My summer last year was a whirlwind of iambic pentameter, long drives on the Merrit Parkway, Brendan’s 101 moose tracks ice cream, and stunning views of the Long Island sound. I was Shakespeare on the Sound’s former playwriting apprentice and soundboard operator for Romeo and Juliet. My experience was nothing short of life changing. It was the first opportunity I had not only to watch the entire creative process of putting on a professional level production, but to fully participate in it, as well. Naturally, when I was given the opportunity to leave my senior year in high school three weeks early to take on an internship, I looked no further than good old Shakespeare on the Sound. Today is my fourth day in their new office space in Darien. I am examining the more administrative, business portion of the not-for-profit. I expected my experience would be vastly different. However, as the hours passed on my first day, I smiled as the similarities emerged. For starters, problem solving is a must when working with SOTS. Whether it’s hanging a light fixture from a 15-foot pine tree, or operating DonorPerfect, you will be given tasks you do not know how to even approach and you will have to think on your feet—count on it. The second similarity is the age-old SOTS conflict: budget. I heard it a thousand times last year in the park, but now I have the opportunity to be fully exposed to the serious financial planning that goes into this company, including the big decision to perform solely in Rowayton. Whether it’s chatting with Steven about my housing research for our technical director, or the seemingly constant email thread I have with Scott about advertising and press, I’ve been busy and content. Every once in a while I feel a pang of nostalgia for my days out in the “trenches,” but then I settle back into my swivel chair in the air-conditioned, bug-free heaven that is the Darien office and think, “Nahhhh.” Follow me next week for updates on my adventures as an SOTS spring intern.
Jenna Perlstein
Spring Intern
Shakespeare on the Sound
