What does it mean for your summer internships to pursue a career in performing arts? Olivia Hytha shares how, with the support of one of her professors, she stepped into the life of a playwright producing a new work. She learned how to balance relationships with the creative team and was inspired when seeing how a style of writing different from her own translated to the stage.
Name: Olivia Hytha
Job Title: Playwright’s Assistant
Location: Boston, MA
College: Boston Conservatory
Year: Senior
Major: Musical Theater
What are you doing this summer?
I’m assisting a Playwright putting up a new work.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
I am hoping to have a career as a performer and then who knows!
How did you get your internship?
I go to a school that focuses on preparing students for careers in performing arts, and some of my teachers actively participate in productions. I was recommended for the position by a teacher who was directing the show.
What does a day in the life look like?
I spend about 6-8 hours in the theater and working on the script outside of work. For the first couple of weeks, I was acting as the middleman between the writers and the creative team. This meant I spent most of my time on the computer formatting documents and emails to stay organized. I had to learn a new computer program that is standard for a lot of writers called Final Draft.
How has this job changed what you see yourself doing in the future?
This internship definitely got me excited about my own writing. The show I was working on was the complete opposite of my style, but I learned so much about how a script should function and how to translate to real actors on a stage.
I definitely wish I had more time to spend chatting with the creators of this show. Everything is so rushed when putting on a show, that it’s hard to find time to pick their brains on what it is like to be a writer.
You can follow Olivia on Instagram @ohytha.
