Joshua Munden participated in a summer apprenticeship program at The Cape Playhouse in Dennis, Massachusetts. (Submitted photos)

Northwest Missouri State University student Joshua Munden has a better understanding of the drive, passion and determination needed to work in theatre after completing a summer apprenticeship at The Cape Playhouse in Dennis, Massachusetts.

Munden, a senior technical theatre and design major from Kansas City, Missouri, worked alongside the company’s technical director and master carpenter to build, install and tear down sets.

Munden, who is the scenic designer and technical director for Theatre Northwest’s Main Stage production of “Noises Off” in November, also had the opportunity to run a show.

“Being able to work with Broadway designers and directors in the technical field gave me an opportunity to ask questions and get feedback on my thoughts and technical ideas to set me up for quite a successful show here on campus,” Munden said.

Munden worked with multiple Broadway professionals, including Andrew Kenna-Bolger, who starred in the original role of Crutchie in the Broadway production of “Newsies.”

“He was one of the reasons I got into theatre,” Munden said. “To come to The Cape Playhouse and be a coworker with him was a very unique experience and something that really taught me that when I go out there in the real world, this is going to happen a lot. You really learn that once you’re out there, they’re just like you.”

Munden hopes to use the skills he is learning at Northwest and through his apprenticeship to build a career as a technical director. 

“Both prepared me very well by not only teaching me the basic skills, but the advance skills,” Munden elaborated. “Both places provided me with the opportunity where I wanted to learn more. They gave me that extra assignment or that extra push to help me learn more. They’re not afraid to slow things down for an hour or so to answer my questions or show me when I need a little more explanation on something. They both do a very good job explaining what they think I need to know and watching me perform it.”