NATCHITOCHES – Twenty-four Northwestern State University Theatre and Dance students or recent alumni are performing across the country in professional theatre and dance jobs this summer. The students are working in for 16 different companies or facilities in nine states and Canada in a variety of performing, technical and business-related roles.
“As performing artists, it is very competitive to get professional work especially before graduating from college,” said Brett Alan Garfinkel, chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance at Northwestern State. “Students at NSU are educated and trained so well they are ready for the professional world now. Students being able to work professionally shows that the education they are receiving is exactly what they need to successfully get hired.”
Garfinkel said students working over the summer get first-hand knowledge and experience in the industry that is priceless all while receiving a salary.
“This experience is life changing for those involved,” said Garfinkel. “They either learn they have what it takes to survive, or they learn what jobs or positions they don’t enjoy doing and would rather learn a new skill to focus on something else.”
Working at Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky, Ohio, are Mackenzie Brown and Liz Bonnette of Lake Charles, Raleigh Lusignan of Metairie, Imani Fleury of New Orleans and Caleb Barton of Marksville.
Kylan Williams, Kwincy Pierre and Damari Padilla of Lafayette and Faith Martin of Alexandria are at Thingamajig Theatre Company in Pegosa Springs, Colorado.
Mallory Speir of Pineville is performing on Carnival Cruise Line’s The Carnival Jubilee Ship, Cortelina “Lina” Encalada of Terrytown is working at the French Woods Festival in Hancock, New York, and Preston Rasco of Natchitoches and Morgan Heinzen of Opelousas are working at Santa’s Village under RWS Entertainment in Jefferson, New Hampshire.
Austin Anderson of Metairie will begin the summer at Tulane Summer Lyric Theatre then will go to Northern Lakes Arts Association, Ely, Minnesota, while William Kielwasser of West Monroe is part of the cast at “TEXAS! The Outdoor Musical” in Canyon, Texas.
Julia Kuchler of River Ridge is working at Missoula Children’s Theatre in Missoula, Montana. Josie Randle of Monroe was hired by the Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre in Logan, Utah, and Piper Dearing of Natchitoches will be at the Peach State Summer Theatre in Valdosta, Georgia.
Leslie Israel of Sulphur will be working at Hershey Park in Hershey, Pennsylvania, while Tyler Sibley of Alexandria will perform at Woodstock Playhouse in Woodstock, New York, and Allyce Richards of Leesville will perform at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida,
Elizabeth Cook of Alexandria will work at Interlochen, Michigan, and J. Cole Becton of Lake Charles and Kaylee “Astrophel” Herr of Many were hired by Canterbury Summer Theatre in Michigan City, Indiana.
For more information on Northwestern State’s Department of Theatre and Dance, go to nsula.edu/theatre.
