Internships: Helping Artists Transition

Read a new article in Examiner.com about A Noise Within Internships, and how they provided a link between college and career for many young aspiring theatre professionals. http://www.examiner.com/theater-reviews-in-los-angeles/a-noise-within-helping-artists-transition-into-a-difficult-vocation

Final Bow

All great shows eventually must hold their last curtain call, and so, here is my final bow (post).

It has been such a spontaneous, thrilling and compelling ride here at ANW. I miss it already.

Keep checking this blog for posts from future acting interns and perhaps the education intern in summer 2011. Thank you for following my journey!

For the last time,

ANWintern.

Tuesday.

Despite the lack of creative title, today was quite a creative day. We're moving forward on the Measure for Measure study guide, getting it all ready for the show which starts rehearsing in the next few weeks. While I work in the education department, I get to see all facets of this theater company in action. I've done my background research on Measure... studying the setting, characters, words, etc. and then I get to see people walk through the door auditioning for specific parts. I am seeing the words on the page literally come to life. While the show isn't cast quite yet, I still get a general idea of the director's vision -- how he perhaps sees specific characters. Is Isabella innocent and young? Or is she older and stronger, though pure in her features? I do not doubt that the show will be beautiful, and I hope that I get to see it when I'm home from school on break.

The amazing thing is that we just had so many events culminate last week (SWS and Groundbreaking, to name a few) and yet we are still pushing forward with the same sense of passion and determination. It's such a lovely community to be a part of.

ANWintern.

A side note

I realize I just posted, but I've got more to say. And I felt like this post wasn't quite tangental, and deserved its own title and section. So here I am. Rambling. But really, I do have more to say. I'm sitting at my desk, slowly devouring a red velvet cupcake and listening to the chatter in the office. That's one thing I love about ANW. There are moments of silence, when all you can hear are fingers working quickly on keyboards. Then the mailman enters and the office fills with lively chatter. Then silence. Then a side conversation about something that happened over the weekend, that somehow, always seems to relate to what is going on in the office. It's a systematic ebb and flow that is completely natural.

The people here want to know about each other, outside of the context of work. No wonder I felt so welcomed right away. Yes, I am an intern. But I don't necessarily feel like my idea of an intern. Sure I run errands. But I also have a voice and opinions that are acknowledged. And the people I work with are so passionate about what they do. The energy (even in silence) is always eager and pushing forward. That's the kind of energy that I think a non-profit craves, because times can get really tough.

Well. There's my redvelvetcupcakeinduced ramble. And scene.

ANWintern.

The beginning of the end.

I can't believe it's already my last Monday. My last week. Time really did just zip by. I realize my posts got a little bit sparse the last few weeks, but I've been running around with campers and away from the computer more than I expected. I've got some great photos from camp and the final performance I should have up in the next few days. This week I'm working on sending out brochures to schools and teachers to increase awareness about ANW's fantastic specials for school groups that want to see live theater.

I'll keep you posted through this week most definitely.

ANWintern.

(P.S. There's a special prize for the person who can count how many times I overused the word week in this post! Muahaha.)

Groundbreaking Update

I just got my hands on some beautiful photos taken by Daniel Reichert.

Check out our new space in Pasadena, and some shots of the Groundbreaking event!

ANWintern.

En garde!

The title of this post is both literal and figurative. On the realist side, I just got finished observing the SWS campers rehearse their combat scene. It is really impressive! At first, I was worried that little kids with swords could only end like King Lear - eyes gouged out. These kids, however, have such tact and dedication. There is not even an ounce of horsing around. They know their parts perfectly and I can't wait for them to show off all of their hard work. Hard to believe what a bunch of 10 to 18 year olds can do in only two and a half weeks... their scenes are (fingers crossed) perfectly memorized, they've got a complicated period dance routine perfected, and a combat scene, among other things. Whereas in my experience, actors sometimes complain about the amount of lines or work they have to deal with in a given amount of time, there is no sense of worry from these kids. I can't wait (though I'm bummed that camp will be over) until Saturday!

