Month: August 2016

 

Recently, Charleston Stage’s Production Stage Manager Ashley Palmer and Charleston Stage Resident Actor Pen Chance (now our Properties Production Assistant) held a workshop with our High School TheatreWings Apprentices on creating fake food props. They had two days of workshops at our new scene shop in West Ashley. The main focus of this prop workshop was to teach our TheatreWings Apprentices on how to create fake food props and specifically work on props for our season opening production of “Hairspray”.

Featured in the photos below is a tray of pink assorted donuts that the “Hairspray” character Edna brings on stage. The donuts are made from household socks and the icing is a combination of pink felt, glitter and paint.

Also featured, and probably the biggest prop our TheatreWings Apprentices created during the workshop, is a 4 ft hoagie sandwich. The first step was carving the bread out of foam, which Resident Actor Pen Chance tackled. While Pen worked on carving the bread, the TheatreWings Apprentices cut out and painted the meats, cheeses, tomatoes and more. Also built during the workshop was a pecan pie created from spread memory foam and an empty pie tin and other desserts such as a 3-layered strawberry fruit cream cake.

Come see the final products on stage at the Historic Dock Street Theatre! “Hairspray” performances run Sept. 7 – 25, 2016, and tickets are available by clicking here. To learn more about our High School TheatreWings Apprentice Program click here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Q: Where did you grow up?  Were there any activities you did as a child that led to your passion for the arts?

A: I grew up in a small town just outside of Albany, New York. During elementary, middle and high school I was involved in chorus, band and our school’s Drama Club as well as attending lots of musical theater camps.

 

Q: Where did you receive training?  How did this prepare you for your work in the theatre world?

A: I went to the University of South Carolina for my undergraduate degree in Music Education and then to Florida State University for a Master’s in Arts Administration.  I learned a lot about arts education and management from both degrees, which has really prepared me for the programs that Charleston Stage offers and working on the administrative side of things.

 

Q: Briefly describe your position at Charleston Stage and what you do for the company.

A: I am the Box Office Manager at Charleston Stage, so I handle all group and school matinee orders, as well as processing season memberships and selling single tickets. One of my biggest jobs this summer has been to try and expand our audience by reaching out to new people who may not know why Charleston Stage is so great.

 

Q: Where have you worked previously before Charleston Stage?

A: During my time at Florida State, I house managed at the Ruby Diamond Concert Hall, was the Marketing Assistant at the Challenger Learning Center and assisted at both the Tallahassee Symphony and the Florida State University Orchestras.

 

Q: What do you do in your spare time?

A: In my spare time, I like to go to the beach, travel, run and craft.

 

 

 

 

 

Q: Where did you grow up?  Were there any activities you did as a child that led to your passion for the arts?

A: I was born and raised in Lincoln, Nebraska, and spent my entire childhood immersed in the arts. My stage debut was dancing for 36 seconds as a Candy Cane in the holiday ballet The Nutcracker, and from there I found my niche in theatre, making my debut as Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird at Nebraska Wesleyan University. I was able to perform in numerous community theatre productions and take dance, piano, voice and oboe lessons through high school, under the direction of incredible teachers who became my role models and taught me invaluable arts and life lessons. My parents showed me how important it is to support the arts in your community, by serving on local boards such as Nebraskans for Public Television, the Lincoln Community Playhouse, the Lincoln Arts Council and the Sheldon Art Association which, in turn, introduced me to the field of arts management.

 

Q: Where did you receive training?  How did this prepare you for your work in the theatre world?

A: I attended University of Evansville (Evansville, IN) and received a B.S. in Theatre Management. Though my degree was very specialized, I also got a broad liberal arts education. Since the Theatre Management program was small, I was able to delve into many different parts of arts administration such as publicity, house management, group sales, working with the Theatre Society board and an Adopt-a-Student program where community residents “adopted“ far from home theatre majors.

I also had amazing summer internships while in college, spending one summer interning in General Management and Special Events at La Jolla Playhouse in La Jolla, California, another summer interning in Development at Manhattan Theatre Club in New York City, New York and another as a Development Apprentice for Spoleto Festival USA, which brought me to Charleston for the first time.

 

Q: Briefly describe your position at Charleston Stage and what you do for the company.

A: As Director of Development I create and execute Charleston Stage’s annual fundraising plan, securing financial support from individuals, foundations and corporations through direct support and special events. In general I help our patrons and audience members feel more connected to Charleston Stage on a personal level, and show them how important their support is to the company.

 

Q: Where have you worked previously before Charleston Stage?

A: I first moved to Charleston to work in Special Events for Spoleto Festival USA, then secured a position here at Charleston Stage as the Donor Relations and Special Events Manager. I returned to Spoleto Festival USA for 3 years, working in a variety of Development positions before transitioning from performing arts to cultural arts and advocacy as the Strategic Partnerships Coordinator for Historic Charleston Foundation for two and a half years. I’m thrilled to be back in the performing arts arena with Charleston Stage.

 

Q: What do you do in your spare time?

A: I enjoy staying active by taking fitness classes and spending time outside, especially with my husband Glenn and miniature dachshund Harper Lee (To Kill a Mockingbird has been a very influential play and book in my life). I also love to read, play piano, hide out in local coffee shops, give back to the community through organizations such as the Junior League of Charleston, and spend quality time with family and friends.