Exploring live performance through a digital lens

In full honesty, I went into the Mount Holyoke College Summer Theatre with some hesitation. After graduating, I felt I had outgrown Mount Holyoke and was looking forward to seeing more of the world. The opportunity to spend eight weeks back in South Hadley was exciting, but I worried it might feel limiting. That could not have been further from the truth.

Going into the program, I wanted to get involved in theater again. I grew up in the art form but stepped away when I started college to pursue a degree in economics. The Summer Theatre was the perfect opportunity to reconnect with theater while also building on my current media skill set. I wanted to find a way to incorporate my media skills, as that is where my passion lies. Working in the Publicity and Patron Services department with the Summer Theatre allowed me to do just that.

My focus was social media marketing, which allowed me to create content I was genuinely proud of. From a professional perspective, I learned about the etiquette of photographing in a rehearsal room, costume shop and theater. I expanded my understanding of branding and learned how digital content can shape and communicate an organization’s identity in ways I had not previously considered.

I spent a large portion of my time developing my photography and videography skills through the lens of Mount Holyoke College Summer Theatre’s brand. The program helped me find my niche in the arts while learning and growing alongside professionals and preprofessional students. I experimented with my creative voice and received constructive feedback from people I trust and respect.

While capturing content, I was also able to observe nearly every area of the program. I believe this gave me a unique perspective on how the various parts of a theater company work together to create a production. My role required me to showcase students and professionals as they moved through the process, from rehearsals and costume fittings to technical work and performances. In doing so, I became more aware of the many people and departments that contribute to the theater experience.

My work at the Summer Theatre sat at the intersection of all my interests — theater, storytelling, photography, videography and digital media — and contributed to both the College and the Summer Theatre brand. The opportunity to fully commit to my work without the added pressure of academics let me fully explore that intersection. I had the space to take creative risks, make mistakes and learn from them.

Through this experience, I gained confidence in my photography and videography. I was able to take the skills I developed at Mount Holyoke and apply them in a professional setting while still working in a familiar environment. That familiarity gave me the confidence to push myself creatively and take risks I might not otherwise have taken.

Being on campus during the summer while working full time also allowed me to see Western Massachusetts and Mount Holyoke in a new light. I felt inspired and driven by my environment and I learned more, as I was given the space to explore how my role and skills fit into the larger program.

Beyond the professional skills I gained, this experience made my goal of being bicoastal feel much more possible. I grew up near Los Angeles and am now back in California, but the genuine connections I made with artists based throughout the East Coast gave me a strong foundation of future creative collaborators far beyond what I expected.

Now that I am back in California, I have launched my own business, Every Stage Studio, centered around capturing every moment of the creative process, inspired by my time with the Mount Holyoke College Summer Theatre. The Summer Theatre reminded me that my interests do not have to exist separately. I can combine my love of theater and storytelling with my skills in photography, videography and media to help artists and productions tell their stories. What initially felt like a return to a place I had outgrown ultimately became an experience that helped me understand where I am going next.