Eastern Student Caitlighn Foley of Avon Works a Theatre Internship throughout Summer

2015 Oct 13

Thirteen high-achieving theatre students from Eastern Connecticut State University worked internships in theatres across New England throughout the summer 2015 semester. Among the interns was Caitlighn Foley '17, a resident of Avon who studies theatre.

Foley interned at The Barnstormers Theatre in Tamworth, NH. Throughout the summer, Foley worked as a general intern, with tasks ranging from carpentry to painting to lighting.

While she did not particularly enjoy building sets, Foley did like painting them. "It was awesome," she said. "I would really like to become a scenic artist, but also a master electrician; I don't want to do just one thing."

Theatre Professor Chase Rozelle, a believer in 'experiential learning,' selected and helped the students obtain their internships by bringing them to job fairs and introducing them to his theatre contacts around the region. "An integral part of the theatre program is to provide practical theatre experience," he said. "Students come back excited with validation and opinions; they come back with ideas and conviction. They come back inspired."

Most of the internships engaged students in backstage/behind-the-scenes work, within the areas of design, technology and stage management. "The theatre industry is much more than acting," said Rozelle, who also serves as technical director for Eastern productions in the Harry Hope Theatre.

While the internship experience may affirm or reject a student's decision to pursue a certain career path, Rozelle says of the practical experience: "They come back with fabulous resumes and proof that what they are studying is relevant."