Hello! I am Julie, and I am a stage manager, actor, and theater maker. Born in California and raised in China, I ultimately ended up in New York City to pursue my passion for storytelling and reaching people through sharing space and air in the same room. I have trained as an actor and stage manager, and I strive to bring compassion to all aspects of my work. I hope to tell stories that uplift my fellow queer communities of color.

Outside of the arts, I also have a love for all creatures big and small, cooking delicious soups, and playing puzzle games.

Julie Cai (she/they)

Photographed by Grace Dumdaw

For me, making art is about the joy — and sometimes pain — of human connection. I am proud to be an Asian American face in a creative industry, and my varied background across theatre disciplines is only a small part of what drives my artistic practices.

What I Do

I am a stage manager with experience in off Broadway and educational theatre, and I am committed to storytelling through advanced technical knowledge with compassionate collaboration. With my skill set, work ethic, and people-first approach to artistic collaboration, I have built a strong relationship across different performing arts organizations. I am able to create clear paperwork as tools to coordinate efficiently across departments, with the end goal that everyone has the information needed to execute a clean, safe show.

I studied both Theatre Performance and Stage Management at NYU Tisch. I have formed my holistic approach to Stage Management through these two concurrent artist practices. I am attentive to my collaborators and enjoy learning their working styles; this allows me to determine how my administrative systems can better serve their creative goals.

I recently finished a 2 year contract period with Company XIV, a variety vaudeville show with a residency in Brooklyn that consistently brings in audiences over 150 per night, 4-5 nights a week, and typically sold out over the holiday season with 10 performances a week. We provided dazzling nights of entertainment for New Yorkers and tourists alike, with the combined efforts of the staff, confetti canons, and haze machines. Over the course of my career, I have grown tremendously in my abilities as a team leader.

Coming out of this tenured experience, I have learned valuable lessons in caring for my team, approaching conflicts without fear, and gracefully guiding every audience to an unforgettable experience.

I look forward to applying those skills to my collaboration with you! Please explore those other tabs on this website for more details about my artistic practices.