Carrie Bates ’17 is taking center stage and gaining a repertoire of experience in theatrical production management.
Bates, a theater and psychology double major, is working for The Public Theater in New York, NY as a production management intern. She visited the theater in March 2016, with Travis Newton, Director of the Arts Administration Program, and his class. “They do incredible programming,” says Bates, “and I am grateful to have the opportunity to be a part of it this summer.”
Bates will be working on a variety of shows, including Privacy, starring Daniel Radcliffe, and The Taming of the Shrew and Troilus and Cressida for The Public’s Shakespeare in the Park series in Central Park—a New York City tradition
As an intern, Bates navigates duties in the seven theaters housed within The Public. She attends meetings with the other managers, attends to business and office work, and ensures the visions of the Public’s productions are fully realized. “All of the production managers trust me enough to give me many different tasks a production manager must do,” says Bates. “The production managers, assistant production managers, and many other members of the production team have really taken me under their wings and have enabled me to grow as a theater professional.”
To make this internship possible, Bates received Le Moyne’s Ignite Summer Fellowship, a merit-based summer internship award that provides financial support for students in the College of Arts and Sciences. Recipients must meet the fellowship’s competitive requirements and complete a summer internship for academic credit. Bates worked with Professor Leslie Streissguth of the Career Services Department after she had trouble finding a good match for her interests. “Professor Streissguth told me about this grant opportunity,” says Bates, “and her assistance throughout the process made me feel very confident about the quality of my application.”
At Le Moyne, Bates has been involved in the Visual and Performing Arts Department in various capacities, priming her for her time at The Public. This past year, she served as the Production Manager for the Visual and Performing Arts Department , where she was responsible for managing all Boot and Buskin, Major Arcana, Le Moyne Student Dance Company, and music ensemble productions. She also acted in Pericles, Prince of Tyre, designed costumes for The Liar, assisted in stage managing Bullshot Crummond, and was a part of the ensemble for Romeo and Juliet. “All of these opportunities to do different things and work in different departments at Le Moyne have made me well-versed in theater,” says Bates.
Bates is making the most of her time, experiencing as much of New York as possible—especially its theater. So far, she’s seen The Total Bent, Eclipsed, The Crucible, and The Judas Kiss. “I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to see all of this theater,” she says, and, more important, “I am loving the adventure.”
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