Each year, Wharton Center welcomes a new group of interns into our workplace. These students bring fresh ideas, curiosity, and energy, all while experiencing mentorship, real-world insight into the performing arts industry, and glimpses into professional life. We sat down with two of our interns, Sofia (performing arts intern) and Oliver (social media marketing intern)to hear their perspectives into the skills they have gained and share what has made their experiences unforgettable.  

Here’s what they had to say:  

Tell me about you! Your major, grade, what you love about the arts! 

Sofia: My name is Sofia Pate, I'm a senior here at Michigan State, and something I love about the arts would have to be how it brings people together. For example, when I am at a social gathering and somebody happens to bring up their love for theatre or the arts, I automatically feel as if I am in a safe place. 

 

Oliver: Hello! My name is Oliver Angel! I am a senior Advertising Management major at Michigan State who minors in musical theatre. I love that the arts allow for the expression of one’s thoughts. I have dyslexia, and writing was a struggle for me growing up. Being able to paint, sing, or act out how I felt was crucial in shaping who I am and sharing that with others. Art is also such an important outlet for community. Whether it’s the a cappella community I am a part of on campus or the theatre community, it’s a group of caring people who share similar passions.   

  

How did you get involved with Wharton Center and this internship? 

Sofia: Funny enough, I met my coworker Oliver when I was in New York City last January! I was seeing Cabaret at the August Wilson Theatre and ran into a guy wearing a Michigan State hat (Oliver). We got to talking and he told me he was in NYC with WCSMO (Wharton Center Student Marketing Organization), and it really felt like the right place, right time. After that trip, we stayed in touch, and I joined WCSMO that spring semester and was introduced to the internship. I am forever grateful for that trip and my time here. 

 

Oliver: Before I started working or seeing shows here, I was on the stage . I was in the Department of Theatre’s production of Bright Star on the Pasant stage. Then I found out about the student tickets for Broadway shows and started to see more. I was always interested in the business side of theatre, and some of my friends were in the Wharton Center Student Marketing Organization and encouraged me to check it out. The club president at the time, Rachel Kramer, one of my bosses now, had an opening for her internship in social media. I applied, and now I’m in my second year.   

  

What’s a ‘typical day’ like when you’re at work? 

Sofia: When I get in, I say hi to my friends and then I check in with Ryonn, Senior Marketing Manager. Usually, I have a task that I will be working on for a couple days. For example, Kristin Key, a musical comedian, is coming to Wharton Center on January 7th (buy your tickets!) and I've had to reach out to a lot of people the past couple of days to notify them about her coming. It doesn't seem like the most glamours task; however, it is very important to spread awareness about shows and artists coming to the theatre, so I feel very grateful to be a part of that process. At the end of the day, I make sure to send a little check-in about what I accomplished and what needs to be done the next day, then down the elevator I go! 

 

Oliver: “Typical day” is not in a social media intern’s vocabulary. It’s very cliché to say, but it’s absolutely true. In the most basic one-sentence answer, my job is to plan, make, and monitor content made for you, the person reading this, who might be interested in coming to see a show here. This shows up in a lot of ways. Some days I am interviewing the kind and charismatic actors in the touring companies; the next, I am going to a show and taking photos before the curtains come up, and in my breaks, editing videos that are heading out to our awesome donor community. Other days I am doing deep dives on our social media data and trying to figure out our most effective content strategies. Other days I am doing “social listening,” which is the fancy way of saying scrolling TikTok. I hope it resonates!   

 

What surprised you the most about the work you have been doing? 

Sofia: What has surprised me most about the work I've been doing is the range. Although I do a lot of similar things every day, every show brings a separate kind of vibe/atmosphere to work with. For example, with Avatar The Last Airbender:In Concert, it was fun looking up different game stores in town to notify; however, with every different show, you must do different kinds of research. 

 

Oliver: What surprised me the most is the village that Wharton Center is. I thought I was going to be “up in the office” or “in the marketing department,” but that is not at all how the culture feels here. Development, Education, Production, Finance, Patron Services, and every other department all work together every day to make the shows happen here at Wharton Center.   

  

What project or moment have you enjoyed working on the most? 