Now in a figurative sense, "en garde" is a sign of what is about to come, indicating that a fencer should prepare for battle. Of course I'm not going off to war, but I am really coming in for the closing lap of my internship. Everything is culminating in the next two weeks......I'll keep you posted.

ANWintern.

Sun. Sun. Sun.

Today we celebrated groundbreaking at ANW's new site. It is in such a beautiful location....you can see mountains right when you stand outside. While I was roasting in the sun, I got to hear about how much passion and love has really gone into this company. From government officials to artists to board members, there are so many people who have invested themselves into ANW. I looked very official in my hard hat and name tag, and some guests came over and started talking to me. Honestly, the people around this company are just some of the nicest I've ever met. Oh, and we had yummy pastries. And the actors performed snippets from previous shows. While I can say I had a love for the classics before, I really appreciate them a lot more now. They are timeless and for lack of a better word, pure, with the ability to be continuously built off of. There is perhaps no "right" way when it comes to Shakespeare, so the creative process allows for invention, discoveries, and observations. You know how sometimes you "know" something, but feel totally different once you experience it. Well, this internship is definitely an indication of just that.

ANWintern.

Summer with Shakespeare takes off!

Summer with Shakespeare has been so busy! The campers have been doing scene work, combat fencing, movement, dance, voice work, mask making, set design.... the list goes on and on. I love getting to see these kids work Shakespeare. What actually surprised me is that they approach the text the same way that I would. They have the same difficulties with initial comprehension and memorization, but have been doing research and really are enhancing their learning experience. The work they are doing is really impressive and I love watching them in action. Below are some pictures from mask making day. The campers drew out their designs, molded them on their faces, and after they hardened, painted them. They are going to wear the masks in their final performance (open to a live audience!) next Saturday....

A group of campers sketch out their designs.

Here is one of the masks being put on a camper's face. With plaster strips and water, the mask molded easily onto her face.
Here is another image of a camper putting a mask on. The red marker outlined the shape of the mask, to make sure no plaster went into the camper's eyes and so that it would come off easily.

Here are some of the campers with their masks hardening on their faces. After this they were gently removed and set out to dry.

I wish I could have made one for myself. They all really turned out looking fantastic.

And one last thing, all photos are property of A Noise Within. (So don't try to copy them!)

ANWintern.

A Justified Delay

I know it's been a few days - but it's busy season here in the education office. After Arts Summit, we dove right into Summer with Shakespeare and are prepping for the first Scholar's Society (TONIGHT!). So let me back up and give you a few updates.

1) This internship program is fantastic. If you are of college age and are eligible, I would highly recommend applying for a position. It is such a rarity to get a full time paid internship nowadays. And of course, if you are reading this blog and considering a LACAC internship --- well you should absolutely apply to A Noise Within. There are other opportunities available at ANW during the year, but my job is only offered in the summer (hopefully it will be available next year). Of course it's good to have programs on your radar early. At Arts Summit, I got to meet students who work at other arts organizations in the LA area through this program. Everyone I spoke to raved about their jobs. I am proud to be a part of a community of such passionate, interesting people. And especially happy that my home base is ANW!

2) Summer with Shakespeare started off with a bang! We've got a great group of kids who are eager to get up on their feet and spend the day exploring all different aspects of theater arts. Yesterday was the first day and they did acting, combat, movement, and team building activities. Today (the second day) they are learning an Elizabethan period dance piece

(how fitting) and more advanced elements of sword fighting. All of these different aspects are going to come together at the end of the session to create a really impressive final showing. I'm excited to see what part each student will be cast in for their scenes. Oh and I'm going to start taking some pictures of the kids to put up here -- look out for those!

