Current Pathway PARTICIPAnts

WT's Future Instructors!

Dance

INTERNS
Olivia Royster
Jaylanny Fernandes
Laila Minor
Mikaila Perkins

ASSISTANTS
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STUDENT TEACHERS
Destiny Monroe

Acting / Drama

INTERNS
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ASSISTANTS
Ena Benson
Rose Graber
​Sadie Miller
Joella Ye

STUDENT TEACHERS
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Music

INTERNS
Olivia Royster

ASSISTANTS
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STUDENT TEACHERS
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Tech

INTERNS
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ASSISTANTS
Ena Benson
​Oz Santo Kilgore
Cordi Ramont
Olivia Royster

STUDENT TEACHERS
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Instructor Training & Leadership Development

“If you want to master something, try helping someone else learn it.”

Student-to-Professional Pathway

The Student-to-Professional Pathway is Walltown’s structured approach to preparing students for real responsibility within arts education and production. Designed for students in dance, music, drama, and technical theatre, the pathway provides intentional training, mentorship, and hands-on experience that supports growth from student to professional contributor.
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This pathway is not an open enrollment program. Students are invited based on recommendation, demonstrated readiness, and approval from the appropriate Program Director.

Pathway Progression

Students move through the pathway at a pace determined by readiness, initiative, and program needs. Progression is earned—not automatic—and reflects increasing levels of responsibility and trust.

Excelling Student

Expectations: Students at this level demonstrate strong artistic or technical skills, maturity, reliability, and an outward focus. This designation is a recognition of their growth and readiness for potential pathway opportunities, rather than a formal training stage with additional support.

Student Intern

Expectations: Interns participate in supervised, instruction- or production-adjacent experiences. Observed and evaluated for readiness to advance.
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Support Provided: Interns are mentored closely by instructors and technical staff with structured check-ins and feedback. Interns receive guidance on teaching strategies, rehearsal facilitation, classroom or production flow, and professional behavior. They may be offered applicable skill-building opportunities, workshops, or summer intensives at no or reduced cost; regular classes, ensembles, and camps are still tuition-based.

Student Assistant

Expectations: Takes on consistent responsibilities supporting instruction, rehearsals, camps, or productions, while demonstrating professionalism, collaboration, and initiative.
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Support Provided: Assistants receive ongoing mentorship, structured feedback, and coaching in leadership, instructional/technical techniques, and problem-solving. Staff provide modeling of effective communication and guidance on student/crew engagement. Access to some workshops or pathway-specific training may be offered at no or reduced cost; regular tuition for classes and camps remains the student’s responsibility.

Student Teacher / Technical Lead

Expectations: Demonstrates the ability to lead components of instruction or production with guidance, showing strong communication skills, judgment, and professionalism.
Support Provided: Receives targeted coaching in lesson planning, rehearsal pacing, technical problem-solving, and student engagement. Staff monitor progress and provide regular feedback on both performance and leadership. Students may be offered additional pathway training or mentorship at no or reduced cost, but regular classes and ensembles remain tuition-based.

Staff Instructor / Production Professional

Expectations: Students may be invited to join Walltown staff or continue into professional opportunities beyond Walltown, typically after graduating from high school. At this stage, they function as full instructors or technical leads, demonstrating competence, professionalism, and independent leadership within the organization.

Support Provided: Continues to receive mentorship and guidance from senior staff as needed, ensuring smooth transition to full teaching or production responsibilities.

Disciplines Include

The Student-to-Professional Pathway supports students across multiple areas of focus:

• Dance – instructional support, classroom assistance, technique modeling
• Music – rehearsal support, sectional leadership, musicianship mentoring
• Drama – classroom facilitation, rehearsal assistance, ensemble leadership
• Technical Theatre – lighting, sound, stage management, backstage operations

Each discipline includes tailored training experiences while maintaining shared expectations for professionalism, communication, and collaboration.

