In the last three weeks we welcomed a new face in the administrative office, but this face is far from new to Encore! Meet our Senior Experience Intern Aidan and learn about his Encore journey, starring Encore’s Mary Poppins in 2016 and performing “A Spoonful of Sugar” in Good Morning Washington, to becoming a Student House Manager and Box Office Student Associate.
Hi, I’m Aidan Pritchard, and I’m a senior at Washington-Liberty High School. I’m currently doing my senior experience, a three-week internship, with Encore as a Box Office Student Associate! I’m also the Front of House Manager for Charlotte’s Web for two weekends. In these roles, I help Encore’s amazing staff with projects around the office and oversee the ushers, concession workers, and ticket scanners that make patrons’ Encore experience special.
What Encore shows/programs have you participated in, and what have been some of your favorite roles and why?
My first experience with Encore was through its selection of summer camps. I participated in It’s Elementary for many years, then Scenes For Tweens, and even Stage Door. My first Encore show of the production season was Snow White. As a fifth grader, I was excited to perform with such a professional organization. Over the years, I’ve also been in the cast of Mary Poppins, Just Like Us, and Commedia Cinderella. While most recently I’ve done backstage crew and front of house, my favorite role has been Michael Banks in Mary Poppins. I learned a lot from the adult actors on cast, and they were great mentors and friends to me. I also must say I really enjoyed the opportunity to go on ABC7’s Good Morning Washington. It was a great window into the world of television production!
Why did you choose Encore for your senior experience?
I wanted to work with an organization involved in one of my areas of interest, and theatre is a big one! I thought it would be nice to give back to the community that had helped fulfill my dream of performing, and I knew that Encore does amazing work for children’s theatre right in my backyard. I also wanted to know more about careers in the performing arts besides acting, like management and marketing.
What do you enjoy most about the front of house crew?
I love collaborating with other students and dividing up tasks so that we can accomplish everything smoothly. I enjoy feeling relied upon and knowing that I’ve helped brighten patrons’ day. An aspect I also find fun is using my “customer service voice” and “Disney hands,” which is like acting offstage!
You’re getting the STAR award this year, what does that mean to you?
To me, it means that I’ve stuck with Encore for a long time. Encore has been an integral part of my theatre journey from the very beginning until the present day. It also means that I’ve gone outside of my comfort zone and discovered new things about myself. At first, I was reluctant to try something beyond acting on stage, but thanks to this award, I discovered that I really love being on Front of House Crew.
How has theatre impacted your life?
Theatre has had a profound impact on my life. It’s definitely been one of my biggest passions for a very long time, and I’ve been introduced to so many opportunities because of it. From making many great friends to improving my ability to problem solve through improv, theatre has helped me grow into the person I am today. It’s also increased my self-awareness, as I consider both how my character would feel in a given situation, and the notes my director gives me.
What are you looking forward to in your senior experience with Encore?
I’m looking forward to learning more about box office operations and the ticketing software. I’ll also be happy to see another side of Encore, understanding the reasoning behind the processes I’ve seen as a student and Encore’s marketing choices as well.
Anything else you’d like to share?
Another noteworthy thing about me is my love of foreign languages. I’ve studied many over the years, from Spanish in elementary school, to French in middle and high school, and Japanese since sophomore year. I’ve also explored French and Korean over the summer, via a French-language government course at Sciences Po’s Reims and Paris campuses and studying at Hanyang University in Seoul. Other languages, like Chinese and Italian, I learn independently. For Chinese, I’ve gleaned much from social media apps like Douyin and Weibo, while to improve my Italian, I translated for my family along the Amalfi Coast. I intend to continue my language journey by majoring in Chinese alongside theatre, and minoring in French. Of course, I hope to learn many more too!
We’re so glad to have Aidan on the administrative and box office team!
Photo credit: Larry McClemons, Aileen Pangan Christian