Name: Plummy Carter
Class Year: 2027
Major: Archaeology
Minor: Film Studies
Internship Organization: The Vineyard Theatre
Internship Title: Production Intern
Location: New York, NY
What’s happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!
As of now, my internship at Vineyard Theatre has provided me with an insight into the process of development and production and management of a theatre company. One of my tasks during my internship here has been to assist in the preparation for the workshop of a new musical called “MS. BLAKK FOR PRESIDENT”. This musical talks about the story of the activist and drag performer Joan Jett Blakk. In the course of this task, I have been involved in sourcing props, making campaign materials and protest signs, coordinating with the vendors and managing the logistics of the event. It was amazing to witness the level of collaboration and planning that goes into preparing a show.
Some of the props I researched and made for the MS. BLAKK workshop!
Besides this, I have also been involved in looking for venues in New York City where Vineyard Theatre could perform in the coming year before going through the renovation process. I have been involved in identifying the venues and compiling information about them, including their capacity, layout, and dates of availability. This task has taught me how producers plan a season, balancing artistic vision and practicalities. The internships that I have undergone have helped me realize that the process of production is a combination of imagination, coordination, and problem-solving. It has been quite an eye-opening experience, since everyday has been different.
Why did you apply for this internship?
The reason I chose this internship is because of my background with Bryn Mawr’s Shakespeare Performance Troupe, which sparked my interest to discover opportunities in the professional theatre industry other than acting. I was keen to find out what goes on behind the scenes and to obtain practical knowledge of the arts administration and producing processes. The fact that Vineyard Theatre is primarily focused on nurturing new works meant that this was a very exciting internship to pursue because I knew I could observe the artistic process at its inception stages. I wanted to acquire practical knowledge in production, organizational skills, and cooperation, as well as to better understand how a nonprofit theatre operates.
Was there anything special about how you found this internship?
Some of the props I researched and made for the MS. BLAKK workshop!
It was quite an adventure for me to find this internship opportunity. First of all, my previous internship opportunity did not work out, and I had to begin a new search a couple of weeks into summer. I contacted tens of theaters via email and telephone, asked my family members and friends whether they could give me some contacts, and pursued whatever leads I had. Of course, the process was quite stressing, but it helped me realize the importance of persistence and networking. However, all my efforts were paid off, and I have found my internship at Vineyard Theatre. Now I appreciate the fact that everything turned out this way, as it helped me have an amazing experience.
What has been your favorite part of this internship?
The aspect that I most enjoyed from this internship was that there is never a boring day at work because everything is changing all the time. One day I could be researching contracts with unions, while the other day I can be sprinting to Times Square in order to find a shop where saxophones get repaired for the production. All those things have been keeping every day interesting, and I have been introduced to different sides of producing. Moreover, it has been very pleasant to work among such a creative and spontaneous crew, which makes the process very fun and educating.