NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A historically Black university in New Orleans and a suburban live theater have a three-year agreement for internships and other collaborations.
Dillard University theater students have internships with the Jefferson Performing Arts Society in a program continuing through the 2023-24 season, the theater said in a news release Tuesday.
The collaboration started in January with eight interns, according to the statement.
Theater majors must complete a course called “Internship in Theatre,” and the agreement provides nearby internships with professional experience in acting, stage management, design and technical production, said Dillard theater faculty members Cortheal Clark and Ray Vazrel.
Dennis Assaf, cofounder and director of the Jefferson Performing Arts Society, said, “We are extremely honored and excited about our partnership with Dillard University. The eight young people who have been working with us are dedicated theatre artists who have brought an intense level of commitment and passion for our productions.”
Student interns will contribute at least 150 hours as cast members, sound crew, wardrobe, props, and stage management in three mainstage productions, the news release said.
The statement said two assistant professors from Dillard’s School of Social Sciences, Eva Baham and Sean Gibbs, were panelists for separate Zoom discussions related to theater productions and their reflection of current social issues. Baham, a historian, spoke about “Why Paul Robeson Matters.” Gibbs, a psychologist, discussed “Theater and Mental Health.”
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