2020 Interns

Jordan (Jo)  Ben-Shmuel (She/Her) is a Musical Theatre major going into her senior year at Cornish College of the Arts here in Seattle. Originally from Northern California, Jo is so excited to be working with SCT this summer to combine her passion for theatre and enthusiasm for education! With several years’ experience of working with children in a theatre education setting, as well as a deep love of musical theatre and the immense power it holds, Jo can’t wait to join the SCT team!

Emma Bentsen (she/her) is graduating in May of 2020 from the University of Northern Colorado with a degree in Acting. Emma has spent the past four summers working as a teaching artist and administrator at the Village Theatre in Issaquah and had the opportunity last summer to intern with the American Alliance for Theatre and Education at their annual conference. She grew up attending shows at SCT and is so incredibly honored to have the opportunity to learn and grow at such an incredible institution. As a teaching artist, she has a passion for bringing theatre to underserved communities and she looks forward to being able to fully explore that passion at SCT this summer.

Celeste Bernstein (She/Her) is a Theater major with an emphasis in acting and a minor in business at the University of Southern California. She adores the sunshine and busy glow of living in the City of Angels but was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest and looks forward to swapping in the palm trees for pine trees and spending the summer in Seattle. Celeste is an actor, writer and director passionate about the power of art as activism! She is thrilled to join the team at Seattle Children's Theater and work alongside a phenomenal group of inspiring artists. 

Matias Rafael Cardinale (they/them) is beyond excited to get a chance to work with Seattle Children's Theatre this summer! They have adored theatre for most of their sapient life, and they are devoted to making the world a better place through both art and tangible activism. An immigrant from Caracas, Venezuela, Mati has lived in the US for quite a bit of their life, but they still think of Venezuela as home. They graduate June 2020 from the Univesrsity of Washington with a Bachelor's degree in both Linguistics and Drama: Performance, and with a minor in American Sign Language. All of their theatrical experience past highschool has been at UW, but over the course of their artistic career they have dabbled in all parts of the medium: direction, management, production, design, and acting. Mati's administrative experience comes from their time working as President of the Psi Chapter of Delta Lambda Phi (a fraternity for queer men and male-aligned individuals) and organizing this troupe of gay, bi, and trans folks into an active source of social good, as well as a font of joy for communities in desperate need of some levity. They have pledged themselves entirely to diversity and optimism: and all of the work they do is done with the belief that it will one day result in making the world kinder, especially to those it has treated cruelly for most of its history. Guiding people into this future is Mati's ideal modus operandi, so working at Seattle Children's Theatre is a dream come true. They truly cannot wait!

Victoria Hernandez (She/Her) is so excited to be a Drama School Intern this summer! She is from Russellville, Arkansas, but is entering her senior year at the University of South Dakota, where she is studying Elementary Education and Theatre. She is so thankful for the opportunities that have led her to where she is today, including working at Harand Camp of the Theatre Arts, and participating in theatre productions on her college campus, her favorite being Cabaret. Victoria loves working with children, and she hopes that this summer, she can help children further the love for theatre that she found when she was a child!

Fabiano Nardone (He/Him) is an emerging theatrical performer, passionate about self-expression and individual growth. Fabiano is a current freshman BFA Musical Theatre major at Long Island University Post. Originally from Seattle, Fabiano has performed with a number of Washington regional companies including ACT Theatre and Village Theatre. Most recently, Fabiano played Tweedle Dum in “Alice: A New Musical” at LIU Post. From choreographing and teaching to performing on stage himself, Fabiano is super excited to be immersed into the Seattle theatre scene once again!

Cassie Paulsen (She/Her) is heading into her senior year at Pacific Lutheran University where she is earning a BFA in Acting. She fell in love with theatre in the seventh grade, and her love has blossomed ever since. A long-time Shakespeare lover and newly initiated improv fanatic, she has an emerging passion for arts education and the power of theatre in the lives of students. She is beyond excited and grateful for the opportunity to work with Seattle Children's Theatre this summer!

Gabriela Tatone (She/Her) is a soon-to-be graduate of Pacific Lutheran University with a double major in Theatre and Sociology, closing out her senior year researching how child-geared arts programs emphasize inclusivity. With her passion for inclusive educational theatre, she has worked in a variety of positions such as director and choreographer at The Performer's Academy in her home state of California, International Intern at Chickened in London, and Acting and Musical Theatre Interns at Tacoma Arts Live. She is thrilled to have the opportunity to work with SCT and hopes to grow even more as a theatre educator.

 Chloe Tower (she/her) is entering her senior year as a BFA Theatre for Youth major at Samford University. She grew up in Orlando, Fl but currently lives in Birmingham, AL. She believes in sharing the transformative art of theatre with every student from every walk of life, ensuring that everyone can see themselves in the stories that are told on stage. Chloe has worked as a teaching artist at the Garden Theatre in Winter Garden, FL for the past to summers. In college, she has had the opportunity to launch the first arts program at Hale County Middle School in rural Moundville, AL. When she’s not in class or rehearsal, she enjoys music and taking care of her plants. Chloe could not be more excited to join SCT this summer!