Following my journey from stage manager to academic I wanted to discover whether my experiences were unique. Although there has been investigation in other fields into transition experiences, there was no existing research in this area. In this article I investigate the values and identity of stage managers in academia and how these are affected by moving into academia, specifically within the context of the drama conservatoire. Using a qualitative phenomenological approach and examining data from online surveys and semi-structured interviews through content analysis, I sought and considered the views of those with similar career trajectories. Themes identified included uncertain identities, shared values, work/life balance, and tensions between theatre and academic structures. This study moves the stage manager working in the wings of drama schools to centre stage, examines their motivations and identities and encourages academic stage managers to claim their position confidently in this emerging field of study.