Behind the Stage: Dayna Horn

Hometown: I was born in the US, but moved up to BC in grade 1 and have been in the Lower Mainland (traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ speaking peoples) ever since.

Education: I originally started my post-secondary education at SFU for health science, but decided to transfer to Douglas College and got my diploma in Stagecraft and Event Technology instead!

What are your professional roles in the industry?

I am a freelance stage manager as well as the Operations and Marketing Assistant at Theatre in the Country (community dinner theatre in Langley), and I am also an auxiliary Theatre Technician for Surrey Civic Theatres.

What inspired you to pursue a career in theatre?

I’ve always loved seeing the behind the scenes features of movies/tv shows/live events, and continue to be interested in seeing how things come together, so since a stage manager has to be the hub of information and gets to be there throughout the whole process of a show, it felt like the right spot for me. It also means I get to make pretty spreadsheets, and calling cues is really satisfying!

Which plays and musicals have you worked on?

I’ve been involved in over 30 productions over the last 8 years, but recent shows I’ve worked on include:

• Rigoletto (Vancouver Opera)
• Sister Act and Anastasia, the Musical (Theatre in the Country)
• Nutcracker on Ice (Ice Creative Entertainment, PNE Winter Fair)
• Hummingbird (Arts Umbrella)

• Upcoming: I’ll be stage managing Cinderella for Fraser Valley Musical Theatre this spring! (We’d love to see more male-presenting performers audition too, so email producer@fvmt.org if interested!)

Who or what has had the greatest influence on your creativity?

This is tricky! I feel it’s harder to answer a question like this as someone in a non-performer role, but I think that I’ve learned a lot from each show I’ve done and the people I’ve worked with on each of those projects.

I suppose I would thank in particular my Dream Team of Lauren Trotzuk, Tamara Jaune, and Jayda Grant (BroadwayWorld Vancouver and Ovation! award-winning creative team of both Sister Act and Anastasia at TIC!) for their collaboration and encouragement of mine and each other’s creativity, and also shoutout the backstage theatre workers who share tips and peeks at their work on social media!

Career goals?

I have three apprenticeship credits so far, so continuing that and becoming an equity stage manager would be amazing. Being on the stage management team of a big musical would be really cool, maybe even touring!