SPOTLIGHT: Melia Bartosh
LEARN MORE ABOUT ONE OF THE 2021 INTERNS, MELIA BARTOSH, IN THIS SPOTLIGHT INTERVIEW!
Written by Shannen Sulpizio
Melia Bartosh is this year's educational outreach intern and has a strong connection to Camp IVRT. Working closely with the team since her freshman year of high school, IVRT has been a grounding and welcoming community for her. Making close connections with others and finding a creative outlet is a huge goal for the Inland Valley Repertory Theatre, founded in 1990 by Frank and Donna Marie Minano
Melia is working on her Bachelor's Degree at Lake Forest College with a double major in Education and Theatre. She is an extremely valued member of the staff who always brings enthusiasm and excitement into camp every day.
Read our interview with Melia to get to know her even more!
IVRT: Tell me how you first got involved with IVRT.
“Mrs. Minano was my music teacher in elementary school, so I have known her for a while. A couple of years ago, she reached out to me and my mom and asked if I was interested in volunteering with IVRT as an usher. So I started ushering for their shows at Candlelight Pavilion and soon we started talking about the opportunity of working with Camp IVRT. She was telling me that I should apply to be a TA for camp, and so I did! I've been working with Camp IVRT ever since.”
IVRT: Tell me about some of the people you’ve met while working with IVRT?
“One of the people that I've met working with IVRT and formed a really strong connection with is Ariana. She is the co-director of the camp, so she really helps run it. She's been at camp as long as I have. I kind of looked up to her as a sort of role model and working with her has helped me become super comfortable and confident in my position at camp.
Also Stacy, who was one of the interns last year. She volunteered as a TA before becoming an intern and that is how we first met. The three of us worked together a lot, often running and behind-the-scenes work of camp.
I've also gotten to meet all of the board members. Since I have become a board member for IVRT it's been really cool to see all of the work that they do behind the scenes. Getting the chance to meet Steven Llanusa, who is the Board president, and Bridget Healy, who I believe is the vice president, has been such a great pleasure. I knew Frank Minano before becoming an intern, but I have gotten the chance to get to work with him more. Of course I've gotten to spend more time with Donna Marie and really get to know her, not just as Mrs.Minano, my music teacher, but as a colleague.
Becoming an ex-officio board member has been really special because I get to see kind of like the thought processes that go behind decisions when it comes to things regarding shows or camp. In the last year with covid changing everything and the board figuring out how to go about navigating something so unexpected, it was a very unique time to be a part of the discussion and really gave me a deep respect for everyone working with IVRT.”
IVRT: What would you tell someone who is thinking about getting involved with IVRT?
“I would tell them to just go for it! There isn’t a more welcoming and low-stress environment to start getting involved in if theatre is something you’re interested in. I wasn't fully sure what I was doing when I first started volunteering with IVRT, but I jumped in and I was guided through whatever came my way. Everyone is super nice and your involvement with IVRT can be as much or as little as you want so you have a really unique flexibility. It’s a stress free way to gain experience in the theatre community, whether that be through ushering, teaching, joining a team, or even just utilizing that creative part of your mind.”
IVRT: What might others be surprised to know about you?
“People would probably be surprised to learn that considering how much theater I do with IVRT, I haven't been in that many shows. I've taken theater classes and I've been in a few shows here and there, but a lot of the theater experience I get is in teaching the students at IVRT. It's funny, I was telling my acting teacher last year - and this was after I had gotten my first like main role in a play - how that was one of my biggest roles in anything production before. It really shocked my theater teacher and I'm sure it would have surprised a lot of other people considering how involved I am with theater otherwise.”
IVRT: How would your friends describe you?
“My friends would totally describe me as the mom friend. Which is probably what I’m like most of the time. I'm very much the wannabe teacher type, which my friends think gives me a lot of empathy. A lot of my friends would also say that I am responsible, sweet, and caring, that’s kind of their ‘go to.’ I like to make sure everyone else is doing well and I think they know that and can count on me to check in with them.”
IVRT: What’s it like to be an IVRT Intern?
“Well earlier when I was talking about how getting involved with your team is a really encouraging environment, which really allows interns to have agency and input in our work. It isn't super stressful. For me I think it's because I spent so much time working with many of the IVRT team members already and everyone is really kind and helpful. I find that it's a great way for me to develop myself and my abilities. As an intern I’ve been able to gain experience in an environment where I'm not stressed out and I am very very happy being an IVRT intern because I want to be an elementary school teacher so being able to work with these kids and doing what I love during the summer and getting real experience that I can put on my resume is great!”
IVRT: What do you do when you aren’t working at IVRT this summer?
“A lot of what I do outside of work is hang out with my friends. I also like simple things like going to get coffee. As cliche as it sounds I like to go walk around Target or other places in the area. I also do spend time watching movies if it's really hot outside and I don't want to go out. During a normal year, I would be going to see shows at the theatre but that's a little difficult right now because of COVID. Just game nights and chilling with friends is my favorite way to spend my time.”