You may have seen this familiar face in the previous summers on stage including Freaky Friday and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. We’re so excited for her return to Encore for another amazing summer! Get to know our 2024 arts management intern and Encore summer show alum, Alex Beach!
We’re so glad to have you back! Please tell us about yourself!
Hi there! My name is Alex Beach and I am thrilled to be working as an Arts Management Intern for Encore this summer! I grew up in Annandale, Virginia where I have lived my whole life. I am 21 years old and am currently a rising senior at Long Island University where I am studying Arts Management. In my free time, I love to make my own music, paint, and go to the gym. In the future I would love to work full time doing marketing or finance for a music/theater company while also creating my own music on the side.
What made your decision to apply for the Encore internship?
As an Arts Management major, I was particularly excited to gain experience working in the field I hope to pursue after graduation. I have really enjoyed working on shows with Encore in the past, so when I saw the internship posting on Encore’s website, I knew I had to apply. During my time with Encore, I’ve met wonderful people and made lifelong memories. I was so impressed by the talent and professionalism of the young performers and crew members, as well as the kindness and attentiveness of all the staff. It made the decision to apply an easy one!
What shows have you participated with Encore before and please tell us all about it!
I have participated in Encore productions the past two summers while home from college. During the summer of 2022, I was in the cast of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, which was a collaboration between 3 local theater companies: Encore, Arlington Players, and Avant Barde. This was my first time ever working with Encore, and from the start I knew I wanted to work with them again.
Last summer I was in the cast of Freaky Friday as a part of Savannah’s Clique. I absolutely loved working with this cast, especially my friends in Savannah’s Clique: Natalie Garcia-Ruiz, Juliette Kane, and Drew Wright. Because I go to college in New York, summers can sometimes feel a little lonely, but the cast and crew of Freaky Friday provided me with a wonderful support system and lifelong friendships for which I am eternally grateful.
What skills are you looking forward to learning during your time at Encore this summer?
I am so excited for the opportunity to work under wonderful mentors and learn what it takes for a non-profit theater company to operate smoothly from an administrative standpoint. My first experience on crew for a production gave me a newfound appreciation for all the effort that crew members put into making a show the best it can be, and I know the same will be true about the management positions. Everything from box office operations to fundraising and development is crucial and advantageous in this industry. I’m especially looking forward to improving my skills in website design and learning about managing finances for a non-profit organization.
Can you describe your favorite theatre/performing arts experience and what made it so memorable?
My favorite role that I have ever played was Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre (Scwartzy) in my high school’s production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Not only is this show memorable on its own for its comedy and quirky characters, but the tight-knit cast made it a particularly special experience for me. I didn’t know it at the time, but this was actually my last show that I would perform at Falls Church High School due to the pandemic in 2020. Although I had been in many theatrical productions before, playing Schwartzy was the first time that I truly fell in love with a character, flaws and all. Schwarty is brilliant, funny, and spunky. She is strong willed, confident, and is not afraid to speak her mind – qualities that I admire and strive to embody in my own life.
What’s your favorite play or musical as an audience member?
My favorite show I’ve ever seen is Once on This Island on Broadway! Perhaps the most unique aspect of the musical was its staging in the round, with sand covering the entire stage and real water representing the sea. Elements of the set were incorporated all throughout the theater, making the experience incredibly immersive, as if there was no separation between the actor’s world and the audience’s. I was blown away by the talent of the performers, including big names such as Hailey Kilgore, Alex Newell, and Lea Salonga. Beyond the incredibly talented performers and outstanding set design, Once On This Island tells a beautiful story. Ti Moune, a peasant girl, is saved from a terrible storm by the gods to settle their debate; Is love stronger than death? The heart-wrenching tale explores themes of faith, hope, prejudice, love, and death.
Why do you think performing arts are important for young people?
A brilliant theater teacher once told me that if he could have any superpower in the world, he would choose the power of perspective – the ability to see any situation from someone else’s point of view and understand why people make the choices they do or are the way they are. He explained that theatre is the key to achieving this superpower. This sentiment has stuck with me because it has made me see the performing arts as the transformative experience they truly are.
Participation in the performing arts is so important for young people, especially, because it encourages them to develop compassion for others and practice empathy. Theatre challenges performers to understand and embody characters that may be vastly different from themselves without judgment or inhibitions. Furthermore, the performing arts provide a form of self expression that allow young people to learn about themselves and the world around them in a creative and collaborative way.
What is your dream character role or dream production to work on and why?
My #1 dream role is definitely Elle Woods in Legally Blonde! Not only is this role absolutely iconic, but the score is so catchy, and Elle’s songs are some of my favorites to sing. Her journey from a seemingly superficial sorority girl to a successful Harvard Law student breaks stereotypes and demonstrates that true strength comes from being resilient and unapologetically yourself. I would be honored to play this role some day!
Another role I’d love to take on is Rusty in Footloose! My passion for the musical started back in 8th grade when I was chosen to perform the solo for “Let’s Hear It For The Boy” at a musical theatre summer camp. That experience made me fall in love with the show. I’d be thrilled to revisit the role of Rusty within the full context of the production, as she’s such a vibrant and confident character.
What theme day should Encore have at the office?
I would love to see Encore have a “dream role” theme day at the office! Since we are all lovers of theater, it would be fun to learn about Encore employees’ favorite shows or characters they would like to play some day.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I just want to give a shout-out to my supervisor, Aileen Christian, and to my co-intern, Matthew Bloss-Baum, for being the best team I could ever ask for! I appreciate both of you and feel so lucky to work with you both this summer!
Photos courtesy of Alex Beach.