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based in New York City (25 performances in six weeks). "The show almost unraveled," she said. "Because there were so many different adjust- ments, we were punchy by the end of the run. However, I was hooked." Managing became her forté, as evidenced by her recent position in Manhattan: production activities administrator for vocal arts at the Juilliard School. "Among my 25 major rehearsal and perfor- mance duties? Making sure the harpsichords were tuned," she pointed out. RETURN TO SARASOTA In New York, she was expected to be avail- able nights and weekends. "That's not going to work for me," she thought. Her life had come to include marriage and a new baby. Sarasota beckoned. Her parents, Maestro Victor DeRenzi and Stephanie Sundine, have been at the creative helm of the Sarasota Opera for more than 30 years. MacBeth prac- tically grew up backstage. Like Kelli Karen, the Florida Studio Theatre production stage manager recently profiled in The Sarasota News Leader, MacBeth started out in the dance world. She developed a respect for choreography while perform- ing the role of the Dew Drop Fairy in The Nutcracker on the Metropolitan Opera stage. She saw how individual roles blend to create an ensemble. That appreciation has served her well. Over the past weeks, she has preferred to see Francesca MacBeth works at her console backstage at the Sarasota Opera. Photo by Fran Palmeri Sarasota News Leader February 21, 2014 Page 95