Three 体育买球官网 University students spent their summer at the historic Gretna Theatre — but with roles in stage management, sound design and digital marketing, each brought a different skill to gain hands-on experience in the many facets that bring a production to life.
Miranda Preputnick ’27, a communication arts and theatre management double major from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, has rotated between the positions of production stage manager and an assistant stage manager. Preputnick has gained experience on the technical side of theatre, such as lighting, sound, costumes and props, as well as attended rehearsals and called cues for the stage actors. She had the opportunity to participate in multiple productions this summer, including The Seeker: A Dolly Parton Tribute Concert, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) and Pete the Cat.
For Preputnick, the variability of live theatre was the greatest challenge she navigated — but also the most exciting.
“The unpredictability is actually one of my favorite things about live theatre,” said Preputnick. “You never really know what’s going to be thrown your way, and having to make changes and decisions on the fly are what makes each performance unique and such a special experience.”
Laney Castagna ’26, a management and professional sales double major with a minor in marketing from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, interned as a marketing apprentice at Gretna Theatre. Castagna attended rehearsals to capture behind-the-scenes content for social media, the website and other digital platforms, as well as managed the theatre’s online community engagement by responding to comments, sharing audience-generated content and helping to maintain a strong digital presence. She also supported reaching audiences beyond social media by distributing brochures across the state.
“The most valuable lesson I’ve learned is that marketing outcomes are never guaranteed,” said Castagna. “Some content I expected to perform well online didn’t resonate as anticipated, while other posts exceeded expectations. This experience has taught me to embrace experimentation, remain flexible and understand that public engagement can be unpredictable — an important lesson for anyone entering the marketing field.”
Castagna is passionate about working in a collaborative, positive environment where team members are engaged and enthusiastic about the organization’s mission. Post graduation, she is looking forward to working in sales or marketing.
Founded in 1892, Gretna Theatre is one of the oldest summer theatres in America. Norah Castagna ’28, a management and theatre design & production double major and Laney’s sister, also interned at the theatre as a sound apprentice.
