Center Theatre Focus Group on interns

We'd love to get a graduate student(s) as an intern(s) at Theatre West. Preferably we'd like to pay them, but if we could only give them credit, so be it. They may feel they have a lot to learn but we feel we get at least as much from them, especially in areas like e-marketing.

I find mentoring grad students is a pleasure because they are so dedicated and hard working. They are also mature enough to treat as colleagues, and they bring a lot of best practices that small companies sometimes lack.

I find that administrative staff is way undervalued at small companies. Generally they are the last hired, because the company begins from an artistic director's p.o.v. and it is only after a few financial disasters that people decide that having someone who can add might be important. That attitude often continues to haunt administrators, who continue to be overburdened even as companies grow. Unpaid or part time staff is all most small companies can afford, so even having one extra person increases productivity enormously. Having someone who is on track for a professional degree in the field with real skills that many companies lack is a god-send.

As a side bar: Multi-tasking is overrated. Having time to focus, think and act on projects without interruption leads to deeper and better results. Although interns need mentoring, I find the amount of work they relieve me of is far greater than the number of hours I have to give them in attention, and can be instrumental in me finding that precious time needed for deep work. Also, they make great sound boards because they haven't heard all my bad jokes, and are willing to really listen with a fresh perspective to what I may be ruminating about.

Theatre West also can use artistic interns for lighting, set building, stage management and directing. But we really need those people during the school year and not during the summer months when so many internships seem to be available.