver the “mile high city,” but nobody mentions that it’s actually a mile-and-a-half to the back row of the Buell. Getting my high-altitude cardio in!
October 23, 2025 at 1:32 AM
They call Denver the “mile high city,” but nobody mentions that it’s actually a mile-and-a-half to the back row of the Buell. Getting my high-altitude cardio in!
In reading women’s experiences with their recovery I see it runs the gamut from “I felt pretty good after the first day” to “I couldn’t work 8 weeks later because I was so tired and it hurt to sit down.” <record scratch> Excuse me, I need to be able to play mouse-and-keyboard computer games.
October 15, 2025 at 3:09 PM
In reading women’s experiences with their recovery I see it runs the gamut from “I felt pretty good after the first day” to “I couldn’t work 8 weeks later because I was so tired and it hurt to sit down.” <record scratch> Excuse me, I need to be able to play mouse-and-keyboard computer games.
Chester has figured out that the new hooman who gives scritches when Mom & Dad are at work is leaving.
October 6, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Chester has figured out that the new hooman who gives scritches when Mom & Dad are at work is leaving.
We also had the pleasure of stealing the great Tshidi Manye right after her legendary long run as Rafiki on Broadway. She’s been with us for 3 weeks covering our Rafiki’s vacation, but I hope it won’t be the last time!
September 28, 2025 at 11:59 PM
We also had the pleasure of stealing the great Tshidi Manye right after her legendary long run as Rafiki on Broadway. She’s been with us for 3 weeks covering our Rafiki’s vacation, but I hope it won’t be the last time!
Bidding farewell to “war-torn Portland,” and one of my favorite house staffs of all time, as well as the weirdest path I’ve ever had to guide an elephant through. Our two runs here in ‘24 and ‘25 have made the staff and crew here feel like family.
September 28, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Bidding farewell to “war-torn Portland,” and one of my favorite house staffs of all time, as well as the weirdest path I’ve ever had to guide an elephant through. Our two runs here in ‘24 and ‘25 have made the staff and crew here feel like family.
Nobody wants a rehearsal call at 12 on a Tuesday, but this is one people are fighting to attend. We’re loading the bus to Michael Curry’s studio in the farmland outside town, to be shown our new 9-piece mask by the puppetmaster himself! “9-Piece Mask Day” has been highly anticipated for like a year.
September 23, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Nobody wants a rehearsal call at 12 on a Tuesday, but this is one people are fighting to attend. We’re loading the bus to Michael Curry’s studio in the farmland outside town, to be shown our new 9-piece mask by the puppetmaster himself! “9-Piece Mask Day” has been highly anticipated for like a year.
It may not fit my luggage, but I never thought I’d just waltz right up to a Dash-8, so there’s that.
September 15, 2025 at 8:21 PM
It may not fit my luggage, but I never thought I’d just waltz right up to a Dash-8, so there’s that.
I came in to a note on my desk asking me to replace our most annoying spike, which is a concoction of glow dots, paint pen, and marley tape. While assembling the supplies I saw this box of Altoids on my desk, and wow was I sad that it wasn’t a box of glow dots, but inexplicably… Altoids.
August 27, 2025 at 2:16 AM
I came in to a note on my desk asking me to replace our most annoying spike, which is a concoction of glow dots, paint pen, and marley tape. While assembling the supplies I saw this box of Altoids on my desk, and wow was I sad that it wasn’t a box of glow dots, but inexplicably… Altoids.
Back to exploring another balcony in another house, this time the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver. Simple in the house, but the backstage is a 3D maze that will twist you around like a pretzel, as evidenced by the signage my esteemed colleague made for the first hallway😂.
August 20, 2025 at 1:23 AM
Back to exploring another balcony in another house, this time the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver. Simple in the house, but the backstage is a 3D maze that will twist you around like a pretzel, as evidenced by the signage my esteemed colleague made for the first hallway😂.
The flight attendant keeps telling people they can’t get out of their seats. Then she closed this curtain across the aisle. I know they’re trying not to spoil it, but I’m a professional and I know this trick: they’re setting an elephant back there and they’re gonna perform a musical number for us.
August 18, 2025 at 9:29 PM
The flight attendant keeps telling people they can’t get out of their seats. Then she closed this curtain across the aisle. I know they’re trying not to spoil it, but I’m a professional and I know this trick: they’re setting an elephant back there and they’re gonna perform a musical number for us.
