Phoenix Theatre Launches Assistant Director Of Internship Program

The Phoenix Theatre of Indianapolis is working with local universities to provide internships for aspiring directors who seek training with theatre professionals. The project will begin with the first production in calendar year 2011, Norway by Samuel D. Hunter, with guest director Gordon McCall and Kristine Lewis from Franklin College.

The goal of the program, according to Phoenix Theatre Producing Director Bryan Fonseca, is to mentor individuals who want to direct and provide them with meaningful work at the professional level. Seven students have been selected to serve in the program-the first for the Phoenix-from Butler University and Franklin College. "We have worked with interns for years in marketing, development, costumes and props" says Producing Director Bryan Fonseca, who continues "but this is a program created specifically for students who want to be directors."

"Each director has a different style of working, so they will have different needs from their respective Assistant Directors," said Fonseca. "I have encouraged each director to contact their AD to discuss their process and how each of them can best be served by the experience."

In all cases, the student will be invited to attend auditions, production meetings and any post-production meetings. The program is meant to provide each intern with an all-encompassing introduction to directing. The seven students chosen for the inaugural program, their schools and the play and director with whom they will be working are as follows:

Production Dates Director Assistant Director School

Norway January 2011 Gordon McCall Kristine Lewis Franklin College

Goldie, Max and Milk February 2011 Bryan Fonseca Chris Ziegler Butler University

The Storytelling Ability of a Boy March 2011 Bryan Fonseca Raphael Schwartzman Butler University

This March-April 2011 Dale McFadden Amalia Lynn Howard Butler University

The Zippers of Zoomerville April-May 2011 Jack O'Hara Wilford Orme Franklin College

Avenue Q June-July 2011 Bryan Fonseca Megan Fuller Franklin College

With a Bang July-August 2011 Bryan Fonseca Lauren Thorne Butler University
The participants are excited about the program and the opportunity to get "hands on" experience before graduating from their respective schools. Raphael Schwartzman is a senior majoring in Theatre at Butler University and will be AD for The Storytelling Ability of a Boy by Carter W. Lewis. Hailing from Columbus, Indiana, Schwartzman is "excited to participate in this program to further develop (his) directing skills and learn first-hand about the production process of a professional theatre company." He went on to say that Fonseca's goal that the AD Interns be fully integrated members of the artistic process was a huge part of his decision to participate.

Chris Ziegler is a Butler University Theatre major from Cincinnati, Ohio and will be AD for Goldie, Max and Milk by Karen Hartman. Ziegler professes to being a fan of The Phoenix Theatre and has "greatly respected and admired (the Phoenix) for quite some time." Amalia Lynn Howard is a junior and double major in Theatre and Psychology at Butler University. Originally from Brownsburg, Indiana, Howard "was really excited when I heard about the opportunity to be a part of this program because it provides students with real world experience before they even graduate." The students are looking forward to seeing how a professional theatre program is conducted and how different or similar it is among theatres and in school.

Lauren E. Thorne, also a theatre major at Butler, is from Bristol, Indiana and wanted to be a part of the AD program as soon as she heard about it. "I'm very excited to be a part of putting With A Bang on stage," said Thorne, who feels the program offers a step-up into the local professional theatre sphere.

Ticket Prices

All seating is general admission on a first-come, first-served basis and all Thursday tickets are $15, thanks to a grant by Duke Energy; Friday, Saturday and Sunday performances are $25. Young adult tickets - for individuals age 20 and under - are $15 for all performances. Curtain times are: Thursdays at 7pm; Friday and Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm.

Doors open ½ hour prior to curtain for seating. The Phoenix Pub, located inside the theatre, offers beer, wine, soft drinks, coffee, and bottled water, as well as treats, and all refreshments may be taken into the theatre and consumed during the performance.

For more information about any Phoenix Productions or to purchase tickets, call The Phoenix Theatre box office at 317.635.7529. Tickets may also be purchased online. The theatre's website is www.phoenixtheatre.org.

 

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