meet the 2022 young company apprentices!
Meet Clare, Kat, Maxx, Jessie, Madelyn, and Olivia!
Our Apprentices are WCU students in the Department of Theatre and Dance, who are curious and passionate about working with young people. This program offers a paid opportunity to serve as teaching assistants to our professional staff. Not-so-secretly, they are the backbone of this program. Get to know the friendly faces who will be on staff this summer helping you and your child out with lunchtime, bathroom breaks, classroom activities, and anything else you might need!
Jessie Hazell (she/her)
Class of 2022, Early Grades Preparation Major with Minors in Theatre and Civic and Professional Leadership
Jessie is… goofy, empathetic, and adaptable!
Fun fact about Jessie: I’ve been around summer camps for a lot of my life. My parents run a day camp, so I grew up as a camper, and then worked as a camp counselor for many years.
One of my favorite experiences as WCU so far has been… being involved with the annual Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS benefit and silent auction. It’s a completely student-run event where we produce a benefit concert to fundraise for an important cause.
Maxx Hudnell (they/she)
Class of 2023, Theatre Major, Production + Design Concentration
Maxx is… an outgoing, creative person who loves to learn!
I have worked… in so many places with kids and young people. Teaching has been a big part of my life. I worked a lot with the education programs at Hedgerow Theatre, as well as the Girl Scouts of Eastern PA and the Delaware Children’s Museum. I’ve also taught classes in dance and improv before.
One of my favorite experiences at WCU so far has been… performing in “She Kills Monsters: Virtual Realms.” It was my first production at WCU, and it was during the pandemic, so we rehearsed and performed entirely on Zoom.
Olivia DiIorio (she/her)
Class of 2022, Theatre Major, Concentration in Design, Tech, and Management; Minor in American Sign Language
Olivia is… passionate! She loves to laugh and is always ready for a challenge.
The thing I love most about WCU is… the community of people I’ve found here. I have never felt the feeling of family with people I only met three years ago… now I’m getting choked up! Eeek!
Ask me about… the time I worked on Macbeth (a famous, and kinda violent, Shakespeare play). I got to help make a prop head that looked like one of the actors, and it was really hard to figure out. When the audience finally saw it revealed in this big dramatic moment, they gasped and whispered, and I just got to stand there thinking “oh my gosh, we did it! It worked!” It was one of the coolest things I’ve ever experienced.
Clare McKernan (she/her)
Class of 2022, Theatre Major, Musical Theatre Concentration
Clare is… an old soul. I love classical musicals, movies, and songs from decades ago.
My favorite experience at WCU so far is… being on University Theatre Council. It’s a completely student-run organization, but we work in collaboration with the professors and the theatre department to produce and create theatre and events ourselves. I loved creating the Haunted House event in particular.
One of the best parts of being a student at WCU is… the friends I made during my time here. :)
Madelyn Ebersole (she/her)
Class of 2023, Theatre Major, Musical Theatre Concentration; Dance Minor
My favorite experience at WCU so far is… being on University Theatre Council. I’ve met so many wonderful people through this position.
One of the best parts of being a student at WCU is… how many wonderful people go to school here and work here! Although the food here is great too, which I think is a plus. :)
Kat Gregory (she/her)
Class of 2022, Theatre Major with Musical Theatre Concentration
My favorite experience at WCU so far is… when I performed in the Triangle Factory Fire Project! (See the photo - performing in masks was a challenge that we managed to solve!) I learned so much, worked with incredible and amazing people, and feel very proud of the show that we created.
One of the best parts of being a student at WCU is… how great everyone here is.
Learn more about the Pre-College Apprentices | Learn more about the Faculty and Professional Staff