Ellie Wolgemuth (top row on the right)

Thanks to the 21st Century Fund and UHVNHA, I was able to return to the Sharon Playhouse for a second summer of exciting theater productions. From rotating through the various departments that handle set construction, props, and run crew, my summer was much more widespread than the first. I had never worked in a shop before, so I was grateful for the opportunity to learn more about how the technical components of a show are constructed. While working with props and set pieces, I had to carefully make sure that the audience would not be able to see any mistakes. I also served on the run crew for Peter and the Starcatcher. Along with moving components of the show in the wings and being prepared to fix any minor issues, I was tasked with climbing up to the light box mid-show to point a laser to represent Tinkerbell onstage. This was one of my favorite parts of the summer because it allowed me to have a role in the show without requiring me to be onstage. I spent a lot of time assisting the Props Manager with finding – and sometimes making from scratch – props for Frog and Toad, Oliver!, and Newsies, Jr. Some of these tasks included securing baskets of fake food so that they wouldn’t fall apart mid-show, sewing plastic leaves into blankets so that Frog and Toad could mimic a jumping pile of leaves, and going into props storage to locate various teacups, fans, musical instruments, and more.

In my time at the Playhouse, I was able to build strong relationships with the other apprentices. Many of the people working at the Playhouse this summer had just graduated college, which was wonderful because they were able to provide insight on finishing high school and starting college. I am extremely grateful for this opportunity from the 21st Century Fund and the UHVNHA to return to the Sharon Playhouse. The Playhouse has an extremely supportive and welcoming community – something that has been crucial to helping me learn how to problem solve and communicate. The skills I learned over the summer will undoubtedly transfer to my goal of becoming an artist in the future.

From A Dad’s Perspective:

It’s thirty minutes until the curtain rises, and I’m likely the only person in the room who is nervous. My teen, a sophomore at Housatonic Valley Regional High School, is interviewing the stage manager of a touring Broadway musical. From the handshake, the conversation is seamless, Ellie quickly leaving script and building a natural rhythm. As the two slip into theatrical jargon, I am awed.

A bit of an introvert, Ellie prefers observing to performing. Before joining HVRHS’s production of Into the Woods, she was clear: she wanted to be behind the scene and never in it. She would paint, move props and learn to run lights, as long as she could stay out of sight.

That first experience led to a wonderful opportunity. In late May 2023, Michael Baldwin, director of Into the Woods, emailed Ellie about a Sharon Playhouse internship sponsored by the Twenty-first Century Fund. Because this was the first intern partnership, it wasn’t certain what the position would involve, yet Michael was certain that Ellie would enjoy the behind-the-scenes engagement in youth and professional theater.

No one knew what was coming. During evening rides home, Ellie surprised my wife and me with each day’s activities. Mending and sewing costumes. Painting the stage, set pieces and even the stage floor. Cleaning the props room, then learning to organize props tables. Mic’ing performers. Recording performances. As the summer passed and the role expanded, there was no way to remain in the wings. Learning, then demonstrating, then helping to teach Victorian dance to students. Corralling twenty children during their time off-stage. Attending then contributing to creative team meetings. The crash entry into theater became really interesting when a cast member became suddenly ill and Ellie, our quiet observer, suddenly had lines to deliver during a performance.

Six months later, this is how I reminisce as Ellie continues her interview with the traveling production’s stage manage. Still quiet, reflective and observant, my teen is also poised, articulate and confident. The conversation she is leading is professional and purposeful, yet fluid and genuine. As a parent, I’m seeing both who she was and who she is becoming at the same moment, and I can’t help but be thankful. Not merely a summer nicety, the Twenty-First Century Fund’s internship offered an opportunity for my Housy student to step away from the familiar, explore the unknown and grow. Thank you for a truly remarkable experience.

Alex Wilbur – top row on the left

Working at the Sharon Playhouse as a general apprentice this past summer was really sort of a dream come true for me. I have been involved with the Playhouse for acting since 2019, and ever since then, I have slowly started to become involved in so many other aspects of theater. My first tech job was as the Assistant Stage Manager/Youth Counselor for a show in 2021, and I did that for two years as volunteer work. I learned so much from that experience, but also wanted to do more.

When I learned about the 21st Century Fund and Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area (UHVNHA) summer internship program through my friend who did it last year, I could not wait to be old enough to apply. Mentors of mine encouraged me to submit my application once it was available, and I was so happy about how quickly they were able to get back to me and give me all the details of my job.

I was afraid at first, but everyone at the Sharon Playhouse was so welcoming and willing to teach me. I learned how to use power tools to build small set pieces and props, how to change the gels on CYC lights, plus more general knowledge about costuming and props. My first project was to create giant cardboard crayons for Sharon Playhouse Stars, which I think was the perfect project to start my job on, because the props work, only got more complex. One of my favorite parts about the job was being able to pull and make props for real shows that were going on, whether they were mainstage or youth shows. I loved walking in with a prop I had made and getting so much gratitude from all the other wonderful people working there. The people were what made the experience so enjoyable. Everyone I worked with came from different backgrounds and worked in different aspects of theater, some even being performers, too. I got a lot of knowledge about college and having a real career in the theater, which gave me a lot of insight for my future and the decisions I will have to make during and after high school.

There was not a single day that went by when I wished I worked somewhere else. I am extremely grateful to everyone at the 21st Century Fund, UHVNHA, and Sharon Playhouse for making this experience possible for me.