Beyond the stage: U of T drama students explore diverse career paths through internship course

For drama students, there are so many career options beyond the stage or screen.

That’s what seventeen Arts & Science undergraduate students are learning through Seika Boye’s Internships: Performance and Cultural Arts Organizations (DRM480Y) course, which features placements with local performing and cultural arts organizations.

The placements cover 12 weeks, with roughly seven hours per week at organizations such as Project Humanity, Dance Collection Danse, Intermission Magazine, Generator and others.

“I saw a need for this,” says Boye, an assistant professor, teaching stream, in the Faculty of Arts & Science’s Centre for Drama, Theatre & Performance Studies. She designed the inaugural full-year course through the faculty’s Experiential Learning Faculty Fellows Program.

“These are non-artistic internships,” she says. “These are positions in performing arts and cultural arts organizations that revolve around making performance possible, supporting artists, connecting with communities and preserving artistic legacies.

“Many students come in with a focus on performing or working in production and design, writing, directing, all of those well-known roles. But they aren't as aware of what it means to work in development, administration, fundraising or education outreach. I saw a need to give them exposure to those other roles.”

When matching students with opportunities, Boye was committed to creating a win-win situation where both the students and the organization benefited.

“It was important to me that the roles serve an actual need within the organizations,” she says. “Arts organizations are so often under-resourced, and that only got worse following COVID-19. And so thinking about the reciprocity between the university and the cultural arts sector was really important to this course.”

Noah Rudder, a member of Victoria College who is completing a double-major in peace, conflict and justice studies as well as drama, is working with SummerWorks — an organization dedicated to nurturing artistic risk and innovation in contemporary performance.

As a programming assistant, he’s working with the group’s artistic director to help plan and organize its annual SummerWorks Festival.

“I’ve been able to develop programming skills like email monitoring, submission sorting and proficiency with platforms like AirTable and Google Drive,” says Rudder who was recently named a 2025 Rhodes Scholar.

“It’s been brilliant to see the administrative side of artistic organizations like SummerWorks and the preparation that goes into large- and small-scale events from the eyes of the planner rather than the artist.”

He’s also grateful for the relationships he’s developed.

“I’m in a unique position to have access to established individuals in the Toronto theatre community,” says Rudder. “It’s awesome to talk to them because they were also once burgeoning artists trying to figure out how to find work and learn what type of art they wanted to create.”

Rudder’s classmate, Lisha Zhao, is also working with SummerWorks, but in a different capacity. She’s a development assistant, supporting SummerWorks’ fund development projects such as government grants, private foundations and individual donors.

“I can link what I studied in class to real-life situations and put textbook materials into practice,” says Zhao, a fourth-year drama major as well as a management specialist at Rotman Commerce, and student at University College. “I’ve enjoyed the extent of trust I’ve received from my supervisors, and how I was comfortable taking the initiative to point out areas of improvement.

“This internship has given me a great amount of confidence,” adds Zhao. “I went from a place of not knowing anything about working in a non-profit arts organization to knowing a great deal. This internship allowed me to open myself up to opportunities and positions that I never would have thought about.”

For Elle Baron, a fifth-year student in the drama specialist program and a student in Woodsworth College, working with Tarragon Theatre has been an enriching experience.

As an education and community engagement assistant, she’s providing administrative support for education programs such as course enrollment and special public events.

“Being part of events like opening nights and community programs not only strengthened my professional network and contacts but also gave me a firsthand look at how theatre creates a shared space for connection and storytelling,” says Baron.

She also provides research to support the creation of resource guides geared towards general audiences and secondary and post-secondary school students.

“One of my administrative responsibilities includes managing applications for various courses Tarragon provides,” says Baron. “This involves maintaining organized spreadsheets, following filing system templates and corresponding with a large number of applicants.

“I’ve definitely gained a new perspective on the types of jobs and positions that exist within the theatre industry during this placement, especially in the context of education as well as the many positions involved ‘behind the stage’ that allow productions and theatre companies to function.”

Boye is thrilled with how well the internships are going, and loves seeing the students grow their networks, skills and confidence, as well as their awareness about potential career paths.

“Many students studying drama hope to work on a creative team or be a part of a cast when they graduate,” says Zhao. “However, there are limited opportunities for these positions, so it’s beneficial for drama students to be open to other opportunities that are within the field of drama and performance where we can work in a field we love.”

“The jump from student to graduate can be steep for many, and I think that the more bridge programs there are for graduating students, the better off they will be,” says Rudder. “I’m thankful to Professor Boye for putting in the time, effort and energy needed to get this course off the ground, and I know my peers are too.”

This article was originally posted on the A&S website here.