The most prominent Yellow Antelope I’ve done in a while. Doing a 2nd survey for an almost-identical theatre has been an interesting challenge. I’ve been focusing on taking slightly different angles for each photo so the two surveys can be used in combination for even more context.
August 10, 2025 at 11:49 PM
The most prominent Yellow Antelope I’ve done in a while. Doing a 2nd survey for an almost-identical theatre has been an interesting challenge. I’ve been focusing on taking slightly different angles for each photo so the two surveys can be used in combination for even more context.
I’m looking forward to seeing Denver again, and I guess their social media team is excited for us, too! 🤣
August 7, 2025 at 11:47 PM
I’m looking forward to seeing Denver again, and I guess their social media team is excited for us, too! 🤣
2:30 in the morning and the hotel is evacuated. We’re all clustered in one corner of the plaza out front.
August 7, 2025 at 8:35 AM
2:30 in the morning and the hotel is evacuated. We’re all clustered in one corner of the plaza out front.
Also, my paperwork is done.
July 29, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Also, my paperwork is done.
It’s 4:15 and I’m on the train home from load in. That’s the train platform. That’s the stage door in the background. Even though we can take Ubers for free I think I’m going to take the train a lot. It’s actually the 1st time since I’ve been on the tour where public transit is convenient for work.
July 29, 2025 at 10:21 PM
It’s 4:15 and I’m on the train home from load in. That’s the train platform. That’s the stage door in the background. Even though we can take Ubers for free I think I’m going to take the train a lot. It’s actually the 1st time since I’ve been on the tour where public transit is convenient for work.
Calling a put-in today, which I almost never do. This is maybe my 3rd in almost 4 years. (And we have a LOT of put-ins!)
Today’s theme is “Sun’s out, buns out.” My buns will not be out, but it’s a rare occasion to break out the Margaritaville shirt I keep just for sentimental reasons.
Today’s theme is “Sun’s out, buns out.” My buns will not be out, but it’s a rare occasion to break out the Margaritaville shirt I keep just for sentimental reasons.
July 23, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Calling a put-in today, which I almost never do. This is maybe my 3rd in almost 4 years. (And we have a LOT of put-ins!)
Today’s theme is “Sun’s out, buns out.” My buns will not be out, but it’s a rare occasion to break out the Margaritaville shirt I keep just for sentimental reasons.
Today’s theme is “Sun’s out, buns out.” My buns will not be out, but it’s a rare occasion to break out the Margaritaville shirt I keep just for sentimental reasons.
Sure you could tape a square on the prop table and label it “mouse.” Or you could provide a mouse house.
July 13, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Sure you could tape a square on the prop table and label it “mouse.” Or you could provide a mouse house.
I’ve been sending our team reviews on the sunsets out my hotel window, as judged by the proper way to call the clouds and sun in Circle of Life. Much better today than yesterday!
July 7, 2025 at 1:36 AM
I’ve been sending our team reviews on the sunsets out my hotel window, as judged by the proper way to call the clouds and sun in Circle of Life. Much better today than yesterday!
A couple times a year we might see 2 consecutive days off, usually due to holiday schedules. As a show that doesn’t take layoffs, the only chance we have for more than that is when we travel internationally, as the trucks need more time to cross borders than we do. Checking out a new airport hotel!
July 6, 2025 at 6:24 PM
A couple times a year we might see 2 consecutive days off, usually due to holiday schedules. As a show that doesn’t take layoffs, the only chance we have for more than that is when we travel internationally, as the trucks need more time to cross borders than we do. Checking out a new airport hotel!
WHAT??? We have grown a load-out Bigfoot between shows!
July 4, 2025 at 12:28 AM
WHAT??? We have grown a load-out Bigfoot between shows!
It’s Dallas Pride, just steps out our stage door. I found this gay reptile who looks and operates very much like our own Diving Croc. He doesn’t have a name yet (maybe it’s Dallas). But I love him already.
June 14, 2025 at 11:28 PM
It’s Dallas Pride, just steps out our stage door. I found this gay reptile who looks and operates very much like our own Diving Croc. He doesn’t have a name yet (maybe it’s Dallas). But I love him already.