PRG’s roots are in the theatre – it has been a leading innovator behind some of Broadway’s most iconic moments, providing state-of-the-art lighting, audio, video, scenery, and automation solutions for over 30 years. Its indelible legacy can be directly attributed to the dedicated, hardworking professionals who have contributed over the years and who continue its legacy going forward. Among these are a number of exceptional women who are currently making their mark in a predominantly male industry. Remarking on the contribution that women are making at PRG, Jere Harris, founder and creative officer, said, “The women on PRG’s Broadway team pushed through significant barriers to establish a place for themselves in the industry and reinforce PRG’s leadership. As important, they are now mentors, developing the next generation of talent and adding to the diverse perspectives we bring to every show.”

We recently sat down for a chat with four remarkable women from PRG’s Broadway team. They are:

Michele Guasconi, Assistant General Manager, Broadway

A 20+ year veteran of PRG, Michele works closely with Alex Donnelly, vice president and general manager, Broadway, supporting both sales and technical staff in audio, video and lighting from budgeting through opening night and beyond.

Dolly Alonso, Senior Account Executive, Lighting

Dolly coordinates with the designers, producers and general managers to bring in the design on budget and supports production electricians both on site and in the shop.

Erin Insalaco, Account Executive, Audio

Erin supports designers and production sound with audio system engineering, gear selection, and budgeting, along with 24/7 customer support for ongoing productions.

Alexandra Paull, Project Coordinator, Scenic

Alexandra provides project management for scenic and automation services. Her responsibilities include project quoting, technical design review, managing subcontractors, maintaining project budgets and schedules.

PRG: What was your career path? How did you get started in the industry?

Ally: My father worked in production management; he worked on the original Broadway production of Phantom of the Opera so I’ve been around the theatre all my life. I never went to college, and like many others, got my start by working in summer stock. After that, I managed to find my way into production management on Broadway with Juniper Street Productions, one of Broadway’s largest Production Management offices. For several years, I worked in production management on Broadway by day and ran shows off-Broadway by night.

Michele: I started working as the receptionist and later became office manager. I was working closely with our management team when we acquired Four Star, the renowned Broadway lighting rental company. That’s when I met Darren DeVerna (legendary producer and PRG CEO of Global Theatre until his passing in 2020) and for the next 20 years, he and I became attached at the hip.

Erin: I got my bachelor's degree in sound engineering and show control from City Tech in Brooklyn. I worked at Celebrate Brooklyn, the performing arts festival, and also on cruise ships. That was fun - I got to travel, see great places, and meet new people. On the ships we did Broadway shows like Rock of Ages which got me more into theatre. Right around the time my contract with the cruise ships ended, Pete Harrison (VP, Market/Operations) reached out to me about working at PRG.

Dolly: I knew I wanted to work backstage, but I didn't know in what way. First, I went to Kansas State and then to Full Sail University which at the time was the only place that offered real-world training in theatrical technology. I worked as an unpaid intern at Vari-lite for six months until I was offered a full-time position. So, I was with VLPS (Vari-lite Production Services) when we merged with PRG in 2004.

PRG: What’s the best part about working in theatre or on Broadway? What do you enjoy most?

Erin: What's very cool about working in the theatre is that you are part of the building process by watching the design and production team put together this whole idea and make it happen. When the show is up and running, seeing that idea turned into a reality is amazing.

Michele: It's the people. I love working with all the Broadway designers. And I love the people here (at PRG). We're very close. We all started here very young and worked our way up together.

Ally: While the gig life in my 20s was exciting, I got tired of the grueling schedule, I was thinking about what I wanted from my life besides work. Do I want to be a parent? And how do you carve out a schedule when theatre means working nights and weekends? That led me to PRG because it was a way not just to maintain my career but to actively continue growing, just on a more regular schedule. I was worried that being out of the city, away from actual theatres, I might fade away a little bit, but it hasn’t been that way at all.

Dolly: What I love about working at PRG is talking to Broadway lighting designers. I work with the best, the top of the top, and learn so much from them.

PRG: Is there a particular project or a show that’s a career highlight for you?

Ally: Very early in my career I worked on a summer production of Don Giovanni at Spoleto Festival, and it was the first time I had been part of an installation construction where they really took apart the venue. When the show opened, I saw the impact of the scenery I helped to build, being used on stage in front of a live audience, and that was super cool; it made a lasting impression on me.

Michele: Seeing shows like Dear Evan Hansen go from a little script through development to a huge Broadway production is amazing!

Erin: When I was an apprentice at Celebrate Brooklyn, this group I love called Sigur Rósplayed. I got to run the monitors board for them during soundcheck. That was very, very cool. I was only in my twenties, so just seeing the level of professionalism of their road crew was an awesome experience.

Dolly: I love taking care of the show and the crew. You get really involved because you’re with them from the inception to the closing, it is extremely rewarding. The crew knows that I've got their back no matter what, it feels good to be appreciated.

PRG: Are there people who have helped you in your career? Have you had mentors?

Dolly: Darren DeVerna was the one who mentored me. He instilled in me how important it is to make a good impression when dealing with designers and electricians and the shop. And he always reminded me that, “we are only as good as our last show.”

Erin: John Huntington was my sound engineering professor at City Tech and the way he taught audio mixing and how to have an ear for things helped me in my career. Another professor I had named Sue Brant was excellent because she knows firsthand that it's a little tricky going into this field as a woman and she gave me the necessary guidance to make sure I watched out for myself and my peers.

Ally: I always say Hillary Blanken, president of Juniper Street Productions; she's fantastic. It was a real privilege to spend those years working with her. Whenever I face a difficult, stressful, or high-conflict situation, I try to ground myself by imagining how Hillary would handle it. She also has the unique distinction of being one of the few mothers I saw ahead of me in this industry. (Ally is the proud mother of two children and two stepchildren)

Michele: Since Darren’s passing, I’ve been working very closely with Jere Harris (PRG Founder) and it’s been amazing being mentored by him. I feel lucky to be mentored by two industry legends. I’ve learned a lot by watching them and attribute a lot of my success to their confidence in me.

PRG: What advice do you have for other women who are starting out in the industry?

Michele: I would say listen as much as possible and try to take everything in. It might not be your way of doing it but listen and see how other people do it. Also, don't ever lose your voice - don't be afraid to speak up or speak out.

Dolly: Don't be afraid to ask questions. That's my biggest thing. I wish I had had the guts to ask more questions when I was starting out. At that time, because it was such a male-dominated industry, I was intimidated. There's no such thing as a stupid question. And then the other thing is don’t be afraid to ask for what you want.

Erin: Walk with purpose and stand up for yourself. Don't let anyone ever tell you that you don't know. Especially if you know what you're doing, politely tell them to leave you alone.

Ally: For me, speaking up always felt very scary because I didn't always trust that I had the experience or the knowledge. So, what I would tell anyone else is that it's okay to be wrong too. You don't need to stay silent because you aren't 100% certain you’ve got the best solution to a given problem. At the end of the day, we are all people and all doing our best, and that is enough to earn your spot.

Photo courtesy of PRG.