Career Spotlight: Catherine Ratcliffe ’14
Class of 2014 student Catherine Ratcliffe is interviewed about her internship at the New York Musical Theater Festival.
Home State: Dallas, TX
Current Residence: New York City, but Oxford University in September!
Current Employer: New York Musical Theater Festival
Current/Future Job Position: Casting Director
Name of Company: New York Musical Theater Festival’s Student Leadership Program
Type of Employment: Summer Internship.
Brief description of your current or expected responsibilities: As casting director, I was responsible for scheduling the audition time and space, marketing the audition on Playbill.com and with colleges around the country, helping plan the vision for the cast, observing and taking notes on all the auditions, and contacting the actors we hired.
Best part of job (if applicable): I’ve been acting for 12 years, but I’d always wondered what it would be like to sit on the other side of the audition table. Working as a casting director allowed me to gain the perspective of a director and experience the thrill of helping form the perfect cast for a project. Going to NYMF’s opening night gala and awards ceremony was also very glamorous!
Please briefly summarize any other relevant internship or work past experience(s): I interned with Pulse Ensemble Theatre this past spring and have worked as a professional actress since I was 16. Radio Disney hired me as a Radio Disney Kid in February 2009 and I still voiceover the Radio Disney commercials when I’m back in Dallas.
How has King’s education prepared you for this role? Introduction to Marketing and Principles of Management Organization with Professor Fotopulos taught me how to view management as service and treat people with maturity and kindness in collaboration. I found out about this internship through Dr. Bleattler, and I could not pursue my dreams in New York without the support of him or the faculty in general.
If you are a student, what are your plans after graduation/how this position fits into those plans? I’m seriously considering staying in New York after I graduate to continue pursuing acting and casting, and this internship provided me with stellar connections and experiences to build on.
Favorite Books: East of Eden, Pascal’s Pensees, A Practical Handbook for the Actor, and all of Jane Austen.
Musical Tastes: I’ve listened to Demi Lovato and the musical Jane Eyre as I typed this and “22” by Taylor Swift is the most played song on my iPod. I plan to win my first Tony for Radio Disney On Broadway.
Surprising fact about yourself: I met Andrew Garfield, gazed into his eyes, and told him I loved him. Whatever Emma Stone.