Quick Chats: Company Manager Nicole Tilford

The Quick Chat series is where we dive into the life and times of APT’s finest. Each interview will supply insights ranging from the obviously relevant to the vaguely strange. Sounds fun, right? This week features Company Manager Nicole Tilford.

APT: Nicole, this is your fifth season with APT! What path led you here?

Nicole Tilford: I’m originally from Long Island, New York and now, I’m happy to say, that I call Spring Green my home. I studied theatre/acting in College where I met my husband and heard of APT through my professors who used to work here in the 90s. My husband had an audition and ultimately joined the apprentice class in 2014. Being newly engaged, I decided to make the trip and spend a summer in Wisconsin with him. That season I worked alongside Cari Stebbins as her Associate House Manager and swiftly made the shift into Company Management for my second season. My original plan was to spend a summer here, move back home and continue college but all that quickly changed once I actually arrived.

APT: What are your hobbies/how do you like to spend your time? 

Nicole Tilford: I really love field hockey and whenever I’m not at APT, I’m actively searching for clubs in Madison that I can jump into and get some time on a field. If you know of any, send them my way or if you’re interested in learning how to play, I’d be happy to teach you and have a buddy in town! 

APT: Although in theater most jobs are not day-to-day. What does a day in the life at American Players Theatre look like for you?

Nicole Tilford: During the season I wear many different hats and my job is constantly shifting depending on what’s needed of me. My overall goal is always to make sure that each and every employee feels that they are able to comfortably focus on their work. I try to accomplish this in many ways, I begin this process before they arrive by prepping their housing to delivering heat support during the summer (Gatorade, water, etc.) to throwing opening night parties. For example right now; I’m cleaning lady extraordinaire (along with my assistant, Ari) and we are going through each and every housing location trying to make them feel a little bit like home. Once the season begins, I try to be more hands on around the property. I like to think of myself in some ways as “Company Mom” – I’m always concerned if you’ve eaten that day or if you have enough sunscreen on.

APT: Currently we are in preseason, how are you preparing for the return of our company?

Nicole Tilford: Preseason is my busiest time out of the whole year. Although all our seasonal employees are not on property yet, I’m spending most of my days preparing housing for their arrivals. This season I am responsible for housing 130+ employees and managing roughly 60-70 locations, the process to prepare started way back in January. Once an employee is hired I reach out to them to talk through anything and everything; for example what Spring Green is like (and where is the nearest shopping center), housing assignments and what this summer will be like for them. Many new employees have never been to Spring Green before so there are many questions to answer. From then I begin my hunt for housing, searching for seasonal rentals, homestays and making reservations at the hotels in town. 

APT: What is something surprising about your position that people even at APT might not know about?

Nicole Tilford: I think there are two aspects of my job that people are consistently surprised at. The first is that in regards to housing and preseason, I do the actual furniture moves into our seasonal rentals (from beds to couches to how many garbage cans you’ll need and where.) The second is that I’m a year-round employee and once the season is over and employees have left (including my assistant), I spend about two months moving out of housing and winterizing our year-round locations so that they are ready to go for next season. 

APT: Why do you love coming to APT everyday?

Nicole Tilford: Working at APT is unlike any other job I’ve ever had (in all the best ways). I’ve never felt so much support, flexibility and importance surrounding the work that I do. It really is a warm environment and I feel like I have a voice that matters. I have all the tools I need to grow in this position and be a better company manager than I was last year or the year before and I think that’s pretty amazing. 

APT: What show are you most looking forward to this season?

Nicole Tilford: This summer I’m mostly looking forward to As You Like It, mainly because I am familiar with this play. There are many plays this season that I don’t know at all and going into a show I love the idea of not knowing what to expect. I try to hold onto that ignorance on purpose for as long as possible so that I can experience the play with fresh eyes and ears.