Internships: Meet The 2008-09 Interns

Audience Development

Kiki Abba has been doing theatre since the ripe age of 4 when her older sister cast her in the parentally acclaimed production of Robin Hood. She attended The University of Iowa and majored in Theatre Arts and Communication Studies. While she predominately focused on acting during her college years, she is thrilled to get an opportunity to put her Communications Major to work. She can't wait to move out to Seattle and continue her decade-long relationship with coffee. She looks forward to meeting everyone and hopes that they will find her energetic, funny, and the life of the board meeting.

Arts Management

Andrew Dahl is originally from Green Bay, WI. However, despite popular belief about the city's denizens, he has never maintained a shrine to Brett Favre nor has he ever owned a cow. Andrew graduated Cum Laude from the University of Wisconsin with degrees in Business: Marketing and Theatre. He is thrilled to be continuing his career in theatre with such a wonderful company committed to connecting to audiences in new and meaningful ways.

Stage Management

Hi! My name is Courtney Scott and I'm one of the 3 Stage Management Interns. I Just graduated from the SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Theatre Arts & Film in Design / Technology. I've been stage managing since freshman year of high school and I can't imagine doing anything else with my life. Having always lived in NY, I am really excited to move to Seattle and to spend some time away from the big apple. When I'm not doing theatre I love messing around with electronics. I can do almost anything on any operating system you give me (Bonus points if you know what Linux is!) Other than that I'm spending my summer playing rugby 3-4 times a week and going to the gym when I'm not too sore from getting tackled. I also have 3 tattoos, none of which are visible in a shirt and slacks.

Costume Shop

Hi Seattle Rep! I'm Corinne Robinson. Nice to meet you. I will be your new Costume Shop intern, which I am very much looking forward too! The internship here will help me complete the last year of an MFA program in Costume Design which I am getting from the University of South Carolina. But that's the technical reason for coming, the real reason is because I'm sick of this muggy SC heat and I've never been across the Mississippi River, and I like to travel, and I've always harbored a secret love for the northwest even though I've never been there. Want to know some things about me? I like long walks on the beach.... romantic dinners..... Just kidding, I actually prefer short walks on the beach and casual dinners. I love coffee almost obscenely, music, books, video games, and television on the internet. I have two kitties, Ponnette and Neko, and am a general animal lover except that I have a fear of rodents because of their huge front teeth, and yes that even includes cute bunnies. My favorite project from the past few years was a recycled fashion show I created two dresses for, one an 18th century shower-curtain gown, and the other a futuristic/punkish concoction made out of Starbucks to-go cardboard sleeves. My most recent hero is Michael Scott, boss from 'The Office.' So now you know a little something about me, and I look forward to meeting all of you!

Paints

Haley Addison Polak recently received her B.A. in Theatre and Dance at the University of Texas in Austin. Her focus was acting and her concentration was scene design. She will be a scenic paints intern this fall at Seattle Rep. She loves traveling and meeting new people. She took an exciting trip to Peru this summer, and she is very excited to be coming to Seattle all the way from Texas!

Technical Production

Kate Jordan was born and raised in a cow pasture near Auburn, WA. She recently graduated from SPU with a BA in technical theatre specializing in Technical Production, Stage Management and sassing Jerry Collum. Her crowning achievement was setting up a Creative Conner system. She first got her start at the Rep serving coffee and booze (You may know her as the girl who pumps the keg on opening nights). She is very happy to be taking on the Technical Production Internship. She would also like to take credit for the letter ‘N’ and pineapples.