Sofia: One moment was getting to be the tiny mic interviewer for our TikTok we filmed to promote Les Arts Florissants, and a second moment would be getting to take pictures of Thomas Mapfumo during a workshop for MSU students. 

Oliver: I am really proud of our Pioneer Series. We want to revamp our posts that highlight different artists from different communities. Whenever I make one of these posts, I get to learn so much about these performers, and it is so inspiring to learn about their stories.   

  

If your internship was a musical, what would it be? 

Sofia: I'd say maybe Mamma Mia! Just because everyone always seems to be in a good mood and it's always a pretty happy place to be! 

 

Oliver: It’s like Newsies, but my bosses are really cool, and I don’t have to dance on newspapers.   

  

What’s something you’ve learned about yourself during this internship? 

Sofia: I've learned that I am capable of doing things that seem scary! Coming into this internship, there were several more tedious tasks I had never dealt with before. I was very intimidated, but I am so glad that I learned and now they are things I do day-to-day at work! 

 

Oliver: My time at Wharton Center has taught me so much about myself. One thing is, I roll with it! I don’t know everything I am doing in a week on Monday, but I am surely going to come in every day and get all the tasks I need done. I learned I can advocate for my ideas. I work in a team; we share our ideas, change them, and mold them into our best work.   

  

How has this shaped your career goals? 

Sofia: It has shaped my career goals in a lot of ways! I have always been extremely passionate about the arts and what goes into the behind the scenes of running a theatre. Wharton Center is allowing me to see all the different aspects and is making it easier for me to narrow down exactly what I want to do after college.  

 

Oliver: I’ve learned that strategy is my bread and butter. I definitely love making content and will continue to do it, but the strategy decisions are more interesting to me. I have more of a knack and interest in finding the “why” and planning the “how” than the “what, where, and when.”   

 

What advice would you give folks on the fence about applying for an internship? 

Sofia: Do it!!!!! I know that is what everyone says, but if you are passionate about the arts, apply! It's better to deal with not getting the internship rather than regretting never applying and always being curious if you would've gotten it or not. Also, if you choose to apply, talk to people that work there! We are always more than happy to talk about our experiences here and even see if you may be a good fit. 😊 

 

Oliver: The advice I’d give you is: Come to WCSMO, know what Wharton Center is and what it means to you, know what it is that makes you special, and know why you want this internship.   

  

What’s your favorite place inside Wharton Center? 

Sofia: My favorite place inside Wharton Center would have to be the conference room! The conference room is where I started my journey at Wharton Center and interviewed for the position I have now. It brings a lot of nostalgia, and also is just a gorgeous room, of course. 

 

Oliver: This is impossible to say, but I have a top three. One: Underneath the theatre, there is a huge basement that has all the cooling and heat systems. It’s massive and blows my mind away with how truly large the theatre is. Second: The Grand Tier. I love watching shows up there, but every once in a while, I’ll sit out there for two minutes during work and just look at our awesome space. Three: I probably shouldn’t say this, but when I am in a Department of Theatre show, there is a second-floor dressing room I use the bathroom in.   

  

What’s the biggest lesson or skill you’re taking away from this internship? 

Sofia: The biggest lesson I will take away from this internship is that it's always better to ask more questions than to go back later and fix those mistakes.  

 

Oliver: I learned how to manage a team’s calendar. Sounds silly, but as a college student, it makes me look professional. Overall, though, this internship has taught me how to work in an office; when and how to approach my bosses, how to ask for support on a project, and how to show up and be a genuine person every day. There is a sense of pressure when you are joining the workforce on the “rules,” but being true to myself and my coworkers has helped me more than any tip I read in an article.   

  

If you could go back to day one, what would you tell yourself? 

Sofia: Be patient with yourself! I think I can be a little hard on myself when it comes to learning new things, and there was a lot to learn coming here. I am grateful for how far I have come since August! 

 

Oliver: Everyone here is genuine, kind, and helpful and wants you to succeed; always remember that!   

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The arts enrich academic life across every discipline, and Wharton Center is proud to serve as a creative hub where students engage as audience members, performers, and emerging professionals. Our student employees represent 90+ majors across nearly all 17 MSU colleges. To learn more about internship opportunities, reach out to Wharton Center Student Marketing Organization or keep an eye on Handshake for openings.