Thoughts on the Program | Toni
We’re in the middle of the hiring process for our Season 14 apprentice program. We asked our current apprentices to share their thoughts and experience on it.
Toni was the first one to join us for our 13th Season! All the way from Pennsylvania, she jumped head first into a new job and environment with us. Read below to hear about her experience so far!
Toni Carosella
Toni with two of our year round volunteers.
Theatre is a field of, for, and about people, so the more you know, the better! One of Tipping Point Theatre’s strongest aspects of their apprenticeship program, and my personal favorite, is the ability to meet so many great working professionals in the area. As apprentices, we work with everyone that sets foot in the building; designers, actors, directors, stage managers, and many patrons.
Through being a Properties Designer, Assistant Stage Manager and Stage Manager at Tipping Point, I have had the chance to really get to know the people working in the building. When I was a stage manager for the Sandbox Play Festival, I met five directors and about fifteen actors, all of who are passionate about the art of theatre. Every two months when we switch over the shows, I meet about four new actors and a couple new designers. Not only are these people valuable because they make life more fun, they are also smart and talented theatre artists, which is beneficial for a plethora of reasons.
Toni working the Sandbox Play Festival
Meeting people in the theatre community of the Metro Detroit area is crucial for me as I am from out of state. I get to build a solid foundation of people that I would like to continue to work with in the state of Michigan. It’s so cool because once you know all these people, there’s always a person that knows more than you that can help you with something, teach you a few things, or provide a doorway to a strong theatre community.
Tipping Point Theatre provides quite the large Rolodex (or Facebook friend contact, it’s not 1956) for theatre contacts in the Michigan area and beyond. I am grateful for my work here because of the great experiences with other theatre artists. It’s important for me to know that there are people that still care about creating and watching theatre. And Michigan is full of that.
Area Stage Managers met up to celebrate 100 years of Stage Managers being a part of the Actors’ Equity Association.
