I had the privilege of working for the Chicago Children's Theatre (CCT) in the summer of 2021 as a Drama Apprentice. During the course of my time there, I was responsible for assisting a variety of teaching artists as each week we put together original shows for camps of children aged 5-14. A typical camp would require us to audition, cast, and teach a production throughout the week, with of course some games and plenty of fun mixed in! In class, we were also able to teach basic skills such as learning stage directions, how to project your voice, and how to create a character. When we weren't busy in class, the campers and I spent time enjoying the Chicago summer during recess, I became very skilled at playing tag against twenty five elementary school kids, or helping the other artists in class. Look below to see some of the campers creations, including a giant giraffe puppet for our film noir inspired musical or a sign from their western spin on Footloose where a town hated singing, dancing, and most of all anything that wasn't plain milk.
Additionally, I was given the opportunity to help teach and coordinate The Red Kite Project, a theatrical and educational experience designed for neurodiverse students. In this program, I was given the responsibility to not only assist in the classroom, but to handle administrative work prior to the beginning of the camp. My duties mainly included organizing and updating rosters, notating any additional accommodations a child might have, and preparing the space for our campers! Throughout the course of the week, alongside CCT's highly trained staff, I was able to watch young performers discover their voices through the creation of original songs in music class, unlock their bravery by fighting sea monsters in acting class, and stretch their imaginations creating their own underwater bedroom in design class. This experience was one of the most influential in my arts administration career, as it opened my eyes further to the creativity and brilliance that lives within every artist.
