Abby Bobb, B.I.S. (Interdisciplinary Studies) 2016, Dance & Stage Management
Weston Corey, B.F.A. 2016, Lighting Design
Abby and Weston met junior year in the lighting practicum, which is ironic because Weston was just hired this year as the department’s first full-time lighting and sound technician…and he’s teaching that same practicum!
Abby grew up dancing in her hometown of Fredericksburg and also trained at the School of Richmond Ballet. She discovered VCU’s interdisciplinary program and “created my own major,” which allowed her to create her own major splitting between dance and stage management.
Weston’s first show was when he was in the 6th grade as part of West End Assembly of God’s big Christmas production. Since he was a “fidgety kid, they stuck me on lighting team and I haven’t stopped since.”
After graduation, Abby went to Colorado as stage manager and lead counselor at Rocky Mountain Theatre for Kids and Weston got full-time offer to be assistant lighting director for Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center in The Villages, Florida.
They both were also involved with The Sharon’s sister venue The Studio Theatre at Tierra Del Sol, for its inaugural season where Abby was the resident stage manager. Weston became lighting director and resident designer for the Sharon and the Studio, respectively after 9 months.
When they returned to Richmond, Abby was working at SPARC when she got an email offer to work as assistant stage manager for the National Tour of Legally Blonde…leaving in two weeks! Since then, she’s worked 5 other National Tours and is currently on Come From Away. (She was in Wichita when we talked.)
Even though it keeps the couple apart, Abby likes touring because, “you never have the same audience twice, and get to share a story to parts of the country where they might not normally have the opportunity to see a Broadway show.” Meanwhile, Weston likes working with the students at VCU, “Every one of them comes and works their butt off and they’re active in asking questions, which is pretty impressive.”
In explaining the success of their relationship, they explained, “We’re both really passionate about what we do and have a big mutual respect and understanding of what the other one does. Having the same level of love and support from each other is the biggest factor in that. “
Compiled by Liz Hopper (professor emeritus), Jerry Williams (BFA ’71), and VCUarts Theatre for the February 2024 Theatre Alumni newsletter