The press is an instrumental part of gaining audience members for shows, as well as giving successful runs through reviews. I have read many reviews, but never have given thought to the process that allows the press to experience the show. As this being my first week as an intern with Heron Agency, I was thrilled to be able to witness and contribute to the opening night press table.
Learning about how to address the critics and ways to present yourself with confidence and poise are critical skills to know when entering this industry. Yet, the amount of knowledge that I gained was only matched by the joy I felt throughout Marriott Theatre’s show, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Truly terrific performances by the entire cast. I would have been very content with just watching the show, but we were also invited to the after party. Heron Agency had to make sure every cast member had their picture taken, and what fun it was to be face-to-face with such talented performers. I even got a picture with cast member Felicia P. Fields, who I actually fell in love with when she was on Broadway in The Color Purple. Noreen Heron saw my excitement when Felicia walked past and paved the way for me to meet Felicia by introducing us. Thanks, Noreen! In its entirety, the process of getting the press to their seats and conducting the photos for the cast was not only extremely exciting, but I gained actual industry knowledge. Something I could never learn at a classroom desk.
