Student Director Mentorship
For high-school & college students
OBJECTIVE: Enso’s Director Mentorship is intended to provide high-school & college student directors with the experience of producing and directing their own semi-professional production, mentored closely by Enso’s Artistic Director and guided by the company’s wellness-based process.
Each year, one student director is chosen to be mentored by Enso’s Artistic Director. Under her guidance, the student director will:
- Assistant Direct a main stage Enso production
- Choose a show to direct in the timeline provided (see below)
- Create a fundraising plan & execute a crowdfunding campaign for their show
- Hire student designers and stage managers
- Hold auditions & callbacks
- Cast the production
- Create a rehearsal plan & schedule, as well as “Self-Wellness Plan” for the duration of the process
- Explore various rehearsal techniques & learn key aspects of Enso’s wellness-based approach
- Meet with their designers
- Work with their stage manager to create a tech schedule
- Assist with the tech process
- Attend performances
- Post-show exit interview
TESTIMONIALS
"Before the Enso mentorship I had never thought about theatre and wellness coexisting. Enso's focus on wellness, mentally and physically, makes working collaboratively so much more accessible for everyone involved. Because of the mentorship program, wellness is now a key aspect of all of the work I do. I enjoy the work more, and I make better work when I am focusing on taking care of myself and those around me.
Enso gave me a place to explore who I am as an artist. Choosing a show to direct, collaborating with designers, making creative choices, were all experiences in which I learned about myself. I was able to uncover what I want to make art about, and then I was able to practice doing just that."
~former Student Director, Isabele McTighe
Enso gave me a place to explore who I am as an artist. Choosing a show to direct, collaborating with designers, making creative choices, were all experiences in which I learned about myself. I was able to uncover what I want to make art about, and then I was able to practice doing just that."
~former Student Director, Isabele McTighe
"The Enso Theatre Ensemble Student Director Mentorship was a dream come true for me. It was an opportunity to be fully supported in a directing a project of my choosing. Having just finished my undergraduate degree in directing, it was exactly what I needed at this critical point in my career. It was an opportunity to put to use my newly developed directing skills in a semi-professional setting, giving me my first opportunity to discover the joys and challenges of creating a play outside of the collegiate setting.
It was also my first try at producing theatre. On my own, I would never have taken the leap of faith in myself to crowd-fund and self produce a play, much less lead-devise my own play highlighting the struggles of women. Ms. Lushington's diligent mentorship and caring encouragement is what made it possible for me to lead this highly successful process. I lead a team of 13 female artists in creating an empowering adaptation of The Little Mermaid. Each performance was met with a sold out audience and the feedback, most especially from the young women in the audience, was highly uplifting.
Not only did Ms. Lushington fully support me in wellness and creative direction for the duration of the mentorship, she empowered me to continue developing my vision for the project beyond my time with Enso Theatre Ensemble. In short, I have left the mentorship with more tools for successful direction, a wealth of knowledge on self-producing in Portland, more connections in the Portland theatre community, and an inspirational project I plan to continue developing for high school audiences."
~former Student Director, Cambria Herrera
It was also my first try at producing theatre. On my own, I would never have taken the leap of faith in myself to crowd-fund and self produce a play, much less lead-devise my own play highlighting the struggles of women. Ms. Lushington's diligent mentorship and caring encouragement is what made it possible for me to lead this highly successful process. I lead a team of 13 female artists in creating an empowering adaptation of The Little Mermaid. Each performance was met with a sold out audience and the feedback, most especially from the young women in the audience, was highly uplifting.
Not only did Ms. Lushington fully support me in wellness and creative direction for the duration of the mentorship, she empowered me to continue developing my vision for the project beyond my time with Enso Theatre Ensemble. In short, I have left the mentorship with more tools for successful direction, a wealth of knowledge on self-producing in Portland, more connections in the Portland theatre community, and an inspirational project I plan to continue developing for high school audiences."
~former Student Director, Cambria Herrera
PROPOSED TIMELINE FOR 2019 - 20 MENTORSHIP (subject to change):
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Oct. 15th: Applications Due
October: Interviews Nov. 1st: Student Director Chosen Nov. - Dec. 2020
*Flexible according to Student Director & Actor Availability |
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I'm Alright (2016)
TIME COMMITMENT:
Meetings: The student director will meet with their mentor several times before the start of rehearsals. The dates and times of these meetings will be arranged between the director and the Mentor according to their availabilities, but starting in January, the mentee and mentor will meet once/week. Meetings will continue during the rehearsal process on an as-needed basis.
Rehearsals: Rehearsals will take place in the evening between 6:00pm and 10:00pm The student director is expected to arrive a half hour early to each rehearsal (5:30pm), and should anticipate staying a half hour after (10:30pm).
Tech rehearsals: Tech Rehearsals will take place in the evening between 6:00pm and 10:30pm. The student director is expected to arrive at least a half hour early to each tech rehearsal (5:30pm), and should anticipate staying at least a half hour after (11:00pm).
Performances: The student director is required to attend every performance, and is expected to arrive a half hour early before the Actors Call, and should anticipate staying a half hour after the show.
Meetings: The student director will meet with their mentor several times before the start of rehearsals. The dates and times of these meetings will be arranged between the director and the Mentor according to their availabilities, but starting in January, the mentee and mentor will meet once/week. Meetings will continue during the rehearsal process on an as-needed basis.
Rehearsals: Rehearsals will take place in the evening between 6:00pm and 10:00pm The student director is expected to arrive a half hour early to each rehearsal (5:30pm), and should anticipate staying a half hour after (10:30pm).
Tech rehearsals: Tech Rehearsals will take place in the evening between 6:00pm and 10:30pm. The student director is expected to arrive at least a half hour early to each tech rehearsal (5:30pm), and should anticipate staying at least a half hour after (11:00pm).
Performances: The student director is required to attend every performance, and is expected to arrive a half hour early before the Actors Call, and should anticipate staying a half hour after the show.
The Little Mermaids Project (2018) Lauren Parker Photography
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EXPECTATIONS:
For the director:
For the Mentor:
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APPLY:
For the 2019 - 20 Season, Enso is accepting applications from high-school & college-aged students interested in directing. Auditions for the production will be open to any and all young artists, 13 - 22.
Applications are due by October 15th 2019.
After submitting the application below, students will be contacted to set up an in-person interview with Enso’s Artistic Director, Caitlin Lushington.
For the 2019 - 20 Season, Enso is accepting applications from high-school & college-aged students interested in directing. Auditions for the production will be open to any and all young artists, 13 - 22.
Applications are due by October 15th 2019.
After submitting the application below, students will be contacted to set up an in-person interview with Enso’s Artistic Director, Caitlin Lushington.