Profile: Scott Wallace

Scott Wallace and his son

Scott Wallace is the senior manager of production for the Office of the Arts. He manages a team of 15 people who schedule, manage, advance, and help produce 700+ events each year.

He and his team plan the technical operations for events that take place in all of the spaces managed by the Office of the Arts: the Semel and Greene theaters in the Tufte Performance and Production Center; the Cutler Majestic Theatre; and the Paramount’s Bright Family Screening Room, Jackie Liebergott Black Box, Robert J. Orchard Stage, and the Center’s Studios.

Wallace and his colleagues provide all of the expertise and maintenance for the venues’ equipment, including lighting and sound. They also assist with labor for events, and, in the age of COVID, manage a range of health and safety protocols.

For ArtsEmerson productions, Wallace sometimes helps take a show from the design stage to the final performance. ArtsEmerson co-produces many works by international artists, so he has the opportunity to collaborate with arts organizations from around the world, such as The 7 Fingers circus troupe from Quebec.

He also works with local companies that rent the department’s venues, such as Boston Lyric Opera. And, of course, he frequently works with Emerson colleagues on major campus events, including Orientation, Alumni Weekend, and special events like presidential addresses.

Wallace has been at Emerson for nine and a half years. He said that his favorite part about working here is the College community. “The people I have met and get to work with have been incredible,” he said.

Prior to Emerson, he traveled the world for 13 years as a general manager for two of Cirque du Soleil’s Big Top shows. He and the company moved to a new location every 12–20 weeks, which afforded him the chance to visit 50+ countries on every continent except Antarctica.

Wallace was born in Massachusetts but lived in Virginia Beach, VA, until he was 13. Then his family moved back to Massachusetts, and he attended high school in Duxbury. Currently, he and his 16-year-old autistic son live in Bourne, MA.

Outside of work, he and his son enjoy watching IMAX and 4D films at the Museum of Science and attending special events around the city, such as Disney on Ice. Their favorite recent outing was the immersive Van Gogh exhibit.

Nancy Howell (Communications and Marketing)