Kelly Anne Johns, Christian Hoots, Jaclynn Joslin and Brittany Hathaway
It takes a big team of people contributing their unique talents and passion to create the marvelous productions seen on the Merrimack Repertory Theatre stage. In addition to the artists hired specifically for each production, MRT maintains a roster of production and administrative staff, volunteers—and apprentices.
The four, full-time paid apprentices are recent college graduates who serve for one season as they begin their careers. Working in the MRT apprentice program provides an ideal first job in the technical theatre field. A vital part of the workplace—but also training on the job—they benefit from an environment where they can work with top industry professionals, while continuing to hone their skills. This year's apprentices are: Kelly Anne Johns, Christian Hoots, Jaclynn Joslin, and Brittany Hathaway (pictured above in that order.)
Wardrobe apprentice Kelly Anne Johns grew up near New York City, where she started sewing at just 8 years old, and costuming shows at 16. She loves the unique experience of theatre—the hard-but-rewarding work, the thrill of being backstage. And in costuming, she notes, “I really feel like I’m creating something.” As far as spending the year in Lowell, “I’ve loved it. I really love the area and the people here… it’s nice to work in a smaller community.” She is spending this year working with MRT Costume Shop Manager Lee Viliesis.
Lighting and Sound Apprentice Christian Hoots hails from just over in Dracut, and began doing theatre at age 11 right here at MRT, in the program now called Young Company. He’s back now working with Lighting and Sound Supervisor Carter Miller. After a defining moment performing as the candlestick Lumière in Dracut High’s Beauty and the Beast, he knew that theatre would always be his home. Now he lights the stage in a different (and more literal) way; but for him, it’s part of the same picture. Though his journeys have taken him to UMass Amherst and back again, he is always drawn to theatre for its collaboration between many people with different skills. “I love all facets of it… it’s hard work, but when you see it all come together, it’s so rewarding. You think, ‘I could do this again and again.’”
Jaclynn Joslin and Brittany Hathaway traveled a bit farther to get to Lowell (from Wisconsin and Utah respectively). They are MRT’s Stage Management and Company Management Apprentices (they switch roles with each production in the season).
Jaclynn served in Stage Management for 13 Things about Ed Carpolotti among other shows in the 2014-15 Season. Under the supervision of Production Stage Manager Casey Leigh Hagwood, she’s a liaison between the actors and the crew, and she remarks that she “likes being that moving piece, between both sides of a production.” Her first experience in theatre came growing up with the Young Shakespeare Players of Madison, Wisconsin, a program that produced full-length Shakespeare plays with kids, having every participant switch off between acting and working tech.
While Jacylynn is in the rehearsal hall, Brittany was working with Company Manager Peter Crewe. Among her many duties is the task of helping artists to feel at home in MRT’s housing. Brittany is at the ready for whatever is needed, be it a ride from the airport, fixing a television, or letting in someone who’s locked out of their room. “I love the problem solving,” Brittany says, “that things can go wrong, and I’ll have to work them out.” Brittany’s goal is to one day run a theatre camp for underprivileged children, so her experience here will be invaluable. Working for a small company like MRT offers an exposure to the management side of things that she might not get elsewhere.
Like the rest, she brings the commitment and technical prowess that help to make MRT the great company that it is. And the greater world of theatre has noticed: Director of Production Justin Rowland, who coordinates the apprentice program, has found that “as our program has grown in reputation, the quality of our candidates has greatly increased… We are competing with much larger theatre companies for talent, and we are winning out more and more because of the reputation of the program itself and the quality of the work we are producing.”
Former MRT apprentices work at theatres throughout the country (including our own: Company Manager Peter Crewe, Lighting & Sound Supervisor Carter Miller and Box Office Associate Kelly Purpura are all graduates of the program). After one season, Kelly, Christian, Brittany and Jaclynn will move forward in their careers with the indispensible experience gained here in Lowell, and the next batch of apprentices will move in for the 2015-16 Season.