Monday, February 28, 2022
This month, two of Milwaukee Recreation’s arts-related initiatives – the Arts Internship Program & the Partnership for the Arts & Humanities – intertwine on stage at the Milwaukee Repertory Theater.
Three former Arts Interns – Terynn Erby-Walker, Ana Gutierrez, and Alexandria Woods – qualified for regionals at the Next Narrative Monologue Competition. All three students attend Milwaukee Public Schools.
Milwaukee Rep, with funding from Milwaukee Recreation’s Partnership for the Arts & Humanities grant, created a recruitment and rehearsal process for students to prepare for the Next Narrative Monologue Competition throughout the fall and winter. After shifting to an entirely virtual format in 2020-21, Milwaukee Rep returned to in-person sessions at three locations in 2021-22 (a virtual space was also available). This year, roughly 40 students participated in Milwaukee Rep’s after-school programming, though not each student auditioned for regionals in front of a panel of judges.
Nine total students qualified for regionals, which will be hosted by Milwaukee Rep on Monday, March 14 from 7-9:30 p.m. RSVP for this free event by emailing [email protected] with the number of people attending. The top two performers will win cash prizes and the opportunity to represent Milwaukee at the Apollo Theatre in New York City.
Previously named after playwright August Wilson, the Next Narrative Monologue Competition has evolved this year to feature contemporary playwrights covering modern issues.
“Thanks to this change, we’re hearing monologues that are relatable, powerful, and meaningful to the students who perform them,” Jeffrey Mosser, Milwaukee Rep’s Associate Director of Education, said.
Gutierrez, a senior at Ronald Reagan High School, has enjoyed the broader range of monologues this year. “It has been refreshing to see such good work written and performed. The artist who wrote the monologue I am performing, Star Finch, also inspires me to be very confident, so it is really cool to perform their work.”
Gutierrez interned at Milwaukee Rep this past summer, which allowed her to make the connection with Milwaukee Rep, where the education department encouraged Gutierrez to audition for the Next Narrative Monologue Competition.
Milwaukee Recreation’s Arts Internship Program is a paid summer internship program that provides high school students with practical job experience in arts-related positions. Milwaukee Recreation provides funding for intern wages and benefits, transportation, and job-related training and career exploration, while the organizations themselves provide oversight to the selected interns in these arts fields.
“My internship at Milwaukee Rep taught me so much about myself and the field I wish to go into – theater. I was able to get real experience in my intended career field and make connections with professional designers and directors,” Gutierrez said.
“I would recommend the Arts Internship Program to other high students because it is a great way to make connections for the future. It also gives high school students an idea of what a day in the life of a professional looks like.”
Current high school students interested in applying for a 2022 Arts Internship position should visit this webpage for more information. The window to apply opens in April.
Students are also invited to reach out to Mosser at Milwaukee Rep ([email protected]) if interested in joining next year’s list of candidates for the Next Narrative Monologue Competition.