Field Work Term Spotlight: Annabelle Lisa

At Bennington, students spend six weeks every year taking their skills and knowledge out of the classroom and applying them in the world of work. They use this annual work-learning opportunity—known as Field Work Term—to deepen their studies, challenge and test new ideas, and hone their direction for the future.

How did your Field Work Term relate to (or diverge from!) your studies at Bennington?

My Field Work Term went right along with my studies. I worked at the Vero Beach Theatre Guild in Vero Beach, Florida, a long way from my home and life at college. It showed me the technical and backstage parts of theater away from a school setting, which I hadn't experienced much of before.

I am studying theater performance specifically, so getting to experience the behind-the-scenes parts of theater was super interesting and deviated from what I am studying!

What did a typical day at your Field Work Term site look like? 

My days would vary at my Field Work Term site. On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, I usually worked in the scene shop doing set painting for the musical Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. When I wasn't painting, I built set pieces for the same show, while helping out around the scene shop.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I either worked in props and costumes, production management, box office management, or even shadowing theater teachers at nearby high schools. I also attended staff and director meetings here and there.

About halfway through my Field Work Term, I started attending rehearsals and assistant stage managing, while also jumping in where needed. When I started going to rehearsals, my weeks ended up being over 40 hours, but that is expected in the world of theater. By the end of my Field Work Term, I was assistant stage manager at performances of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, while on different days, I filled in for missing actors in rehearsals for the play Is He Dead? So, my typical day would consist of working at the theater in the day, and attending rehearsals at night. 

What surprised or challenged you the most about your position?

I was very surprised at how versatile my position was at Vero Beach Theatre Guild. I didn't have too many expectations, but I was blown away with how much I learned and was privileged to experience. I was also surprised at how many connections I made with the wonderful people I worked with throughout my time at VBTG. Everyone was incredibly kind and supportive to work with, and I hope to work for them again in the future.

I was challenged by multiple things at the theater guild, the most obvious one was doing work I hadn't done before in theater. I was challenged especially by set building, as I have never done that before, but I was also challenged with some tasks throughout all of the areas in which I worked. Apart from the actual work I was doing, I felt challenged, you could say, by the environment and area of the Earth I was in. It's hot in Florida, and I hate the heat, but that was the only downside, and I got used to it!

What do you hope to do in the future—for your next Field Work Term and beyond Bennington?

I would love to do the Lucille Lortel Fellowship eventually, but I have a professional theater in Maine, my home state, in mind as well! I would love to continue working in theaters throughout my Field Work Terms, and after Bennington, I hope to go into acting, makeup and costume design, theater management, or all of those!