For more than 40 years, Seattle Rep's renowned Apprenticeships have been preparing theater artists and administrators from around the country for professional careers in theater. As we launch a new season, we are launching a new name for this program in memory of one of its most dedicated and beloved supporters: the Winky Hussey Professional Arts Training Program.

Join us in welcoming Seattle Rep’s 2024/25 Apprentice class! These six early-career theater makers will be with us all season long, deepening their skills and knowledge through hands-on training and professional development.

Lauren Dong, Directing/Artistic Programs

Lauren Dong (they/them) is a director and collaborator from Southern California. LD is a recent graduate from UC San Diego with a B.A. in Theater. At UCSD, they served as the Artistic Director of undergraduate student theater organization Company 157, whose mission is to produce new student-written work. They also directed multiple projects for Company 157, most recently being their honors thesis, The Wolves by Sarah DeLappe. After nine years of actor training at South Coast Repertory, they returned as an Assistant Director and Conservatory Assistant for South Coast’s summer musical productions and educational programs. At La Jolla Playhouse, they were an Artistic Intern for the 2023/24 academic year, Assistant Director for their DNA New Work Series, and a Teaching Assistant for the LEVEL UP and Summer Conservatory programs.

Ian Evans, Lighting Design

Ian Evans (he/him) is a lighting and video designer from Houston, Texas. He graduated from The University of Oklahoma’s Helmerich School of Drama with a B.F.A. in Drama, emphasis in Lighting Design. He was recognized as an emerging creative at the United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) in 2022. After designing for summer stock on the East Coast after college, Ian returned home and worked with local institutions such as Stages Rep, Dirt Dogs Theatre Co., The University of Houston, Rice University, Alley Theatre, and Theatre Under The Stars.

Joi Elise Green, Directing/Artistic Programs

Joi Elise Green (she/her) is a director, stage manager, and aspiring filmmaker raised in Austin, Texas. She is excited by immersive experiences and drawn to generational storytelling. This spring, Joi was a part of the Austin Film Society's 2024 Spring Creative Careers Program. Joi has had the pleasure of freelancing across her hometown (Austin Shakespeare, Summer Stock Austin, The VORTEX) and across the country (The Old Globe, Hawaii Performing Arts Festival). She is so grateful to be one of the Directing/Artistic Apprentices this year!

Lauren Porter, Production Management

Lauren Porter (she/her) recently graduated from Lindenwood University in St. Louis, Missouri, with a B.F.A. in Stage Management and a minor in Business Administration, emphasizing Nonprofit Administration. Her hands-on experience includes summer gigs as an Arts Administration Intern with Shakespeare & Company, an Events Apprentice with Glimmerglass, and an Event Management Intern with the Lancaster Event Center. This year, Lauren is excited to join Seattle Rep as a Production Management Apprentice, eager to continue her journey in theater production. 

Madelyn Salvucci, Stage Management

Madelyn Salvucci (she/her) is excited to be Apprenticing at Seattle Rep for this season. Her deepest passion is building spaces where people can believe in magic again (even if just for a short while). She recently stage managed for Intiman Theatre’s production of The Lion Tells His Tale, Seattle Shakespeare Company's The Tempest and Cymbeline, and assistant stage-managed Macbeth and Intiman's Black Nativity. She has also stage managed for Youth Theatre Northwest's productions of Into the Woods, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and The 39 Steps, and Woodland Park Players’ Disenchanted. She is ever grateful for her partner and dog, and their love and support.

Sophia Tuell, Stage Management

Sophia Tuell (they/them) is a Seattle-based theater artist from California. They have worked primarily in stage management with Annex Theatre, Edmonds Driftwood Players, Seattle Shakespeare Company, and Bellingham Theatreworks. Sophia received a Bachelor of Arts in Theater Production from Western Washington University. In addition to their Stage Management Apprenticeship at Seattle Rep, Sophia is currently a company member at Annex Theatre.

These up-and-coming theater artists will be active participants in the creative process for Seattle Rep's 2024/25 Season of productions (keep an eye out for their names in the credits of your Encore show program!). This cohort will also work together on a capstone project to produce Seattle Rep's Regional Finals of the Next Narrative Monologue Competition.

Congratulations, Class of 2024/25! We are thrilled to have you join us. 

Learn more about the Winky Hussey Professional Arts Training Program. Applications for our 2025/26 Season will open in Spring 2025!

Header image: Scenic paint pieces produced by Apprentices in 2022/23. Photo by Sayed Alamy.