How did George Cukor begin his career in theatre?

George Cukor began his professional career in theatre in 1919, working as a stage manager for a troupe based in Chicago.1

Following this start, he expanded his experience in the early 1920s by spending his summers in Rochester, New York, where he served as the resident director of his own stock company. During the winter months, he worked on Broadway in New York City, eventually directing the first stage production of The Great Gatsby in 1926.1