Meet Former Intern - Paige Vanzo

Meet Paige Vanzo

I went from intern to staff member at MBT where I worked as Marketing Communications Coordinator for five years. I collaborated on a number of things from promotions, to grants to fundraising events which deepened my interest in nonprofit management and fundraising and storytelling. I took a job as Manager of Special Events and Donor Relations at Presbyterian Villages of Michigan Foundation. PVM works so hard for Michigan's seniors, and I was there (and loved it!) for two years. While working on staff at MBT and at PVMF I had the privilege of spending my evenings and weekends doing what I loved--working with local theater companies all over Detroit and having the opportunity to spend a good deal of time writing, acting, directing and doing tons of improv.

My life changed significantly when in 2018… 1). My daughter, Dylan was born and 2). My mom was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer (just days after D. was born). It became clear that I would head back home to Indiana to enjoy whatever time my family and I could with my Mom. I was delighted to join the Ascension St. Vincent Foundation team in Indianapolis as their new Donor Stewardship and Annual Giving Officer. Part of that time was spent working with amazing families who were getting their care from Peyton Manning Children's Hospital, St. Vincent's wonderful oncologists, cardiologists and others. Being able to tell those powerful stories to donors who wanted to help was so impactful and something I'll celebrate being a part of every day.
Outside of work, I spent those two years driving back and forth across the state to spend time with mom and/or to make it to medical appointments with her. Mom passed away from complications due to her cancer on March 14, 2020 (just before the COVID lockdown started).

In November 2020 I had the wonderful opportunity to join on as Development Director at Sheltering Wings, a domestic violence shelter and service provider located in Danville, Indiana (just outside of Indianapolis). I'm leading fundraising efforts, I oversee communications and our volunteer program and a small but mighty team of wonderful folks who want to celebrate our donors, volunteers and this wonderful community for the heroes they are!

When I tell people about my professional background they are always a little surprised to hear that Theatre has played such a huge part. I'm so thankful for the wonderful people I met during my internship, while on staff and the amazing amount of knowledge about various (sometimes random) things Theatre has given me. I'm hoping to get back to performing/directing/writing as I regain some bandwidth on the other side of grief, the baby/toddler stage and of course COVID.

P.S. I would also like provide this link http://freedomideserve.com/ which is a resource page developed by our Shelter to equip everyone to help anyone in an abusive situation. You likely know someone in an abusive relationship. If they came to you for help, would you know what to say? Take a look at the page, bookmark it, or share it with anyone who may need it.

Meet Former Acting\Administration Intern - Mikey Vultaggio

Meet Mikey Vultaggio

Mikey Vultaggio has been busy at work since their internship with Meadow Brook Theatre in 2018/19. (You may remember him as one of the officers in Arsenic and Old Lace!) Based in New York City, when not focused with auditions, he works as a cluemaster at Escape the Room! He also constructs some social media, marketing and commercials you may see or hear for MBT involving their season.

Prior to Quarantine, he was a part of the Cat’s Pajamas Acapella Tour, where he later met a very good friend who cast him in Love at First Fright at Six Flags Great America. Mikey has also since performed and directed a couple of cabarets, as well as a live screenplay reading of Clue.

Outside of theatre, he’s been writing his own music, preparing to release an EP of original music by next year, and was featured on Gregory Martini’s theater album. He’s excited for future features with other upcoming projects and artists, including an original jukebox musical to be finishing its first draft this year!

He hopes that one day he’ll be able to come and work with Meadow Brook again; he continues to wish all the best in their success!

Meet Former Acting/Administration Intern - Kai Stidham

Meet Kai Stidham

Whether you're a visiting artist, staff member, or intern, once you work at MBT you truly are a part of the family. In my case, I liked the family so much that I became "the intern who never left".

Following the acting/admin internship (2018-2019 season) I spent my summer in the MBT box office telemarketing, helping in the marketing office while they worked to hire a new Marketing Coordinator, teaching Zumba classes in the evenings, and working with Azazie on the weekends as a Bridal Expo Assistant.

During the 2019-2020 season I moved into the marketing office as the interim Marketing Coordinator, trying my best to learn Adobe Suites and keep things together while they finished the hiring process (fake it till you make it, right?). Once our amazing new Marketing Coordinator took over I moved into the role of Marketing Assistant and an actor once again in A Christmas Carol.

Of course, Covid-19 put a small halt to the end of that season. During the theatre's closure I started fostering dogs and volunteering with a local rescue, became a Customer Happiness Specialist for Doggy Do Good, and was lucky enough to still be able to create art in a virtual production of Disenchanted at Nicely Theatre.

Most recently, I was seen onstage in Ordinary Days at Skycraft Theatre Works and am beyond excited to be returning for my third year in A Christmas Carol at MBT. Of course, this wouldn't be complete without mentioning that I am writing this to you all now from the desk of the Marketing Coordinator here at MBT.

So much love to the entire MBT family!

Meet Former Props Intern - Christa Tausney

Meet Christa Tausney

I was the properties intern for the 2015-2016 season. Coming into Meadow Brook Theatre, I had recently graduated from Wayne State University with a BFA in Theatre Design and Technology (with a special interest in Scene Design). During my experience in undergrad, I also worked at The Parade Company in Detroit for America’s Thanksgiving Day Parade primarily as a sculptor and painter. 

Following the end of my internship, I worked my last season at The Parade Company. After Thanksgiving 2016, a staff carpenter position opened up at Meadow Brook Theatre and I finished out the 2016-2017 season  as a carpenter and as an over-hire. By the fall of 2017, I moved out east and went to Boston University to study and earned my MFA in Scene Design. 

Along the way, I have had different kinds of jobs. I was a paint instructor for a couple of “paint and wine” party studios. In Boston I worked as a Children’s Art Instructor at Minni (a new children’s art center in the Sowa District), I spent a summer as a high end interior design assistant/ furniture sales person, and was able to assist in scenic design while completing my degree.  

When COVID-19 hit, I was completing my thesis project, and moved back home to Michigan. After I completed my degree, I eventually found myself working on window displays at Anthropologie in Ann Arbor. I am now invited back to Meadow Brook to do a scenic design for the upcoming show A Walk With Patsy Cline in 2022! I am thrilled to be back!