Beyond the Classroom: Maya Sabatini (CFA’25)

Photo by Jamie Krauss for Jacob’s Pillow
My internship at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival
In CFA’s Beyond the Classroom Series, music, theatre, and visual arts students at BU share their work experiences. These Terriers express how the resources at BU prepared them for success beyond the classroom.
It’s never too early to take on an internship. Just ask Maya Sabatini (CFA’25), now a sophomore student in the BFA Theatre, Costume Design program, who interned at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival the summer after her first year at BU.
Originally from Lawrence, Kansas, Maya was a production intern at Jacob’s Pillow, a treasured 220-acre National Historic Landmark in Beckett, Massachusetts, and home to America’s longest-running international dance festival.
Maya shares with CFA the excitement she felt in getting to experience a little bit of everything about the technical side of theatre, from lighting shows to basic sound mixing.
Q&A
WITH MAYA SABATINI (CFA’25)
CFA: What was your role in the internship? What were some of your responsibilities?
Maya: I was a Production Intern at the Pillow, meaning I rotated between all areas of technical theatre (sound, lighting, wardrobe, deckhand work, etc). We switched each week, both between the various departments as well as venues on campus. We were given a fair amount of responsibilities; interns program the lighting for all shows, learn how to run the soundboard as well as basic mixing, assist our supervisors in setting up the various lighting and sound systems, and much more.


CFA: How did you learn about the internship? What steps did you take to secure the internship?
Maya: I learned about the internship via the Internet. I had been searching for internships in January, and my mom, actually, found this internship when she decided to do a quick search. To secure the internship I wrote a cover letter, sent in my resume, and got a letter of recommendation from one of my professors. I then went through two rounds of interviews and was offered the job!
CFA: Any notable accomplishments from the internship?
Maya: The intern cohort put together a showcase full of choreography, videography, and production. I was able to be the A1 (sound designer) for the first time through this showcase which was super exciting! I also got the opportunity to program the lights for both Jacob’s Pillow’s 90th Anniversary Gala and Miami City Ballet’s performance at the Pillow. I think the weirdest thing I did though was mix a show from a moving golf cart!
CFA: Did any resources at CFA or BU help you prepare for the internship?
Maya: Jon Savage, BU Assistant Professor in Scene Design, guided me through the whole process of applying and also helped calm my nerves when it came to accepting the position. The idea of spending even more time away from home was a tiny bit scary.
CFA: How did the coursework at CFA connect with your internship?
Maya: I believe the First Year Design & Production (D&P) Core was very helpful to my success at JPDF. The wide array of knowledge of technical theatre I had thanks to BU School of Theatre was key to being able to learn on the spot and jump right into the speed and challenge of the Pillow. It also gave me the confidence to know where my weaknesses were and allowed me to advocate for myself when I needed help.
CFA: In what ways do you think the internship has helped you prepare for your work beyond BU?
Maya: I made many strong connections with those working in production in the industry. Most of the production staff members work in NYC and are touring. Being able to ask them questions about the theatre and dance worlds whenever I wanted provided me with insight that will aid me post-graduation. I also learned tactile skills that will allow me to work as overhire, something I missed out on at school.

Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival 2022 Intern Cohort
CFA: What did you learn about yourself?
Maya: I learned what my limits are. I learned how I wish to be treated. I learned my fiscal value. I was able to reaffirm that I can learn quickly and that I can keep a good attitude.
CFA: Any advice for current CFA students beginning the internship process?
Maya: Start searching early in the hiring process! I luckily found this internship about a week before the application deadline, but I missed the deadline on other jobs because I started looking in late January.
CFA: What’s next for you, Maya?
Maya: This semester, I started my first year as an official costume design major, and I couldn’t be more excited for the classes and shows I get to work on!
I learned what my limits are. I learned how I wish to be treated. I learned my fiscal value. I was able to reaffirm that I can learn quickly and that I can keep a good attitude.

Internship & Career Resources
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