ISSUED: 28 August 2024
MEDIA CONTACT: Hans Fogle
SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV — Five Shepherd University students spent part of their summer interning for the renowned Contemporary American Theater Festival (CATF) hosted by Shepherd University.
CATF hired three Shepherd contemporary theater studies (CTS) majors to work with the festival throughout July. Avery Copenhaver, Martinsburg, West Virginia, worked in front of house/box office management; Sophia Mayrand, Shenandoah Junction, West Virginia, was in costumes; and Kayla Ramis, Martinsburg, West Virginia, played a role in company management.
Another two majors were enrolled in the CATF internship course: Aubrey Harris, Romney, West Virginia, and Alexander Whitler, Martinsburg, West Virginia.
CATF is the partnering professional theater company with Shepherd’s CTS program. Each summer, CATF produces and hosts a series of bold, new plays with the theater program’s help. As part of this collaboration, these five Shepherd students gained hands-on experience in the behind-the-scenes setting of professional theater productions.
Mayrand was happy to see her work with the CATF cast and crew broaden her skill sets for the future.
“Throughout my internship, I grew in my sewing skills and learned new skills that I’ve always wanted to explore, such as special effects makeup and wig styling,” explained Maynard.
“I was on the research and development team for the special effects makeup in [“What Will Happen to All That Beauty?”] which involved learning how AIDS affects the body and how we could portray that on the stage. This aspect of my internship also deepened my relationship with my actors and has made me want to continue looking into special effects makeup as a career.”
kb saine, associate professor of theater, said she is proud to work in a program with valuable professional opportunities for her students.
“The opportunities our students have to learn about the professional theater world and to gain practical experience in the field through CATF internships is one of the great strengths of the contemporary theater studies program,” said saine. “We are very lucky to benefit from the generosity of our CATF colleagues.”
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