StageLync Podcast Ep. 81: Roger Melvin on Stage Managing Dancing with the Stars & American Idol
In this episode of the StageLync Podcast, I’m joined by Roger Melvin, a director and television stage manager based in the USA, whose work includes live broadcasts such as Dancing with the Stars and American Idol. Roger offers a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to keep large-scale, multi-camera productions running smoothly, where timing, communication, and adaptability are critical.
We talk about his transition from film into live television, the realities of stage managing unscripted and semi-scripted broadcasts, and how trust across creative and technical teams shapes successful shows. The conversation also touches on freelance longevity, navigating a career across multiple formats, and why cultivating a strong on-set culture has been just as important to Roger as technical precision.
Credits for the StageLync Podcast
Host: Anna Robb
Editor: Rose Anne Fermocil
Music: Jeremy Willi
Design: Em Holt
Production Coordinator: Roselle Bernardo
Producers: Anna Robb and Andrea Honis
Editor's Note: At StageLync, an international platform for the performing arts, we celebrate the diversity of our writers' backgrounds. We recognize and support their choice to use either American or British English in their articles, respecting their individual preferences and origins. This policy allows us to embrace a wide range of linguistic expressions, enriching our content and reflecting the global nature of our community.
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