3) Scholar's Society is tonight, and it sounds like such an amazing program. Unfortunately, I won't be able to stay and listen in, but there is an extremely knowledgeable professor coming to speak to the ANW scholars about Measure for Measure -- the first show of our 2010-2011 season!

4) OUR SEASON HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED! Check out our website to get a full list of the plays. I actually had not read any of the plays before, but now I've already gotten through a few of them. Some of the other education interns and I have been doing a lot of work on the study guides for next season. We've been researching settings, words, themes, etc. to create really comprehensive guide for viewers, students, and curious internet browsers. I'm particularly interested in the controversies brought up in Measure for Measure in that Shakespeare - ever so craftily - doesn't provide concrete answers to the questions he brings up about sexual relations, religion, and honesty, to name a few. It's the kind of play that leaves the audience in conversation as they leave the theater. Which, if I do say so myself, isn't a bad quality at all.

ANWintern.

The time is now.

Today I'm busy doing some final preparations for Scholar's Society and Summer With Shakespeare. Both start next week... and tomorrow I'm going to be at an all-day Arts Summit so I won't be in the office. You see, my internship is part of the Arts Internship Program created by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. They offered 74 internships in art organizations in Los Angeles County this summer, and I was lucky enough to be hired by A Noise Within. All of the interns will be attending the event tomorrow, so I'll get to meet other college students who likely share my interests and possibly career aspirations as well.

Now, who said Los Angeles is all about (and only about) TV and Film? Absolutely false.

ANWintern.

Halfway Already

The 6th week begins and I'm on the road to the end. I just can't believe it.

Shakespeare Within went really well. I got to take part in the set up and checking people in for the first day. We created a Shakespeare library with books and study guides to look at, brochures displayed on tables, and had set models and props out for viewing. In my personal (unbiased) opinion, it looked great. The teachers left positive, constructive feedback after the course so I'd say all the hard work paid off.

ANWintern

And so it begins.

Tonight is the first night of Shakespeare Within. As a recap, it's the professional development intensive for teachers. They will be coming tonight, Saturday and Sunday. I've spent all morning setting up the theater for their arrival... putting packets together, organizing a table of Shakespeare books to browse, setting up displays.... I am helping to bring to life a project that I've spent the last 5 weeks working on. It's such a nice feeling.

ANWintern.

We're in the News!

Here's a recent article about Summer with Shakespeare.

Spots are still available!

http://losangeles.broadwayworld.com/article/A_Noise_Within_Presents_SUMMER_WITH_SHAKESPEARE_Program_20010101

Steps for an amazing month of July:

1) Sign up for SWS

2) If you can't participate... tell your friends! cousins! neighbors!

3) Count down the days until SWS starts

ANWintern.

Looking for something to read?

Online textual summaries are a blessing.

But you haven't seen anything until you've seen ANW study guides.

Summaries. Character breakdowns. Historical analysis. Cute little quizzes. Thought provoking questions. The list goes on and on....

They've got it all. And they're free. And, well, brilliant.

SHAMELESS PLUG (and trust me, it's worth it)

Click the lovely little link right here....

http://anoisewithin.org/education_studyguides.html

ANWintern.

(of course I realize that it is summer, but that doesn't mean you can't get ahead...or look really smart when you're reading at the beach).

Losing track of time...

I am in such a nice routine here.

I wake up.
Drive to ANW.
Grab some breakfast or a snack for later.
Get working.
Research.
Document.
Organize.
Ask questions.
Eat some chocolate.
Laugh.
Learn.
Listen.
Lunch.
Continue what I was doing before.
Check in on the blog.
Day's already over.
Can't believe how quickly time flies.
Pack up.
Get ready for tomorrow.
Repeat.
Continue to be surprised.

Who would guess that a college student would enjoy sitting at a desk from 9 to 5. Not me. But I've proved myself wrong.


ANWintern.

Shout out to Becca who leaves comments! Join the club loyal followers!

Question of the Day

Do you have a favorite Shakespeare play?

