About Face Theatre’s Artistic Intern Tyler Greene conducts our third Friday MEET AFT interview, wherein he speaks with a member of AFTs staff or associated artists group and features that interview in both video snippets and text. This week? John Rooney.
Tyler: What is your name?
John: My name is John Rooney.
Tyler: What do you do at About Face Theatre?
John: I’m the Senior Artistic Intern. That means that I do pretty much whatever Bonnie (Artistic Director) and Dav (Artistic Coordinator) need. Many of those things include anything from planning trips for guest artists, booking their flights, doing some script reading, helping them find venues for different shows, cleaning out the props closet at times. But, overall, just helping with the overall, day-to-day artistic needs of About Face.
Tyler: Where else do you work your artistic magic?
John: I am currently at DePaul finishing my last year at The Theatre School, so I’ve worked on a few shows there. Also, I’ve worked primarily with Dog and Pony Theatre Company outside of About Face. I’m currently Stage Managing their show THE TWINS WOULD LIKE TO SAY which is a part of the Garage Rep series at Steppenwolf.
Tyler: When did you realize that the theatre was one of your homes?
John: I’ve known that I’ve wanted to be in theatre for a long time. It probably was my senior year of high school when I was directing SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD - a musical review - and I realized that this is really what I want to do. There was something about being in that position of a director and making a show come to life that was so exciting for me that I don’t think anything else could fill that position in my life.
Tyler: Why do you like working at About Face Theatre?
John: I love working at AFT because I get to interact with so many amazing artists, both on a day-to-day basis in the office and with all of the guest artists that we work with. Everybody is so amazing, they have so many brilliant ideas and I’m constantly inspired by the people I’m around.
Tyler: How would you describe a typical Friday night in the life of John Rooney?
John: On a Friday night, you can normally find me either in rehearsal, at a show or preparing for a show. That’s been my life primarily, right now.
