Meet Some of the Crew
JULIA "JUJU" NIETO was the Dramaturgy Apprentice for the Taper Legacy reading of The Trial of the Catonsville Nine. But Nieto's journey with Center Theatre Group began when she was around 12 years old and has continued through her education and career. As a Student Ambassador in 2018, she learned about dramaturgy, which changed the trajectory of her career and inspired her to major in Dramaturgy at Carnegie Mellon. “Center Theatre Group has consistently kept me [engaged] and paid and has really nurtured my love for the arts,” she said. “The fact that I’ve been invested in by this organization for six years [is] truly incredible for me.”
HANNAH FROMAN was an Observer for The Trial of the Catonsville Nine after previously being a Directing Apprentice for Our Dear Dead Drug Lord last summer. As a director, she was particularly excited to see how The Trial of the Catonsville Nine Director Michael John Garcés ran his rehearsal room. “There was a sense of collaboration and trust,” she said of the energy of the room. Froman also said the Observership provided many opportunities for reflection for participants interested in every aspect of theatre. “This is an experience that is beneficial to anyone,” she said. “There’s people from all sorts of careers.”
BENE'T BENTON joined the cast and creative team of and the Center Theatre Group production team as a Production Management Apprentice. “The apprenticeship is all about access,” Bene’t said. “I’ve learned a lot about the behind-the-scenes process and what it takes to put on a co-production and tour versus in-house productions.” The learning didn’t stop with A Strange Loop–Bene’t was later hired as a Production Assistant for the Taper Legacy reading of This Bright Wilderness at the Mark Taper Forum and the Not A Moment, But A Movement Festival at the Kirk Douglas Theatre later this summer. “Once I got into the space and started asking questions, I realized how open and receptive everyone was,” Bene’t said. “Especially the CTG staff that I’ve [reached] out to in my time here and they’ve been really helpful helping me get advice to further my career.”
SIENA TAYLOR is a Theatre Archival Intern, working with archive materials like photos, videos, posters, and more from Center Theatre Group’s 57-year-history. But throughout the Professional Development series, she has been able to work on her own professional materials like cover letters and resumes, even using them in mock interviews with Center Theatre Group staff members. “I feel like, normally, I’m not given the opportunity to...work on career things...that [are] going to help me in other interviews.” This learning also happens outside of the specific dedicated career sessions as well. “The program itself is super accessible,” they said. “It’s clear that everyone involved, not just who you’re going to be supervised by is here to welcome you and someone to learn from.”
CHRISTOPHER CID said he is allowed to “swim through various departments” throughout his work as an Executive Office Fellow. “Having the space to explore and see how they all support one another is truly what makes this a great learning experience,” they said. Cid is a multihyphenate theatre artist, but has been able to “hone in what I want to do as an administrator [and] who I am in this business.”
NAIMA OROZCO-VALIDIVIA was an Education & Community Partnerships Intern nearly ten years ago before returning this summer as an Executive Office Fellow. As an intern, she helped develop the Theatre Alumni Career Survey, something Education & Community Partnerships’ Data Analysis Intern Nevaeh Gutierrez is working with this summer. “It’s really cool to see that it is continuing to be used and made better and that the results are going to make an impact not only at Center Theatre Group, but hopefully the theatre ecosystem of Los Angeles,” Orozco-Valdivia said of the project. “I’m not just spending a summer fetching coffee, I’m doing important things that are going to impact the company for years to come.”
INTERESTED IN BECOMING A 'FIRST MATE' FOR ONE OF THESE—SHIPS?
Stay 'afloat' with Education & Community Partnerships on Instagram @ctgcommunity or online at CTGLA.org/education
Interns participating in a tour of the CTG Costume Shop led by the CTG Production team. From L-R (BACK ROW): Krish Aditya, Christopher Cid. From L -R (FRONT ROW): Kevin Wong, Siena Taylor, Lily Jones, Naima Orozco-Valdivia, Nevaeh Gutierrez. Photo by Aurora Ilog.