Meet The Alley’s Summer Interns: Part Two
Every summer, The Alley welcomes a group of interns dedicated to advancing their careers in professional theatre production, arts administration, or non-profit marketing and management. These internships are educational opportunities that supplement a strong theatre education and act as a bridge for early career professionals; the interns work closely with Alley staff, artists and craftspeople to increase their skill set, sharpen their business acumen, and learn instrumental theatre techniques and gain professional experiences in the theatre industry.
We are delighted to introduce the intern cohort to The Alley community. Get to know Eden, Mackenzie, Maddy, and Noel!
First up, Eden – our lighting intern. We talked with Eden about her experience in lighting, The Alley, and more!
How did you first hear about The Alley?
Eden: I am a theater student at the University of Houston, and they often collaborate with the Alley on projects.
Do you have any experience in lighting? How did you become interested?
Eden: I do have some experience in lighting, most of which I’ve learned in college. I became interested in lighting when I was in high school. I always found the design aspect fascinating and was in awe of what people can convey through lights. In college I began to explore the technical side of lighting and liked it even more!
What kind of work do you do at The Alley? What does your day-to-day look like?
Eden: I help the electricians in their daily tasks. This can range from maintenance of house lights to hanging and cabling lights for an upcoming show. They mentor me through their process and are always open to questions.
What have you learned from this internship so far? From The Alley?
Eden: I’ve gotten to see how a professional theatre organization operates and how they efficiently conduct the installation of a lighting system.
Why do you love theatre?
Eden: I love the collaboration it requires. You get to meet new people and see new perspective.
Next, meet Mackenzie, our development intern!
How did you first hear about The Alley?
Mackenzie: In middle school, I learned about The Alley Conservatory. As someone who was trying to break into more theatre and more straight plays, this immediately piqued my interest. I did The Alley Conservatory going into high school, then I did it again, then COVID happened, and then I did it again and again. I moved around a lot in high school, so going to The Alley Conservatory felt like my high school.
Do you have any experience in development? How did you become interested?
Mackenzie: I became interested in development because of my goal to be an artistic director. If you want to run something you have to know how to fund it.
What kind of work do you do at The Alley? What does your day-to-day look like?
Mackenzie: Every day is different! I’m doing a lot of work with Tessitura, which is such a great opportunity; it helps you so much in the non-profit world. A lot of times it’s volunteering: it’s going to a meeting, paying attention, and saying “I could do that.” An internship is not only for learning, but also for the long-lasting impact that you can make.
What have you learned from this internship so far? From The Alley?
Mackenzie: The culture of the nonprofit changes (in such a positive way) when it allows itself to be centered on community outreach. The Alley embraces inclusion in a way that can only be found here.
Why do you love theatre?
Mackenzie: I love theatre because I love people. I love theatre because inside all of us is a little kid who played dress up, and seeing people tell stories never fails to move me. It is a method of moving people and giving people wider world views, while also touching them on an individual level.
Here’s Maddy, an amazing costumes intern.
How did you first hear about/interact with The Alley?
Maddy: When I was a freshman in high school, my school went on a field trip to the Alley. We watched Twelve Night. I remember seeing the rain and thinking this theater is perfect. When I got to college, I had a bunch of professors that had connections to The Alley; they were telling me about these internships and opportunities to work there.
Do you have any experience in costumes? How did you become interested?
Maddy: In college, I was a general theatre major, but I took a costuming class, and I realized: this is what I want to be doing. I signed up to do construction hours in the shop every week, and I eventually transferred my major.
What kind of work do you do at The Alley? What does your day-to-day look like?
Maddy: I work on notes for And Then There Were None. I will sit in on wig fittings, costume fittings, rehearsals, and meetings. I mostly work on alterations. I make stock costumes – pants, shorts, etc. I’m working on a lot of menswear right now.
Why do you love theatre?
Maddy: It makes me feel like I’m part of something that’s bigger than myself. I’ve always found friends in theatre. There’s a place for everyone, even if you’re not an actor, singer, or dancer. There’s a job for everyone here.
Last but not least, it’s one of our Play Maker interns – Noel!
How did you first hear about/interact with The Alley?
Noel: When I was in middle school, The Alley came to do improvisation workshops. That same week, my theatre class went to see A Christmas Carol! I absolutely loved it!
Do you have any experience in ECE-related fields? How did you become interested in working with Play Makers?
Noel: Yes, I volunteered at my church’s vacation Bible school and also spent my spring break volunteering at charter schools. I see Play Makers as a perfect opportunity to blend my interests in theatre and education to develop my ability to teach the next generation of Play Makers!
What kind of work do you do at The Alley? What does your day to day look like?
Noel: Once I arrive at The Alley, I help with setup before the kids arrive. Once the camp has begun, I assist our incredible teaching artists with their class. Our goal is to devise a play which our playmakers perform at the end of a session in front of their parents and loved ones.
What have you learned from this internship? From The Alley?
Noel: Through my internship at The Alley, I’ve discovered firsthand the value of building relationships with children; by sharing my passion for theatre, I inspire them to explore their own passions. This experience underscores the importance of patience in nurturing their curiosity and fostering a love for the arts.
Why do you love theatre?
Noel: I love theatre because it has been a constant in my life, from growing up as a missionary kid in different countries and attending various schools. Theatre provided a sense of home and allowed me to explore my talents in singing, dancing, and acting freely. This consistent presence and opportunity to express myself have deeply fueled my passion for theatre.
