1. How did you find out about the internship program here?
I’ve been a volunteer since my sophomore year of high school and found out about TNP through friends who also worked here. I had always known there were interns around, but I never really crossed paths with them so I would never see what their relationship was to the theater. A friend of mine, Mackenzie Black, had become the stage management intern in 2018 and that’s when I realized how productive and educational the internship program here really was.

2. Describe your daily routine & tasks at TNP!
My daily routine is never quite routine, which makes it all the more fun! Every day I’m doing something different, whether it’s tasks like data input, emailing and calling parents, or floating to the different production departments to see what we need from them or what they need from us to prepare for the day’s rehearsal. Currently, all my tasks relate to my next production coming up, The Wedding Singer Teen.

3. What is the best new skill you have gained from interning with TNP so far?
Being an intern at TNP has made me very adaptable and flexible. When new tasks get thrown at you, you learn to pick up on them quickly and help wherever you can with no hesitation. This can range from helping a KidzAct student find where the bathroom is to suddenly locating the nearest mop and bucket because something spilled all over the floor.

4. Were there any unexpected bonuses? What makes me love my internship the most is that I’m learning something new every day. I’ve learned stage management-related things, such as how crew size gets assigned and how to work with volunteers who don’t quite understand stage management. I’ve learned simple things, like learning how to use a laminator or figuring out how the printer works. I’ve also learned life skills, all exemplified by everyone in the building from the staff to the volunteers, to even our KidzAct students. There’s a teaching moment everywhere and that’s pretty amazing.

5. What makes TNP special to you?
The Naples Players is special to me because they are able to create such high-quality theatre for their audience through their volunteers. It’s a theatre that produces for the community, by the community. It’s a blend of professionals working with lesser experienced volunteers, and everyone is welcomed in with open arms to a genuine family. Everyone that walks into this building is able to come out with real-world experience in the industry and not worry about messing things up, because that’s what happens – it’s live theatre! You’re bound to make mistakes, but it’s all about how you pick yourself back up and move forward from there. TNP provides a wonderful support system for everyone.

6. What are your future ambitions for theater?
I just received my Associate of Arts degree from Florida Gulf Coast University. I have also recently been accepted into the stage management program at Pace University, where I will be headed in the upcoming fall.