Later this week, the Children’s Theatre Company of St. Paul will begin its twelfth run of “Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” The wildly successful production features a host of talented cast and crew members. Two of these members, Shelby Reddig, the Assistant Stage Manager, and Ryan Shipley, who plays J.P. Who, happen to be St. Olaf alumni. Earlier this week, I had the chance to interview Reddig and Shipley about their experiences at St. Olaf, their work in “The Grinch,” and any advice they have for current students.
Redding graduated from St. Olaf in 2017 with a double-major in English and theater. While at St. Olaf, Redding completed several valuable internships, one of which happened to be at Children’s Theatre Company, where she gained valuable skills in stage management. After her graduation, the theater asked her to come back for another internship, which led to future opportunities.
Redding then began stage managing in more professional capacities for the Theatre, and eventually joined an entertainment union in 2019. Being part of the union has been an important part of her career because it has given her broader access to the theater community in the Twin Cities and elsewhere. Redding currently works as an assistant stage manager for the company’s production of “The Grinch.” As a leader, it is her job to be the “keeper of information,” as she calls it. The stage management team calls for the different crew areas, checks that actors are in place, and ensures that the show runs smoothly. In our interview, Redding emphasized how her English major had improved her communication skills.
“You have to be delicate about communication,” Redding said.
At St. Olaf, she was able to refine her skills in this critical career area.
Shipley was a student at Olaf, graduating in 2005. He switched between a few different majors, but ultimately landed in theater. He studied acting and directing. Shipley credits St. Olaf for preparing him to move up to the Twin Cities for a career in theater. Being so close to the cities, he often took advantage of chances to see shows there. His first job post-graduation was at the Guthrie Theater, where he was a directing intern, which helped him to meet more people in the Twin Cities and get into the local theater scene.
After working at the Guthrie Theater, Shipley spent over 20 years in the Twin Cities. In 2021, he was cast as the understudy for Daddy Warbucks in the Children’s Theatre production of “Annie.” Since then, Shipley has moved to New York City. However, he has remained in touch with the people here. When asked if he wanted to come back for “The Grinch,” he jumped at the opportunity to star in the role of J.P. Who. His favorite part of work at the Children’s Theatre is the student matinees, where he gets to be part of “the purest energy exchange you can imagine.”
After utilizing their experiences at St. Olaf for great career opportunities in the theater industry, Redding and Shipley have some key takeaways for current students. Redding wants Oles to know that they should enjoy themselves, because in college, you get to enjoy being in a community with a purpose daily. Shipley says that Oles should know to “ask for what they want.” College is a chance to take risks, and St. Olaf especially has a great support system.
As the fall semester comes to a close, Oles should persevere, and enjoy their work, but also look towards the future with optimism.
