Scott Faris teaching stage management (Photo by Chris Shinn)
In the inaugural episode of the revived Podcast@SDA, Associate Dean of Faculty & Associate Dean of Strategic Initiatives Oliver Mayer sits down with Professor Scott Faris, the Alice M. Pollitt Professor of Stage Management and Chair of Stage Management & Production at the USC School of Dramatic Arts.
Highlighting faculty from all areas and celebrating their indispensable labors, Podcast@SDA lets us get to know who they really are, in their own words and stories, beyond the classroom or the hallway. These are our SDA faculty unplugged, unguarded, and most of all, unscripted. The ultimate mission? To let the world know that this is who we really are and what we have to give one another at this crucial moment in time, and that, to quote Desmond Tutu, “A person is a person through other persons.”
Faris’ journey from small-town Orange County to Broadway stages and eventually to USC’s faculty reveals the kind of multifaceted artist-educator that defines the school’s approach to dramatic arts training. Beginning as a dancer who dreamed of being Gene Kelly, Faris transitioned through performing, stage management, and directing, working with legendary figures like Hal Prince and on spectacular productions from Siegfried and Roy’s Las Vegas show to collaborations with NASA and physicist Brian Greene. His path demonstrates how theatrical skills translate across industries and how diverse professional experiences enrich academic teaching. Speaking candidly about resilience and the challenges that have shaped his optimistic approach to problem-solving, Faris embodies the collaborative spirit he brings to mentoring the next generation of entertainment professionals. His career illustrates how the discipline, adaptability, and leadership skills developed in theatre create versatile professionals prepared for success across multiple fields.
Listen to the entire episode.