Brandon Prendergast divides his professional efforts among three D.C. stages − Shakespeare Theatre, the Kennedy Center, and Ford’s Theatre – and he teaches stage management at UMW.
Brandon Prendergast ’95 always figured he’d end up back in New York after graduating from UMW.
He grew up in the Empire state and chose Mary Washington in part for its proximity to his family, which had relocated to Maryland.
Prendergast did return to New York after earning his theatre degree – but only for a little while. He was offered a job as an assistant stage manager for a production of The Green Bird, directed by Julie Taymor. Taymor went on to win two Tony Awards, including best director, for The Lion King.
Prendergast was a stage manager with notable choreographers Susan Marshall and Twyla Tharp, and with composer Philip Glass. In rapid succession, “I was working on some really great pieces with very talented directors. I had a really great New York career going for myself as a stage manager.”
But Prendergast was always looking for the next project – and working temp jobs to make ends meet. “I wanted a little more stability.”
He moved to Washington, D.C., where he got a job with Shakespeare Theatre Company. He spent eight years there. In 2005, he became a freelance stage manager in Washington, working at the Kennedy Center, Ford’s Theatre, and Shakespeare Theatre. “I’m fortunate enough I can schedule my calendar and can make a living doing a show at all three places,” Prendergast said.
He also teaches stage management at UMW. “That is very important to me.”
The shows at the Kennedy Center “have the production values of a Broadway show. It is a wonderful opportunity to work
Prendergast is shown above at Ford’s, he conducts a technical rehearsal for Sabrina Fair with director Stephen Rayne, left, and assistant stage manager Kate Kilbane. Photo by Mark Ramont.
with extraordinary talent in Washington, D.C. − an opportunity that is hard to find outside of New York,” he said.
Prendergast has worked with Broadway and film stars such as Kathy Bates, Richard Thomas, Christine Baranski, Shirley Jones, Bernadette Peters, Dana Ivey, Linda Lavin, Elaine Paige, and George Grizzard. “I have been fortunate to be in rehearsals with Stephen Sondheim, Terrence McNally, Angela Lansbury, Jason Robert Brown, Marsha Norman, and many other enormously talented theatre professionals,” he said.
“Working at three different theatres, it never gets boring. I’m always working with different people at different shows,” Prendergast said. He strives to bring his experiences in Washington to students in Fredericksburg. “It’s really a nice balance to me to have those two worlds and go back and forth between them.”