The Board of Directors of the Foundation for Stage Managers (FSM), formerly known as the Stage Managers’ Association Foundation, is pleased to announce that, at its January 2025 meeting, Robert Bennett of New York, NY and Lori Lundquist of the Greater Twin Cities area in Minnesota were elected to the Board. Bennett and Lundquist join the current board members of this New York State-based 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Robert Bennett has had a wonderful 52 years in Stage Management/ Administration. Prior to beginning his career in theatre Bob was a high school English teacher in Westchester County and Bangkok, Thailand. He returned to the States and University of Michigan for grad school in Theatre Management. He will forever be a “Go Blue” fan. After a summer at The New Jersey Shakespeare Festival, he moved to the Upper West Side and began a memorable career to include: RSC Nicholas Nickleby, Peter Brook’s The Cherry Orchard. Broadway: Time Stands Still, Bent, I Love My Wife, Dancing at Lughnasa, Nick & Nora, Awake and Sing!, American Buffalo, Desire Under the Elms, The Coast of Utopia, Stick Fly, The Trip to Bountiful and The Lyons. Tours: La Cage Aux Folles, Grey Gardens, Sugar Babies, Evita, My Fat Friend, Grease, Shenandoah, Guys and Dolls. OB: Los Otros, Incident at Vichy, Inner Voices, Curse of the Starving Class, Young Man from Atlanta. Bay Street Theatre, Berkshire Theatre. He is a Tony- nominated Managing Director: The Rose Tattoo, Associate Artistic Director National Music Theater Conference; General Manager BAM; Vice-President Stage Operations Radio City Music Hall. Bob is the proud recipient of The Del Hughes Award for Lifetime Achievement in Stage Management. When not at the call stand or in the rehearsal hall Bob loves to travel the world. Stage Management has taken him to many wonderful cities, states and countries with national/international tours. When given the time, he prefers to wander long-distance trails in a comfortable pair of boots seeing life slowly and close up. It is amazing when many of these experiences are brought into the rehearsal room/theatre stage.
Lori Lundquist’s 38-year career includes shows on Broadway: Fosse, The Best Man, Holiday. National Tours: Fosse, …. Spelling Bee, Will Rogers Follies with Larry Gatlin; and Off-Broadway: Head of Passes with Phylicia Rashad (The Public Theater), Julie Taymor’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream (TFANA), MCC Theater, Vineyard Theatre, Signature Theatre, Shakespeare in the Park, Roundabout Theatre Company, Playwrights Horizons, Second Stage Theater, Minetta Lane Theatre, NYTW, NYSAF. She has worked on over 60 productions in regional theater at The Guthrie, Children’s Theater Company, Ford’s Theatre, Ordway, Hartford Stage, Long Wharf Theatre, McCarter Theatre Center, Alley Theatre, Trinity Rep, KCRep and Papermill Playhouse. Her work in opera includes Minnesota Opera, Indianapolis Opera, Opera Memphis, nd 2 seasons with New York City Opera. She has also worked at many events. Lori received her B.A. and B.S. from Bemidji State University. After being based in New York City for over 35 years, she is enjoying being back in Minnesota where she is spending more time with her family and in the garden.
The Foundation for Stage Managers (FSM) mission is to support and promote the craft and the art of stage management by providing funds for continuing career education and development, for public events that enhance stage management skills, for advocacy, as well as for assisting in the creation of scholarships for early-career stage management training.
Applications for the Spring 2025 cycle of FSM grants will be accepted March 1 through 31, 2025. Awards will be announced on April 30, 2025. To learn about submitting an application for a rant, visit: https://www.stagemanagersfoundation.com/guidelines
To find out how to make a tax-deductible contribution to the next Fundraising campaign, Give Your Stage Managers a Little Love, starting on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2025, visit: https://www.StageManagersFoundation.com/DONATE
Further information from The Foundation for Stage Managers (FSM): www.stagemanagersfoundation.com
