Philipstown is rich with artistic, musical, and theatrical talents, which extend throughout our community and school. These skills invite opportunities for student employment over the summer, specifically within the theatrical community.

Haldane students Helen Hutchison, Lucius Bell, and Robert Freimark were responsible for a youth theater production of Mary Poppins at the Depot Theater this summer. This monthlong July summer camp nurtured children’s acting skills and eased them into the world of theater. These campers (ranging from fourth to seventh grade) put on a total of five shows, giving the campers the chance to improve and adjust their performances as they go. The high schoolers took on the challenging roles of counselors, caretakers, directors, musicians, and choreographers for this production. “We did everything,” Hutchison said. “We started working in January, and Robert and I planned the camp schedule– what we would do from nine o’clock to two o’clock. We spent time blocking the show beforehand. During camp, we played a lot of warm-up games; Lucky had to plan a ton. The kids got tired so fast; we had to manage our schedule according to the weather and their attention spans.” The campers practiced teamwork, persistence, and hard work, which serve as healthy mindsets to enter the new school year.

Another job in the arts that offered opportunities to students this summer was at the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival. HVSF is a critically acclaimed non-profit professional theater organization, located in Garrison, New York. This outdoor, open-air facility serves about 50,000 people yearly with its modern interpretations of classics, as well as trailblazing performances of new works and world premieres, according to the HVSF Website. Most recently, Haldane Senior Laurel Sassano spent her third summer working in customer service at the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival. In contrast to the jobs at the depot, Sassano worked behind the scenes, rather than managing the production first-hand. Though quite different, her job is equally important to her organization. It entails helping people find their way, find where to park, and overall make the facility more accessible to the audience. She works tent prep-cleaning the house between shows–as well as a sentry– keeping the audience safe during the shows. Sassano is not the first Haldane student to find their home here; she was recommended by her friends Luca Vladimiroff and Sasha Danilov, Haldane graduates who frequently performed as part of Haldane Drama.

Because of the nature of the job, employees like Sassano have to be versatile. “One of the big things about working at HVSF is the open air, so when it rains, it gets on the stage and causes a hold in our performances.” It takes quick thinking skills on behalf of the staff when it comes to natural factors like these to ensure the safety of the crew and audience and to maintain the overall flow of the performances. Other natural influences must be taken into account by Sassano and her crew, like when a baby fox invited himself onto the stage. ̈We named him Jacquais,” Sassano said.

There is more that goes into a production than what you see on stage. When asked about her responsibilities, Sassano said, “Personally, I focus on working with the audience members and customers rather than the acting company.” According to Sassano, a job here has certain unique qualities, including the culture of the workspace. “The age of the front-of-house employees– those who handle ticket sales– ranges from like 16 to 72,” said Sassano. “I have gotten to learn from many different people who have many different lives and I’ve grown close with many of them. Shoutout Patrice!” Of course, there are certain things that Sassano wishes she would have known before applying at such a young age. “When I first started working there, I was 15 years old,” Sassano said, “And NYS labor laws say those under the age of 16 cannot work past 9 pm, which became a large roadblock in my first season because most of the nights go past 9 pm. [They] have since moved the minimum up to 16.”

While Sassano does not wish to pursue a career in the arts, she believes that she will be able to use the skills she learns here in whatever path she chooses. “I’ve learned that I like to work with people, and this job taught me how to interact with people of all age groups,” Sassano said. “Working in customer service has helped me with problem-solving and adapting to change. ̈

The counselors from the depot also developed several new skills, such as working with young children and taking full charge of production. Hutchison believes they learned a lot: “Spending time with kids reminds us to be conscious about what we say and do.” Hutchison explained that the students reflect the behavior of their mentors, which helps the counselors be mindful.

Whether directing a production or working behind the scenes, jobs in theater connect students with their community and serve a purpose that extends far beyond financial gain. “I think working in theater is a great experience that everyone interested should get to have. If it’s something that you’re passionate about, I say go for it,” Sassano concluded.