Accelerated Professional Pathway: Technical Theatre

For students in technical theatre, the Student-to-Professional Pathway is often accelerated. Technical interns gain hands-on experience with equipment, safety protocols, troubleshooting, and live production environments. Because these skills are immediately transferable, many students move quickly into paid work and professional opportunities outside of Walltown while continuing to contribute to productions within the organization.

This pathway emphasizes reliability, problem-solving, and professional conduct, as students may be entrusted with real responsibilities that mirror industry expectations.

Conservatory Participation & Leadership Development

Participation in at least one Walltown Conservatory ensemble or production team is expected for students in the Student-to-Professional Pathway. Conservatory involvement reinforces discipline, accountability, collaboration, and service—qualities essential to effective instructors and production professionals.
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While all Conservatory groups support leadership development, the Walltown PLAYers offer a unique emphasis on reflective practice, communication, social-emotional growth, and community engagement. These skills strongly support both instructional and technical roles and complement the responsibilities students take on through the pathway.

What Students Gain

Students in the Student-to-Professional Pathway benefit from:

• Mentorship from experienced instructors and production staff
• Real-world, hands-on experience
• Clear expectations and structured progression
• Paid opportunities at the assistant level and beyond
• Marketable skills applicable both within Walltown and in external professional settings

Above all, students gain confidence, professionalism, and a deeper understanding of what it means to contribute meaningfully to a creative community.

Invitation & Eligibility

Students are invited into the Student-to-Professional Pathway through recommendation by instructors and approval from Program Directors. Families with questions about eligibility or progression are encouraged to contact Walltown staff for more information.

STP Pathways FAQ

Q: Who is eligible for the pathway?

A: Students are invited based on teacher recommendation and approval from the appropriate Program Director. Invitations reflect artistic or technical growth, professionalism, maturity, leadership potential, and readiness for increased responsibility. edit.

Q: Does the pathway apply to dance, music, drama, and technical theatre?

A: Yes. The pathway supports students across all instructional and technical areas at Walltown. Each discipline has tailored expectations and experiences, but all participants receive mentorship, observation opportunities, and hands-on training.

Q: How long does the pathway take?

A: The full pathway typically takes one to two years, though timelines vary based on individual growth, initiative, and readiness. Technical theatre students may progress more quickly due to the professional applicability of their skills.

Q: Is Conservatory participation required?

A: Yes. Students are expected to participate in at least one Walltown Conservatory ensemble or production team. Conservatory involvement reinforces discipline, accountability, collaboration, and service. The Walltown PLAYers provide additional leadership-focused development, emphasizing reflective practice, communication, and community engagement.

Q: Are pathway internships paid?

A: Internships are unpaid and focused on training, observation, and mentorship. Students who advance to the Student Assistant or technical leadership roles may be placed in paid positions depending on responsibilities and program needs.

Q: What are the expectations for students in the pathway?

A: Students are expected to demonstrate professionalism, reliability, empathy, coachability, clear communication, and an outward focus on supporting others. Technical and performance students alike are evaluated on readiness for increased responsibility, leadership, and collaborative engagement.

Q: Does participation guarantee a teaching or technical leadership position?

A: No. Advancement depends on readiness, performance, and organizational needs. The pathway prepares students for opportunity, not automatic placement.

Q: Can technical theatre students work outside Walltown?

A: Yes. Many technical theatre students pursue professional opportunities beyond Walltown. The skills developed—such as lighting, sound, stage management, and production support—are directly transferable to other productions and professional environments. Students are expected to prioritize Walltown commitments first; any outside opportunities should not conflict with rehearsals, performances, or other Walltown programming. Students must maintain professionalism and fulfill their responsibilities within Walltown while pursuing external engagements.

Q: Are the values and mentorship structure the same across disciplines?

A: Yes. All pathway participants benefit from mentorship, observation, and guided hands-on experience. Technical theatre students may progress more quickly due to the immediate applicability of their skills, but the underlying values—professionalism, leadership, collaboration, and service—are consistent for all disciplines.