Services
One crew member, many headsets.
Book Sage & Spotlight for a single role or a whole show. Every booking covers pre-production, so the deck, the cues and the content are sorted before load-in day.
Stage & Deck Management
Deck Manager · ASM · Backstage Manager
Presenter wrangling, walk-ins, scenic and prop moves, and a clean backstage for reveals and general sessions.
Show Calling
Caller · Stage Manager
Cue-to-cue rehearsals and a steady call on the night, with a theatre-trained ear for timing across audio, lighting, video and scenic.
Graphics Operation
Graphics Op · Playback
Executive keynotes and town halls in PowerPoint, Keynote, Google Slides and Millumin, including last-minute edits that never reach the screen late.
Producing
Producer · Technical · Breakouts · Overall
Technical, breakout and overall show producing: content management, run of show, rehearsal schedules and client coordination from first call to strike.
LED Engineering & Video
Absen ACE · Novastar LCT
LED wall configuration, signal flow and pixel mapping for show builds, expo booths and permanent installs.
Production Support
PA · Runner · Logistics · Local Labor
Extra hands that already know the show: logistics, local labor handling, crew support and the errands that keep a schedule on time.
Selected work
The run of show.
Recent productions for agencies and production companies, 2022 to today. Some shows are under NDA and are listed without the client name.
| Show | Position | Dept | With | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corporate general session & awards show | Show Caller | Caller | Gafanha & Associates · Chicago | 2026 |
| Cisco Live, Center Stage | Graphics Operator | GFX | GPJ · Las Vegas | 2026 |
| National & North American town halls (client under NDA) | Show Caller | Caller | Centerstage | 2022–26 |
| Ferrari Dealer Meeting | Deck Manager | Deck | Centerstage / Charlie & Sprocket | 2023–26 |
| Plante Moran Firm Conference | Deck Manager | Deck | Centerstage / Gail & Rice | 2023–26 |
| Crain’s Women of Influence & Power Breakfast | Graphics Operator | GFX | ACE Events · Chicago | 2026 |
| MarketectureLive | Breakout Producer / Content | PROD | JEMM · Chicago | 2026 |
| A Day With Shore | Deck Manager | Deck | Standby&GO Productions | 2026 |
| Absen LED permanent installs | LED Systems & Graphics Computers | LED | Absen | 2025–26 |
| GSU Commencement | Graphics Operator / Video | GFX | Centerstage · Chicago | 2024–26 |
| SEMA Hall of Fame Luncheon & Gala | Deck Manager / Production Runner | Deck | LUCID · Las Vegas | 2025–26 |
| Amazon Accelerate, Expo Theatres & Theatre Build | Graphics Operator / LED Systems | GFX | Centerstage / The Green Room | 2025 |
| Sales kickoff (client under NDA) | LED Systems / Asst. Technical Director | LED | Centerstage / The Green Room | 2022–25 |
| NASDAQ Opening Bells | LED Systems / Remote Deck | LED | Centerstage Productions | 2025 |
| WrestleMania Fanatics Experience & Xfinity Booth | LED Systems | LED | Centerstage Productions | 2025 |
| Kia National Dealer Meeting | Asst. Technical Director / Logistics | Deck | Centerstage | 2023–25 |
| Kia LA Auto Show | Backstage Manager | Deck | Centerstage | 2024 |
| Lincoln Navigator Reveal | Deck Manager / Asst. Technical Director | Deck | Centerstage / Gail & Rice | 2023 |
| Volkswagen ID. Buzz Reveal | Backstage Manager | Deck | Centerstage / Gail & Rice | 2024 |
| Concert tour (client under NDA) | Producer / Content Management | PROD | Incredible Management | Current |
| Corporate LED builds (under NDA) | LED Engineer · ROE CB3, Novastar | LED | ACE Events · Aria AV · Fix It in Pre | 2025–26 |
About
From Theatre Stages to Live Events.
Sage and Spotlight Events and Productions LLC is the production company of Lysbeth Neel, a Chicago stage manager, graphics op, production assistant and producer who founded the company in 2025.
Lysbeth studied theatre at Columbia College Chicago and Eastern Washington University, where her stage management earned a Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival national award. From 2022 to 2025 she was a production associate at Centerstage, handling technical direction and project management on corporate shows. Today she stage manages, runs graphics, produces and supports production teams on shows for Fortune 500 brands, automakers and national associations.
Her background in video and LED means she speaks the same language as the video crew, which helps when a screen, a playback rig or a signal path needs attention mid-show.
The name says how she works: the sage is the steady judgment in a tight changeover, the spotlight is where the client and their presenters stay.
Certifications
- Millumin Certified2025
- Absen Certified Engineer (ACE)2023
- Novastar LCT, Evolve Academy2023
- CPR / First AidCurrent
- Forklift & Scissor LiftCurrent
Education & recognition
- KCACTF National Award for Excellence in Stage Management2019
- BA Theatre, Eastern Washington University2020
- Theatre studies, Columbia College Chicago2015–17
In the toolkit
Booking
How a hold works.
Straightforward terms so producers can plan. The full 2026 rate sheet goes out on request.
1st
Right of first refusal
Your hold is yours. If another offer comes in for the same dates, you hear about it first.
10 hr
Standard day
Day rates cover up to 10 hours. Overtime and short turns follow standard industry practice.
Net 30
Invoicing
All invoices are Net 30. Pre-production is billed hourly at the confirmed role’s rate.
US + Intl
Travel ready
Based in Chicago and on shows nationwide. Travel days bill at the day rate.
Standby for
Your next show.
Send your dates, city and the role you need. You’ll get availability and the 2026 rate sheet back.