Leaving Her Mark Behind the Scenes

The Big Apple is known for its rushed lifestyle and grand living, but it’s hard not to think of the colorful theatre scene as well. On any given day you can please every taste – from popular musicals to serious dramas. But have you given thought to the people who make that all possible?

Fresh out of college in Cleveland, Ohio, musical theatre major Erin Craig was instantly pulled to the allure of New York City. “I wanted to become a Broadway star,” she remembers fondly. Her first year in the city was spent running from audition to audition, but as time passed she realized that performing was not her true calling. “My personality just didn’t fit with what it takes to be a top-level performer.” 

Though acting was not her niche, Erin’s love for theatre never faded. Determined to stay in the business, she landed a job at the National Artist Management Group with hopes of becoming a theatre producer. While there, she worked with associate producer Alicia Parker, who would become one of Erin’s beloved mentors, along with general managers Nancy Gibbs and Charlotte Wilcox. 

“I learned as I did the work,” Erin says of jumping in feet-first to a new career. “I got to watch and do, and I realized I belonged on the business side. I instinctually had the skills I needed, I am a good organizer and enjoy ‘big picture’ thinking.” 

As she got more experience under her belt, Erin decided to take the leap and start a company of her own. Her career brings much joy to her life, so she fittingly named her new business “La Vie Productions.” 

Today La Vie produces a variety of works, from plays to films. “I love working with people, and I love seeing their dreams come to fruition.” Soon, she will make her Broadway debut as lead producer on the upcoming play, “Mr. Rickey Calls a Meeting.” 

For Erin, pursuing acting lead her to find her passion working behind the scenes. What advice does she have for others who may feel stuck in their career? “The most important thing you can do is trust yourself. If you don’t feel that something is working, try other things. You never know what might happen.”

Read the stories of more female entrepreneurs, including Alex Bernadotte of Beyond 12, Yael Alkalay of Red Flower, and Maya Kalman of Swank Productions. 

–Lindsay Putnam