Episode 38: Summer Interns 2018 (Part 2)

In this episode, Jerry speaks with four more of Burning Coal’s summer interns: Kayla Booth, Vishaal Chaganti, Jenna Voris, and Jackson Wellborn. They talk about their experiences with theatre, why it is considered to be a “dying art form”, and the future of the arts!

Kayla Booth is originally from Charlotte, NC and is a current rising sophomore in the Bachelor of Fine Arts acting program at the University of Oklahoma. Her credits include: OU Gilson Lab Theatre: Shakespeare’s Other Women (Portia, Elizabeth Shore, Nemesis), Student Playwright Festival (Pamphlet Lady) and Helmerich Literature Alive Tour: The Suessifciaiton of a Midsummer Night’s Dream (Helena). In the future she wishes to continue working in the performing arts field. She is very thankful for this opportunity with Burning Coal Theatre and she looks forward to expanding her knowledge and
experience through all aspects of theatre.

Vishaal Chaganti is an artistic enthusiast who has been heavily involved with the performing arts for well over a decade. Starting off as a hip hop dancer, Vishaal has expanded his artistic scope by being involved with Indian classical dance, acting, musical instruments, and even singing. Vishaal has performed in a production called “Ashok” an Indian medieval play about betrayal. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree from a renowned arts institution in Pune, India for the Indian Classical dance style known as Kathak. Along with the arts and his involvement with integrating Western and Indian cultures together, Vishaal is interested in law and politics and is a Minnesota native that has been living in Raleigh for 3 years.

Jenna Voris is from Indianapolis, Indiana where she completed a Bachelor of Arts in journalism and Bachelor of Science in political science at Butler University. She loves theater and previously interned at Booth Tarkington Civic Theater in Carmel, Indiana. Jenna has performed with the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps and the Pride of Cincinnati Winter Guard for multiple seasons over the past four years. She’s grateful for this opportunity at Burning Coal and hopes to use it to transition into a full-time theater marketing career.

Jackson is a rising Sophomore at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC. He is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Theater Education and plans to teach theater. He is passionate about all aspects of theater and is always looking for ways to be involved. 

00:00-00:27 Intro music

00:27-01:17 Welcome

01:17-02:20 Introduction of Vishaal and Indian culture

02:20-03:33 Introduction of Jackson and the combination of music and theatre

03:33-04:49 Introduction of Jenna and her relationship with theatre

04:49-05:45 Introduction of Kayla and her love of theatre

05:45-08:45 Theatrical role models how they got involved in theatre

08:45-12:56 Vishaal and Indian dance

12:56-14:15 More theatrical role models

14:15-20:35 Why is theatre referred to as a “dying art form” and is change good?

20:35-21:35 Jenna’s future plans

21:35-29:03 If you could change anything to strengthen the art form of theatre, what would you do?

29:15-29:47 Goodbye and outro