Skyhawks’ Big Break

Since being hired by Stonehill College in 2022, Professor of Practice in Visual & Performing Arts Derek Martin has created a professional pipeline, through which Skyhawks have access to internships at Americana Theatre Company. Operating out of Plymouth, Massachusetts, the non-profit, which Martin founded in 2011, produces two shows annually and supports educational programming year-round. 

“Internships at Americana are flexible depending on a student’s background,” Martin said. “In addition to having students perform in our main stage shows, we might also have them take on the role of an assistant stage manager.”

During summer 2024, interns worked on a production of Murder on the Orient Express, a show that the Stonehill Theatre Company also staged during the spring 2024 semester. 

“We actually used some of the props and part of the set from the Stonehill production,” said Martin, who played “Colonel James Arbuthnot” in the Americana show. “It’s been great to work together and share resources in this way.” 

Murder on the Orient Express, which was performed at the Spire Center for Performing Arts in Plymouth in July 2024, featured several familiar faces from Stonehill, including Instructor of Visual & Performing Arts Aubrey Elson as “Mary Debenham,” Erin Friday ’02 as “Princess Dragomiroff,” Abby Kramer ’22 as “Greta Ohlsson,” Brendan Hone ’26 as “Waiter,” and Ariana Barbosa ’27 as “Nanny.”

Other campus community members worked behind the scenes. Jenny Da Silva ’24 served as a production stage manager, while Rosalie Martin ’26 was a costumer. 

“Stonehill students are proactive and always bring something to the table,” Martin said. “One of the company’s mantras is, ‘Whatever we can do to make it better, let’s try to make it better.’ I found the students had a ton of energy and passion when it came to fulfilling that goal.”