Continue Reading: Mentorship and Job Experience Take Center Stage in Prepping Students for Theatre Career
Annie Mulvihill. Photo by Hannah Fulk.
Empowered by mentorship and hands-on professional experience, Theater Student Annie Mulvihill plans to channel the diverse skills she’s acquired in the College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences (CAHSS) Department of Theatre toward a theatre career.
In this second of our two-part story, Mulvihill elaborates on how her multidisciplinary liberal arts education and the CAHSS theatre department’s robust mentorship and unique approach have elevated her professional growth.
As she moves toward completing her final quarter, Mulvihill expressed gratitude to Theatre Professor Steven McDonald for guiding her throughout her academic journey. From the start her first year, he connected her with a professional stage manager during the department’s production of “Antigone,” in which Annie worked as assistant manager.
“I’m always asking him a million questions, and he always gives solid answers and tips for how to do things even more effectively,” she said. “I can vent to him when I need to and turn to him in times of need.”
Mulvihill's dedication impressed McDonald. “Annie was very focused from the beginning and has really worked hard as a stage manager,” McDonald said. “Her summer work at professional companies showed her where she needed to improve and she applied those lessons in productions at DU and passed them on to younger students as a mentor.”
Currently a CAHSS senior, triple-majoring in theatre, history, and socio-legal studies, Mulvihill has acquired experience in all aspects of theatre — from acting and design to building scenes and costuming. She believes the ability to pursue more than one major, which the University of Denver’s quarter system offers, has provided essential insights into human interactions that enrich her theatre work and life.
Mulvihill recently managed the theatre department’s production of “Into the Woods” and is directing a short student play and designing three others as part of the capstone projects that theatre majors must complete in their senior year. She plans to apply for a stage manager position with the Old Globe Theater in San Diego along with a variety of stage management apprenticeships/fellowships at large regional theatres nationwide.
According to Mulvihill, working in Undergraduate Admission including creating content for DU Admission social media accounts likewise has afforded ongoing support throughout her college career. “I’m so grateful to have been part of so many communities during my time at DU,” she said. “I’ve met wonderful people who’ve seen me through hard times and great times.”
She attributes much of her success to the theatre department’s unique approach, which emphasizes exposing students to all aspects of the industry rather than specialization, for preparing her for a range of future jobs. “The program offers students abundant opportunities for internships and real-world job experience, extraordinary mentors, and a holistic education,” she said. “It gives you the tools you need and the understanding of how it all fits together necessary to succeed in a competitive environment.”
