Cape Girardeau, Mo., native and Southeast Missouri State University student Kyle VanPool recently completed an internship at the Lucille Lortel Foundation, an Off-Broadway playhouse in New York.
There, Kyle worked as an administrative assistant and as an assistant house manager.
“I made wonderful contacts while completing this internship that I am confident I will keep in touch with for years to come,” he said.
While in New York, he participated in a senior showcase for casting agents and attended auditions.
Kyle said he believes his time at Southeast has helped prepare him for his professional career.
“Besides giving me the education to succeed in my field, it has strengthened my abilities in research, planning and critical thinking. It has also given me a sense of community and pride,” he said.
He acquired theatre experience at the University by acting in several performances, including “Anything Goes” and “Blood Wedding,” and working on the production crews for “Little Shop of Horrors” and “Crimes of the Heart,” among others.
“I will always treasure my time with the Department of Theatre and Dance and my involvement with the productions,” Kyle said. “I will also always remember the wonderful people I met during my student employment.”
He held student worker positions at the University’s Office of Pre-Collegiate Programs, Office of Admissions, the Department of Theatre and Dance and the Missouri Statewide Early Literacy Intervention Program.
“Continuing my education at Southeast was a terrific decision, and I am thrilled to become a Southeast alumnus,” he said.
Kyle is currently auditioning for theatre work locally. He is willing to travel for a job, but he said he wants his hometown to be his home base.
“I love living in Cape Girardeau. First Fridays of every month downtown are always fun. I also enjoy the annual events such as the SEMO District Fair and the Storytelling Festival. The River Campus also provides a wonderful schedule of entertainment from student productions to traveling shows. There is always something to keep me occupied,” he said.
Kyle said he enjoys traveling in his free time but has not yet been abroad – something he hopes to do someday.
“Just keep at it,” Kyle advises future University students. “The finish line is so sweet. You deserve to have that accomplishment.”