Stage managers are the orchestral conductors of the theatrical process. The stage manager takes the words and compositions of others and interprets them, using a unique approach. Stage managers artfully integrate the needs of a production as well as the personalities of all collaborators. Traditionally, the work of a stage manager is on a continuum through all five phases of production: pre-production, rehearsals, technical rehearsals, previews, and performance. As the only collaborator involved in all of these phases, the stage manager supplies the artistic continuity of the production, creatively orchestrating the unfolding of the process. The stage management curriculum at UC San Diego wholeheartedly embraces the practical and the theoretical, acknowledging that the most fertile ground for learning is where the two intersect. We teach stage managers how to set intentions and goals, which allow the cultivation of a supportive space for creative collaboration. Stage Management students approach each production with a keen collaborative sensibility, aided by a strong knowledge of directing, design, acting, and all production areas. Students are encouraged to be curious about their collaborators, and to view themselves as artistic partners.