Internships
Transition to the Professional World
It is a central tenet of the Cornish philosophy that the training of students is strongest in the hands of working artists.
Theater students can regularly see their teachers' work at local theaters.In addition, we help theater students transition into the professional world by facilitating internships with local theaters. Students are eligible for internships in their senior year and have interned with: Seattle Repertory Theatre, ACT Theatre,Intiman Theatre, Seattle Children's Theatre, Book-It Repertory Theatre, Seattle Shakespeare Company, House of Dames, Civic Light Opera, Theater Schmeater, and the Magic Circle Mime Theatre. Students have also held teaching internships in local high schools.
In December, Theater seniors auditioned for local casting directors and agents.As a result, Todd Bjurstrom, Venessa Ortega, David Rollison and Jeffrey Willey performed in Seattle Shakespeare Company's production of Love's Labours Lost, playing January 20-February 13.Kjerstine Anderson, Sharon Dummar, Lauren Herrick, and Lauren Merritt performed alongside Amy Thone in Book-It's Rebecca, February 25-March 26.Asa Taccone appeared in The Red Badge of Courage at Seattle Children's Theatre, January 21 -March 5. Lila Hughes was a production assistant on Singin' in the Rain at the Fifth Avenue Theatre. Will Brattain assisted director Jeff Steitzer on The Woman in Black at ACT Theatre. Willow Norton served as teaching assistant to faculty members Tinka Gutrick-Dailey and Dannul Dailey at the Washington Academy of the Performing Arts.
A number of Cornish alumni also intern at theaters with a high national profile. At the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Marjorie Armstrong, Sienna Harris, and Lanise Shelley, all class of '04, were in the acting apprentice company. Lanise has played major roles in two mainstage productions, The Crucible and The Story, Sienna appeared in Yes. No. (Maybe So.), and Marjorie performed in The Crucible. In Chicago, the famed Steppenwolf Theatre (home base of John Malkovitch, and Gary Sinise and Joan Allen) hosted two class of '02 Theater alumni, Literary Management Intern Margot Bordelon and David Perez, an administrative intern with Steppenwolf's film division.
These internships provide valuable opportunities for students to experience the challenges and rewards of working with and learning from professional actors and directors, polishing their skills, and making useful connections for the future.
- By Richard E.T White, Chair Theater Department