Mine is probably King Lear. Or Titus Andronicus (even though I could barely sit through the movie version, I was so grossed out).

So that sounds like I might be a little bit sadistic. Not true. (Though I can't lie, Saw was an AWESOME movie). Those stories just keep you right on the edge of your seat the whole time. They are twisted and beautiful.


Comment on the post and share your thoughts....

ANWintern.

Sunshine Day

Today is Wednesday. Half-way through the week. I am seriously losing track of time.

I've been busy working on my projects (which you already know about) and I'm moving forward nicely. I am learning so much here not only about computers (yes, I am an excel wizard-in-training) but also about classic theater. I'm diving head first into history and plays and I continue to be fascinated.

I always find myself wondering what Shakespeare would think if he saw where his works are today. There are hundreds of adaptations and scholarly interpretations out there....

Would he like them?

Would he tell people that they are wrong?

Are there right answers?

Would he know "the answers?"

Am I just being skeptical?


Food for thought, I suppose.

ANWintern.

PostPostPost!

I want to apologize for not writing for so long, I've just been so busy! I just can't believe it's already my fourth week of work - my internship is almost halfway done (sad).

As I post today, I can officially call myself an Excel user. I know the shortcuts of making really well organized lists and sorting things just the way I like them. It is such a great program to use, especially for the kind of things I'm doing in the office ...like finding potential people to come to future shows or compiling addresses.

Other exciting things.... we are busy preparing not only for next season's audiences but also making packets and getting ready for SHAKESPEARE WITHIN and SUMMER WITH SHAKESPEARE! Oh, I'm just so excited.

Everyday we move forward, and these programs are really comprehensive and exciting. (I'm sure you can tell that by the amount of preparation we are doing).

I can't wait for them to start a) because I've been working on getting them ready and it will be great to see it all come to life and b) because hopefully I'll take some really great pictures to add to the blog so you can see what it's all about!

Hm.. well I've got to go do some Excel work regarding our new theater in Pasadena!

(And you should know that so many exclamation points on a Monday is definitely an indication of what this experience is like (!!) )

ANWintern.

FYI

For everyone who is just checking out the blog for the first time... WELCOME!

Here are some things you should know:

1) Posts appear with the most recent at the top of the screen. If you want to see the archives, scroll to the bottom of the page or check out the Blog Archives on the right side of the screen.

2) There will be quite a few of us posting on here, so don't get confused if things seem out of order. Each of us will sign our entries differently. I'm ANWintern, and DEVintern just started writing! Check out her first post a few below this one.

3) And finally, please leave comments, tell your friends, and spread the ANW love all around.

ANWintern.

Day 15

I can't believe how fast time is flying by. My internship program is ten weeks total and it's already the third week! Right now we are getting ready for Shakespeare Within, the program for teachers that is coming up in just a few weeks. I've been cutting bits of fabric for an exercise on costume design and compiling packets with information about history and breaking down Shakespeare. I would love to take the class myself. I think it's really great that teachers are continuing to expand their own knowledge which will really give their students a comprehensive curriculum. The class is from Friday to Sunday, so it will be quick and incredibly informative (based on what I've heard about it and reviews from past teachers). Also, I think I'm going to come in and help out with acting and improv games. (excitement!)

Is this post a shameless plug to get more people to sign up? Perhaps. But at the end of the day, what I'm trying to say is that what happens at this theater company is just really, really fantastic.

ANWintern.

First post!

Hello! I'm one of the other interns ANWintern mentioned in her last post. I'm a Development intern, and I'm working with ANW's Individual Giving Manager for the summer.

Here's a little bit about me:

My mother inspired my interest in theater. She's a playwright, so I went to a lot of plays and readings growing up. I've taken a lot of literature classes in high school and in college, and have read a great deal of Shakespeare.

I would have loved to have seen ANW's production of Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment. I'm a huge fan of Russian literature. My love for the literature inspired me to take Russian language classes just so I could read works like Crime and Punishment in the original Russian. I also have a Russian Studies concentration in school.

