Well it is officially summer in Toronto and everyone in the Roseneath office is gearing up to get ready for next season. One of the wonderful people that will be helping us over the summer is our high school co-op student Atieno. Roseneath regularly works with students in both the Toronto District School Board and the Toronto Catholic District School Board to support their high school co-op placement programs. Atieno will be working in the office full-time for the month of July which will earn her a high school credit. Since yesterday was her first day of work, we thought a great first assignment would be to introduce herself. So without further ado, please meet Atieno!
Hi, my name is Atieno and I am going to be working as a co-op student with Roseneath Theatre Company this summer. I go to Thistletown Collegiate Institute and I’m enrolled in the SHSM (specialist high skills major) program for arts and culture. I enjoy dramatic arts and music and I am going to be a 3 year drama student and 6 year instrument player. I currently play the clarinet and the violin and would like to relearn the piano. This winter I was the star of a musical theatre play, Little Shop of Horrors, playing Audrey. It was a great experience because a musical theatre play has never been done at my school before, so it was a new experience for everyone. I also enjoy signing and have never been trained. My hobbies include living life to the fullest and incorporating drama and music in everything I do. My best theatre memory would have to be the story that I created along with my group about how Santa was created. It was fun and exciting because we were able to create our own interpretation of how Santa came about while interacting and playing with the audience. I think any form of art that allows a teenager to express themselves and be understood is important to everyone because they are able to enjoy it, whether they are participating in it or just watching.
I’ve chosen to do my co-op placement here because I am very interested in music and the dramatic arts and how a production is successful because of everything that happens behind the scenes. The people offstage allow a production to run smoothly and create the perfect atmosphere that allows an audience to grasp the whole concept of a production. I hope to gain some organisation skills, more work experience, production experience and an idea of some the jobs I can pursue involving the arts.