Stage Management

Hello! My name is Holly Coombs and I was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada. I had a hot and sunny childhood competing in tap dance competitions and playing volleyball for 9 years! I left the desert for the green of the Pacific Northwest. Attending school at the University of Puget Sound where I studied Theatre Arts, Latin American Studies, and Spanish. My hope is to combine them all either here in the United States or somewhere in Latin America. During my time in college I had the opportunity to study abroad in Central America where I was able to live in Guatemala, El Salvador, and Nicaragua with some amazing host families. While in Nicaragua I team-taught a introduction to acting course to children 5 to 15. Translating theatre games into Spanish was a blast! In the last few years I have mostly stage managed, but I was able to sneak in some directing as well as acting experience. I have worked on The Cripple of Inishmann, The New Orleans Monologues, Trestle at Popelick Creek, The Glory of Living, Mort, and the Pacific Northwest Ballet’s 2007 Nutcracker to name a few. I love binders and the smell of new dividers when starting a new project. Stage Management is all around a great time!

Stage Management

Liz Clouse graduated from the University of Notre Dame (GO IRISH!!) in 2006, around the time Avenue Q was popular. Hence, she offers this quick adaptation of a line from a song: "What do you do with a BA in Theatre?" Liz answered that question by pursuing her MFA in Drama and Theatre for the Young at Eastern Michigan University, which she has been working on for the past two years. While there, she lived within walking distance of the world's most phallic building--Ypsilanti's water tower, or apparently the "brick dick" to locals. Liz enjoys working wherever she is needed in the theatre--from stage management, acting, directing, lighting design, etc., etc. Liz also enjoys working with children of all ages--they teach her more than she ever imagined possible. Finally, Liz is excited to work at the Rep because of the great people and great theatre, and she's excited to live in Seattle because of the mountains--a natural phenomenon drastically lacking in the midwest.

Education

Michelle Burce

I am a 23 year old recent graduate of the University of Washington, with a dual degree in Drama and Community, Environment, and Planning. My artistic interests include directing plays, involving communities in the arts, constructing shadow puppets, and playing guitar and dulcimer. I have been living in Seattle for five years, and ride a bicycle just about everywhere I go. I get my greatest joys from the San Juan Islands, chocolate banana pie, my excellent friends, and exploring the northwest. My philosophy on life is best expressed by a line from a poem by Kenneth Koch: "Things have a way of working out which is nonsensical."

Production Managment

Verhanika Wood is a 5'8" Virgo originally from West Palm Beach, Fl. She recently graduated from Florida State University where she earned a BA in Theatre and a BA in Psychology. While at FSU she was the Vice President/Production Manager of the largest student theatre organization, La Cosa Nostra Productions. Her hobbies include cooking, reading, yoga, and marathon TV watching.

Artistic Literary

Rebecca Leshin is moving to Seattle from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She graduated in May from Duke University with a BA in English and Theatre Studies. She is spending her summer helping infants with all of their fashion needs while working at Baby Gap and getting ready for her move across country.

Artistic Casting

Hillary Dixler graduated from Brown University with a BA in Theatre and English. While at Brown, she directed, dramaturged and occasionally acted. Hillary spent last summer in Chicago working as the literary intern at Steppenwolf, and spent this summer in Providence, RI honing her skills as a film editor. Hillary is excited to be moving to the West Coast, but realizes that while she has left New Jersey, it probably hasn't left her.

Props

Mollie Slattery is a recent graduate of Illinois Wesleyan University with a BFA in Scenic Design. I am currently working at Merry-Go-Round Playhouse in upstate New York. I am originally from a southern suburb of Chicago and I can't wait to move to Seattle because of my two favorite things, Starbucks coffee and seafood.

Design

Brian A. Fortin recently graduated from Dartmouth College, majoring in Theater.  While at Dartmouth, Brian developed an interest in the visual arts, particularly in the areas of lighting design for theater and photography.  He most recently designed lighting for Topdog/Underdog and assistant-designed with Dan Kotlowitz for Julius Caesar during his senior year.  Brian held an electrics internship at the Berkshire Theatre Festival this summer.  He is currently the Design Intern at Seattle Repertory Theatre and plans to pursue a career in lighting design.

Visit the intern blog "TRUE LIFE: I'm a Seattle Rep Intern" at...
http://therepinterns.blogspot.com