Besides theater, I'm also passionate about film and music. I used to work for a nonprofit cinema (also in Development), and now I'm the editor of the film section of a local magazine. I also write music reviews for the same magazine. It's really fun, and being published is always nice!

That's all for now, as I need to get back to my project at ANW. I'm working on creating a corporate sponsorship program. It's a big project and I'm so excited that I get to contribute to it. I'll tell you more about it in my next post!

DevIntern.

Busy Bees.

Exciting news -- there are more interns in the office! Hopefully they will get a chance to write on the blog as well so you can find out about what they are up to.

Currently in the Education Department, we're busy getting ready for Summer with Shakespeare and Scholar's Society. They seem like wonderful programs, and I'm really looking forward to working on them both. As I've said before, please check out the website to learn more about them or give us a call here.

I'm about to head out for my lunch break, but I just wanted to leave a quick post before I left!

ANWintern.

Paparazzi

Check out these GORGEOUS pictures taken this past season at A Noise Within.

I'm really excited to find out what next year's season will be!

Richard III

L to R: Steve Weingartner (Richard III), Deborah Strang (Margaret)

Noises Off

Deborah Strang (Dotty)

Much Ado About Nothing

L to R, Clockwise: Patrick O'Connell (Don Pedro), Brandon Hearnsberger (Claudio), Steve Weingartner (Borachio), Peter Larney (Balthasar), JD Cullum (Benedick)

Crime and Punishment

L to R: Michael Newcomer(Raskolnikov), Holly Hawkins (Sonya/Others)

All photos are taken by Craig Schwartz.

Go to ANW's website to see more.

ANWintern.

Week 2

So I made it past the initial "hump" and now I'm smooth sailing into work. I pretty much know the exact minute I need to leave for work to try to skip traffic. I know what to bring and where I'll be working. I've started to claim some local restaurants as my favorites. But even with this sense of stability, I continue to be surprised by what I get to do in the office. Most of my work is on the computer, but it is never the same. I've been cataloging, tabulating, and looking at statistics. I really feel like my work is significant and important, which is really nice and makes the day worthwhile. From my computer work, I am realizing that A Noise Within serves so many different kinds of people during the season. Whether its college students, elementary school kids, or adult scholars, this theater has the answer.

ANWintern.

The end of week one.

Today I was a member of an assembly line. Almost everyone who works in the office sat around a table and we folded, stuffed, and sealed hundreds of envelopes to send to people that support the theater. We discussed the conclusion of Lost and different ways to stage The Winter's Tale, while finishing our work before lunch. This is probably the best example of why I keep referring to ANW as a "team." It was a tedious task, but everyone participated without complaint. And now I have a new trait to add to my resume: excellent envelope sealer.

ANWintern.

Summer with Shakespeare

You should definitely check out the videos and information about Summer with Shakespeare. It's a kids camp that does scene work, textual work, combat.... the list is endless. I'm really excited for it, and it's actually one of the reasons I wanted to work at ANW this summer. Shakespeare, I believe, should be experienced at an early age and continue to be explored with time. I can say that my first reading of one of his plays is completely different than a third or fourth reading. The stories are so thick with details that it would be impossible to "get it" the first time. I'm really interested to see how younger people respond to Shakespeare and deal with the language.

Go to ANW's home page and click on Education for more details!

ANWintern.

This, I would have LOVED to see

To the left is a picture of Freddy Douglas who played Hamlet a few years ago in ANW's production. I didn't get to see the show but I was reading about it in one of the study guides on the website. Shameless plug: Anyone who loves the classics or wants a comprehensive guide to classic plays should really check them out. They have SO much information in them and would be a great place to find research materials for a paper or supplementary reading for a play. Just go to anoisewithin.org and click on Education and you'll find them.

