Acting is a demanding job. But for a lot of Twin Cities actors, it started out as a fairy tale. Specifically, a fairy tale at Children's Theatre Company.
Max Wojtanowicz, who recently played the lead in "A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder" at Old Log Theatre. Rajane Katurah, from Ten Thousand Things' "Thunder Knocking on the Door" and "Marie and Rosetta" at Park Square. Sandra Struthers, a mainstay of History Theatre's "Glensheen" who was just in "Spamtown" at CTC. Emily Gunyou Halaas, who played the lead in "Twelfth Night" at the Guthrie and in last year's "Matilda" at CTC, where she is scheduled to be Miss Hannigan in "Annie."
All got their professional feet wet as performing apprentices at CTC.
Artistic Director Peter Brosius said the 40-year-old program — whose alums also include Meghan Kreidler, Kory LaQuess Pullam, Tony nominee Laura Osnes and Emmy nominee Adam Shankman — puts the "perform" in "performing apprentice." (CTC, like most theaters in the Twin Cities, has placed most of its staff on furlough.)
"They're not getting coffee for people or sweeping floors. They're paid a salary and they get health care, and it's a nice, juicy contract and we ask them to act," said Brosius, who auditions actors here, in Atlanta, Chicago and Washington, D.C., and is in the midst of making offers to potential 2020-21 apprentices.
The yearlong gig is a whirlwind introduction to an actor's life: Apprentices play roles and understudy other roles; current apprentice Janely Rodriguez went on as the lead in "Cinderella" last December when Katurah was out. They participate in new play readings. They create an original piece to showcase their talents. They work with youth performers. In their spare time, they see lots of theater. And they get help on audition skills.
CTC's is not the only actor preparation game in town — this story could easily be about the University of Minnesota/Guthrie BFA or the theater programs at St. Olaf, Augsburg or Macalester colleges — but it is unusually wide-ranging.
If all goes really well, the result can be what happened to Katurah, who has worked nonstop since her apprenticeship ended in 2018. "She is an immensely talented person. A hard worker. A joy to work with," said Brosius of Katurah. "She's creative and she brings it, both vocally and in terms of acting."