Meet Minara Ling

We had the good fortune of connecting with Minara Ling and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Minara, why did you pursue a creative career?
I’ve had a passion for live performances since I was little. I took classes in singing, dancing, drawing, and piano for many years like other children did, but I ended up dropping most of the classes when I got busy studying. I kept playing the piano for many years though. Sometimes I feel like I’m not a very performative person – I started writing and directing short plays in middle school and focusing a lot on backstage work in high school, while my friends loved acting and performing on stage. I didn’t have a full theater curriculum back in high school, nor did I have a professional theater teacher, so while my friends in the drama club focused on directing and acting, I thought a lot about props, costumes, and lighting – what to buy, what to rent, when to bring on tables and chairs, etc. It wasn’t until later in my life that I learned about stage management, and everything suddenly made sense.
Over the years, I’ve grown to believe that the magic of live performances isn’t just about what’s happening on the stage. There are so many people behind the scenes, supporting what’s on the stage – supporting the magic. I always feel that being the stage manager in the room strongly supports the magic, being there to support the directors, actors and designers, lead the crew, and keep the show happening day after day. The happiness and satisfaction that I get from working in live performances keep me pursuing my career in this industry.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My path to becoming a stage manager is never a linear one. I’ve tried learning different things like film and music, and I’ve taken classes in different areas of theater as well. For years, I’ve been trying to figure out what to pursue because so many things seem interesting to me. Stage management became the solution because my years of interest in different things suddenly became useful. For example, I have played the piano for many years, so I can sightread music easily. It becomes a handy skill when working on opera and musical theater. My experience with softwares and programming in the past makes it easier for me to learn lighting and sound programming, which is another useful skill working in the booth. Stage management is a multi-disciplinary task, and it’s always good to know more. It is a part of my job to smooth out the barriers between departments, make communication easier, and help artists work together. My growing path of learning different things is the key to becoming who I am now. Although it seems like a winding road, I believe every step worths a lot.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
New York City is full of exciting events, but it can also be so overwhelming for people to visit. As a theatre person, I would definitely take my friend to see a Broadway show or two. There are many shows on Broadway that are tourists’ favorites, but there are usually a few new shows each season that I would recommend my friend to see. Many off-Broadway venues like The Public or New York Theater Workshop also have hidden gems to explore. I personally enjoy some cabaret places like 54 Below or Birdland Jazz, because it can be a fantastic night to listen to someone telling stories through music in those intimate spaces. If the weather is good, walking along the High Line in the afternoon can be fun – there are a lot of interesting galleries in the Chelsea area to explore. Grabbing a bite in the Chelsea Market can be nice, and there are also so many small shops to explore. The Whitney Museum is another sweet spot for my friend who loves contemporary art, and the MET Museum is always full of surprises, especially on Friday and Saturday nights when they have evening events. There are so many things to do in New York City, and I believe there’s always something for everyone.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to shoutout to Alyssa Williams, who is my first mentor in stage management. She guided me into the realm of the work and showed me how to work professionally as a stage manager. Watching her at work shaped me into the stage manager I am now.
I want to shoutout to Lana Zhang, who is the first producer I worked with as a production stage manager in a show. Her support during the production and afterwards encouraged me to push forward and excel in my work.
I also want to shoutout to my collaborators in Dreamborne Theater, which is one of the main organizations I’ve worked with. The supportive environment at the organization encouraged me to keep collaborating with them, and it is always exciting to see the new works presented on stage. I am beyond proud to be a part of the productions and to support them with my work.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/minara_ling/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jiaqi-ling-5999bb191/