Anyway, Hamlet was performed with a really small cast and Douglas played Hamlet and his dead father. So he delivered the lines for both characters, even when they were talking to each other. Brilliant. Creative and simply brilliant. The neat thing about the classics is that they can be interpreted and performed in so many different ways. This company is continuously inventing, which keeps the plays fresh. I would bet that this is part of the reason why so many students and teachers come to see them.

I'm really glad I got to see a show here. But even without a mainstage production over the summer, ANW is developing and has classes and workshops. Check out the website. I mean it.

Oh and one more thing before I sign off - please feel free to leave comments!

ANWintern.

(Photo Information: Freddy Douglas in Hamlet)

A Staged Reading

This evening, ANW hosted a public staged reading of a play and I got to greet people at the door. The audience community was generous, friendly, and thrilled to be at the show. They waited outside early and were eager to take their seats. I was personally introduced to many patrons and some said they were reading the blog! (Thank you!)

There is this sense of happiness that fills the office and extends to the theater. I feel like I'm really a member of a team. The shows could not happen without generous supporters as well as people behind the scenes. I am beginning to see how important each individual person is to this company.

So far I've been making phone calls, recording numbers, cataloging items and doing organization work -- and I love it, even when things get tedious. I want to finish my assignments so that I can keep doing more. You would think that a college student would want more than anything to get out of an office - I don't. I guess it's because I can see that I am significant here, that my work is really making a difference. It's a really rewarding feeling.

ANWintern.

Women Rule the World

I got to sit in on a staff meeting today. Though not everyone who works at ANW is a woman, there were only females at this particular meeting. Of course our society is a lot more accepting of both genders in power positions, but to be able to really see women in executive positions was just refreshing. These people are doing what they love and are extremely successful. I hope to be so lucky in my future.

ANWintern.

Day 1

First day of work. Nerves. Excitement. Anticipation. Mostly excitement.

I had no idea what to expect. After writing down three different sets of directions and packing a few extra pencils, I was on my way. After quite a bit of typical Los Angeles traffic I arrived just a few minutes early and checked out some of the flyers and posters outside of the theater/temple. The space is really neat - it's just a little bit spooky and mysterious, which is really fitting for the classical theater that is A Noise Within. Shakespeare in a dimly lit eight-story building, I mean, it's perfect.

Work began and my nerves calmed down. I felt welcomed right away. There are some "internship guidelines" that really scare you about your first day of work: dress nicely, ask intelligent questions only, don't bring snacks that make a lot of noise... Nowhere does it say to be yourself. HELLO, that's why you were hired! All the rules about making a good first impression are important, yes, as long as you don't lose yourself in the process. Yikes, now I'm preaching. What I'm trying to say is that I felt at ease in my environment because I didn't have to change myself. Everyone in the office laughed, we had communal cookies, and we got a lot of work done as well. I felt like I was I was already a part of the family, and it was only my first day.

The end of the day came too quickly. I left grinning from ear to ear.

ANWintern.

Meet ANOISEWITHINtern

My very first blog entry.

Let's start with the basics...

I'm a big sucker for Shakespeare. My favorite of his plays is probably King Lear, despite the fact that I cringe at the thought of blood. I've read Hamlet more times than I can remember. I love Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet even though I've got plenty of issues with the story itself. I've checked out some other classical works as well. Sure I'm a bit of a geek, but these plays have really shaped the theater as we know it today. Anyone who loves the stage should explore them. For me, spending a summer at California's Home for the Classics is a perfect fit.

I also love dark chocolate. And pad thai. And Betty and Veronica comic books. Sometimes I make a really good effort to windsurf -- but I'm not the most coordinated.

And most importantly, I'm the Education and Marketing Intern.

So there's a bit about me.

Oh and the picture is from a show I just saw at ANW called Awake and Sing! It was a really moving show and the production was beautiful.

Well, here's to a fantastic summer.

ANWintern.

(Photo information: Daniel Reichert and Molly Leland in Awake & Sing!)