Five Interns, Seven Questions

Jenny Angeli.

This summer at the Third Avenue Playhouse we have had the pleasure of welcoming five college interns into our artistic family. We asked them to fill you in on their summer experience at TAP. They are: Jenny Angeli, senior, Lawrence University; Madeline Bunke, 2014 graduate of Lawrence University; Sophie Hernando Kofman, 2014 graduate of Lawrence University; Anya Kopischke, sophomore at Bard College (New York); and Luke MacMillan, 2014 graduate of Lawrence University.

What is the value of being an intern?

Sophie Hernando Kofman (SHK): Being an intern teaches you how to be at the bottom of the totem pole, which is important because you shouldn’t take anyone for granted.

Anya Kopischke (AK): The most rewarding thing is that you get to be involved in the entire process.

Luke MacMillan (LM): I see it a little bit like being in the co-pilot’s seat—you’ll have your chance to fly, but if you absolutely screw things up, someone is there to help you fix it.

Why did you want to intern at TAP specifically?

Jenny Angeli (JA): Because TAP was willing to let me design their three main stage shows.

Madeline Bunke.

Madeline Bunke (MB): I had the chance to visit the directors while at Lawrence and was encouraged by their warmth, passion, and humor.

AK: I knew that TAP was still establishing itself in the Door County arts scene and I really appreciated the kind of work they were doing. Being a part of starting something really meaningful is an unparalleled opportunity.

What are your career goals?

JA: Not sure at this point. I know that I will be working with clothing but only time will tell what exactly I will be doing.

MB: I’d love to consistently act at top regional theaters, hopefully branching out into film and playwriting.

AK: I am interested in acting, directing and playwriting, but eventually I would like to do something very similar to what Bob and James [Boles and Valcq, co-artistic directors] are doing and build a theatre company.

SHK: First, I want to be a part of a touring show in some way so that I may do entertainment and travel. And second, I want to be that person that people mean when they say, “I knew her!”

Sophia Hernando Kofman.

LM: If things worked out perfectly, my ideal life would be to make a living off of a stage career while also getting back to my roots as a musician, playing drums or singing in a band.

How do you think interning at TAP has helped you with your goals?

JA: I think I can more see myself working as a seamstress or doing wardrobe for a theater company rather than being the actual designer. This is a very helpful thing to have realized about myself because now I can head into my senior year focusing on costume construction while continuing to build up my portfolio as a seamstress.

MB: I no longer think, “I don’t know how to do that, so it scares me.” I think, “I don’t know how to do that. Let’s figure it out!”

SHK: I believe that every experience is important, and being here at TAP has really emphasized how much we rely on each other in this business.

LM: In going to a small liberal arts school, it is easy to get trapped into a bubble, consistently collaborating with the same people. Learning how to work and mesh with a different crowd is probably the most important thing you can learn for any career path.

Anya Kopischke.

What has been your most memorable experience so far this summer?

JA: The most memorable experience I have had so far is completing my first 1930s bias cut dress from a vintage pattern. I was able to enlarge the pattern, cut out the pieces and put it together in one day and it fit the actress like a glove (everyone should come see Private Lives just to see how absolutely stunning the wonderful Claire Morkin looks in it).

MA: I know it is the people, much more than the individual events that I’ll treasure.

SHK: One night some of us stayed in the theatre late into the night just discussing theatre and the world that we interns are planning to join. It was really motivating.

AK: The hardest thing I had to do all summer was hand out pamphlets to the community. I found it difficult to approach strangers knowing that I was trying to sell them something. Then I saw Brian Sostek from Trick Boxing run outside with a fistful of pamphlets at Third Avenue’s sidewalk sale. He had absolutely no shame, he treated each of these people as if he was doing them a tremendous favor by giving them this opportunity.

What has been your favorite moment?

JA: At the end of the day it is so nice to be able to have such amazing people to surround myself with and enjoy my time in Door County. I would never have had such an incredible experience without these people and for that I am so grateful.

MB: Receiving a letter from a patron telling us how much she enjoyed one of our shows. Moments like that make the long days worth every hour.

What has been your least favorite moment?

MB: Have you ever broken a beautiful prop the weekend before a show opens? Yeah. Don’t do it.

If you come to see Private Lives or The Fantasticks, say hello to this talented group of interns. We are so very proud of all of them, and cannot thank them enough for all they have done.

Private Lives plays through Sept. 25 from Tuesday to Saturday at 7:30 pm and Sunday at 2 pm. The Fantasticks opens Oct. 1 and plays through Oct. 19.

Peninsula Arts and Humanities Alliance, Inc., which contributes Culture Club throughout the summer season, is a coalition of non-profit organizations whose purpose is to enhance, promote and advocate the arts, humanities and natural sciences in Door County.