Students at Loyola University New Orleans are living in a city filled to the brim with culture. Theatre Arts & Dance students are particularly lucky in that the New Orleans theatre scene is diverse and provides a wide array of opportunities for young professionals. The companies in the city are numerous, and each have different missions that result in hundreds of unique productions per year. In the fall semester of the 2019-2020 school year, TAD students took advantage of these opportunities.
Technical Theatre Opportunities
- Grace Smith (Freshman) - The Glass Menagerie Spotlight Operator (Tennessee Williams Theatre Company of New Orleans - TWTC), Period of Adjustment Assistant Stage Manager (TWTC), The Uninvited Stitcher (Goat in the Road)
- Leland Ensminger (Junior) - The Glass Menagerie Assistant Stage Manager (TWTC), Polar Express Lighting Op/Electrician
- Madeline Taliancich (Sophomore) - The Glass Menagerie Stage Manager (TWTC), Measure for Measure Stage Manager (The NOLA Project - TNP) Period of Adjustment Stage Manager (TWTC), Production Manager (TWTC)
- Brianna Thompson (Senior) - August: Osage County Assistant Stage Manager (Southern Rep)
- Jada Williams (Sophomore) - Period of Adjustment House Manager (TWTC)
Design Opportunities
- Cameron Maas (Sophomore) - Frozen Jr. Props Designer (Jefferson Performing Arts Society - JPAS)
- Baylee Robertson (Junior) - The Uninvited Assistant Costume Designer (Goat in the Road)
- Elexis Selmon (Sophomore) - Measure for Measure Props Designer (TNP)
Performance Opportunities
- Cara Duffaut (Senior) - Polar Express
- Leland Ensminger (Junior) - Oskar and the Big Bully Battle (TNP)
- Josie Gautier (Senior) - Polar Express, Silence! The Musical (Storyville Collective)
- Isaiah Jones (Junior) - Measure for Measure (TNP)
- Gabi Lopez Ruiz (Sophomore) - Native Gardens (Southern Rep)
- Max Piper (Junior) - Polar Express
- Sarah Schuler (Junior) - The Sound of Music (JPAS), Polar Express
- Grace Smith (Freshman) - Period of Adjustment Voice-Over and Caroler (TWTC)
- Kristen Swanson (Senior) - Polar Express, Cabaret (Kit Kat Girl - See Em on Stage!)
- Haley Nicole Taylor (Senior) - Victory Belle (WWII Museum), A Merry Canteen Christmas (World War II Museum)
- Jada Williams (Sophomore) - Member of LOUD
Internships/Jobs
- Kevin Aguilar (Senior) - TNP Intern
- Leland Ensminger (Junior) - TNP Production Intern, Southern Rep Theatre Tech Work-Study
- Emily Patrick (Sophomore) - Period of Adjustment Props Assistant Intern (TWTC)
- Haley Sliker (Sophomore) - Period of Adjustment Assistant Lighting Designer Intern (TWTC)
- Kristen Swanson (Senior) - TNP Education Intern
The TAD students had a wonderful, heavily involved fall semester! They worked with nine companies throughout the city on ten shows. These professional credits will benefit students as they graduate from Loyola and enter the professional theatre world full-time because they offer invaluable experience and a wealth of connections within the community. Here’s to another semester of professional theatrical involvement!
By Madeline Taliancich