Focus On :
Internships at CenterStage
By Lily Brown, Public Relations Intern
Interns Learn Skills and Gain
Connections that Lead to Exciting Careers
After college, transitioning from the
classroom to work is not easy, especially
for young professionals working in theater,
where entry-level jobs are often infrequent
and under-paying. However, internship
and apprenticeship programs can offer
recent grads a glimmer of hope. Immersion
in an internship program is also a smart
way for students who are unsure of their
career path to gain some perspective on
what it is they’d like to pursue. For more
than 20 years, the internship program
at CENTERSTAGE has smoothed that
transition and prepared interns with the
skills and resources necessary to succeed in
the career of their choice.
At CENTERSTAGE, internships are
department-specific, spread across both
production and administration—from
audio and props to marketing and company
management—giving interns a chance
to specialize. Interns receive guidance
and mentorship from employees, along
with a certain amount of independent
responsibility. Lesley Boeckman, Master
Electrician and supervisor of the Electrics
Intern, says that she “tries to cater the
internship towards what that specific
individual wants to gain out of it. I think
it’s really important that the intern feels
empowered.”
16 | CENTERSTAGE
Mike Schleifer, CENTERSTAGE’s Production
Manager, who with Associate Managing
Director Del Risberg coordinates the
intern program at CENTERSTAGE, agrees
that interns are an essential part of the
team. “There is a huge spectrum under the
umbrella of ‘internship.’ At one end of that
spectrum there is ‘get your supervisors
coffee and sit at your desk’ and at the
other end there’s ‘do a design and take
“The friends I made
at CENTERSTAGE
remain some of my
closest, most driven,
and inspiring friends
to this day.”
—Anne Ditmeyer, Intern Class
of 2004–05, now a freelance
designer and Master’s student
at the American University
of Paris. (photo by David Lebovitz)
ownership of really complicated projects.’
I think CENTERSTAGE views our interns very
much towards the responsible end of that
spectrum,” explains Schleifer.
Interns are treated like staff and work at
the theater full time from August until
May. “Being able to be here for a whole
season allows you to get more out of it,”
says current Stage Management Intern
Jillian Anderson. An intern’s contribution
to his or her department’s workload is
essential to the success of the theater;
explains Boeckman, “the internship
program is integral, especially from a
production standpoint. Those interns are
very important for us to get the job done.”
Current Scenic Carpentry Intern Tyler
Nelson says, “It’s very rewarding knowing
that once the show is finished and the set
is up on the stage, you can look and say
‘I contributed, that’s what I did right there.’”
Internship programs are growing nationally,
creating a more competitive and selective
environment. “Universities are pushing
students towards internships because
it’s just the smart way to transition into
the professional work environment,” says
Schleifer. But while there are dozens of
internship programs for graduates to
choose from, not all of them provide the
whole package quite like CENTERSTAGE
does. “I applied for 12 or 13 internships
and I ended up interviewing for four of
them. After that, I decided to go with
CENTERSTAGE,” says Anderson. Among
the many perks, interns receive housing
“I had a very hands-on experience Teacher Resources
For more information on:

with Encounter and the Young »» In-class visits

»» Our annual Young Playwrights Festival
Playwrights Festival. I genuinely »» Encounter after-school arts program for
students
remember some of the young »» Teacher training, service learning,
workshops & residencies
people who shared so much of »» Curriculum coordination

themselves in creating
call Community Programs &
Education at 410.986.4050 or email

their work.”
education@centerstage.org.

To purchase tickets for Student Matinees

—Brooke Bagnall Breit, Intern Class of 2003–04, or school groups, contact Group Sales
Photos: Interns at work
now an actor with The Second City. at 410.986.4008 or email
groups@centerstage.org

To arrange a backstage tour, contact

Mandy Benedix at 410.986.4011 or
temail mbenedix@centerstage.org.
within walking distance of the theater and career. “I still work in theater education,
a weekly stipend, supported in many cases teaching workshops through Second City,
by individual sponsors. Throughout their so I am very lucky to be a working actor
nine-month stay, interns participate in and educator.” There are even love stories,
seminars on the inner workings of a large such as Rachel and Colin Bills, former
regional theater. Every intern’s experience Education and Electrics Interns, who tied
Support for educational programming
is closely monitored and evaluated, so that the knot after meeting each other in the at CENTERSTAGE is provided by:
each leaves with a number of new skills internship program. Colin is returning to
and connections to other professionals in CENTERSTAGE in the spring as the Lighting Corporations The Hecht-Levi
Foundation, Inc.
the business. Designer for Crime and Punishment. Legg Mason
The Macht Philanthropic
M&T Bank Fund
When interns graduate from the program, Each intern has his or her own personal Mercy Medical Center The Joseph & Harvey
they also join a legacy of past interns who reason for taking on an internship. For Procter & Gamble Meyerhoff Family
Cosmetics Foundation Charitable Funds
have gone on to interesting and varied Aaron Heinsman, class of 2001-02, it was The Jim & Patty Rouse
Sylvan/Laureate
careers. After spending a season as the an “opportunity to witness the inner Foundation Charitable
Foundation
Graphics and Public Relations intern, for workings of a major regional theater in a T. Rowe Price Associates
Foundation, Inc. VSA arts and
instance, Anne Ditmeyer took a job as the cooperative, collaborative environment.” MetLife Foundation
Target
Graphic Designer for Cho Benn Holback Heinsman went on to spend several years Government
Wachovia
+ Associates architects: “Baltimore is a at CENTERSTAGE as the Public Relations Maryland State Arts
Verizon
wonderfully small world, so connections Director. Council
I made at CENTERSTAGE came back into Foundations & The Baltimore Office
No matter what career path an intern of Promotion and
play (pun intended) as I moved on in my Individuals The Arts/Creative
chooses, a well-structured and challenging Baltimore Fund
professional life. These days I find myself James and Janet Clauson
internship program can act as a bridge to Baltimore County
living in Paris, doing freelance design work The William G. Baker, Jr. Executive,
new opportunities, experiences, and future Memorial Fund County Council,&
and finishing up a second Master’s degree Commission on Arts
successes. As Anderson explains, “doing an The Jacob and Hilde
in Global Communications at the American Blaustein and Sciences.
internship is a stepping stone. It’s a way Foundation, Inc.
University of Paris.” Carroll County
to have stability for a year and work at a The Helen P. Denit Government
Charitable Trust Howard County Arts
Brooke Bagnall Breit interned in the larger theater on the caliber of shows that Council through a
The Goldsmith Family
Community Programs and Education CENTERSTAGE produces.” ■ Foundation grant from Howard
County Government
Department during the 2003–04 Season
and is now an actor with The Second City.
“I left CENTERSTAGE with the intention of Interested in sponsoring an intern?
remaining in the theater education world, Contact Randi Benesch at 410.986.4024
but somehow I fell back into acting as my or rbenesch@centerstage.org.
main gig,” Breit says of her post-internship

The Second City Does Baltimore | 17