SAEM Program Invites High School Students to Explore Theatre Arts Management Careers Thursday, December 19, 2019
“It’s important to show young adults that they don't have to be a performer to still have a career in the performing arts.”
During the “Beyond the Stage: See yourself in a theatre career!” workshop hosted by the sports, arts and entertainment management department at Point Park University, students from the following high schools learned about the wide variety of careers in theatre arts management while touring the Pittsburgh Playhouse:
- Central Valley High School
- Hampton High School
- Montour High School
- Penn-Trafford High School
- Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts High School (CAPA)
- Riverview High School
- Urban Pathways Charter School
- Westinghouse Academy High School
“Arts management administrators including those doing marketing, ticketing, grant writing, and fundraising/donor development to name a few, are critical to the health of any arts organization. The goal of our ‘Beyond the Stage’ event was to make high school students aware that these professions exist so that they can consider a career that keeps them close to and in support of the arts,” explained SAEM Assistant Professor Paige Beal, MBA.
SAEM Chair Robert Derda, M.S., joined with Pittsburgh Playhouse Managing Director Drew Martorella, Producing Director Kim Martin and Event Technical Director Katie Colwell, to showcase the wealth of careers in the theatre field such as arts educator, artistic director, box office manager, digital marketer, master electrician, music director, scenic designer and more.
Point Park's Conservatory of Performing Arts majors talked with the students about careers in costume design, scenic design, cinema production, theatre production and more.
Seth Laidlaw and Stacy Bartlebaugh-Gmys from the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust also discussed the arts culture in Downtown Pittsburgh and highlighted volunteer opportunities available for students.
Additionally, several Point Park SAEM majors shared their experiences interning and working in the arts management business with the high school students.
“I participated in the Beyond the Stage workshop because it was a great opportunity to share my love of the arts and what I do for them. When I was in high school, I knew I wanted to work in the arts, but wasn't really sure how to do that. This event is very relevant and needed in order to bring more students into arts careers,” said Lydia Grimenstein, a junior transfer SAEM major from Bridgeville, Pa.
Grimenstein is currently working as an assistant manager of patron services for the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre.
“I wanted to get involved with Beyond the Stage because I love the idea of spreading awareness about the business side of theatre, and the arts in general, because I feel like the administration side of the industry is often overlooked,” explained Emily Bovan, a junior SAEM major from Pine-Richland High School in Gibsonia, Pa.
Bovan added: “It’s important to show young adults that they don't have to be a performer to still have a career in the performing arts.”
More About: sports, arts and entertainment management, transfer, Westinghouse Academy High School, Pittsburgh Playhouse, cinema production, Montour High School, Hampton High School, Conservatory of Performing Arts, Penn-Trafford High School, Pine-Richland High School, Urban Pathways Charter School, Pittsburgh CAPA, student workshop, theatre production, Central Valley High School, Rowland School of Business