Brett Radke
MFA Acting Candidate at Columbia University (Class of 2017)
New York City, NY
PRTC Apprenticeship Credits:
- “Corktown” by Michael Brian Ogden
- “Some Couples May” by Carey Crim
- “Consider the Oyster” by David MacGregor
- “Escanaba in da Moonlight” by Jeff Daniels
What or who inspired you to become an apprentice at the Purple Rose?
As I was graduating from Oakland University, I was looking to continue my education and training in a practical way. The apprenticeship at the Rose hit every nail on the head when it came to that further training. I loved that I could rotate through almost every department at the Rose, giving me a solid understanding of what it takes to run a professional theatre company. In addition, the Actor/Director Lab, as well as the Voice and Movement class, allowed me to continue growing as an actor. All of these skills culminated in Dark Night, which I will never forget. It’s a recipe for success when it comes to training hard-working and humble young theatre artists.
What is the most useful skill or piece of knowledge you gained from your apprenticeship?
It’s so hard to boil it down! If I had to choose one piece of knowledge, it would be that creating the kind of theatre that has the potency to change lives requires every member of the producing and artistic team to be united in their goal. We all have to be on the same ship, heading towards the same destination.
What job opportunities (theatre-related or otherwise) have you had following your apprenticeship?
After apprenticing, I worked as an actor with the Wild Swan Theatre in Ann Arbor, as a teaching artist for two years with Great Lakes Theatre in Cleveland, and am now finishing my second year of grad school.
How has your apprenticeship prepared you for/contributed to your current job?
Guy always told us that apprenticing was character building, and I couldn’t agree more. The rigor of the apprentice program made a work horse out of me (in a good way!), preparing me to always go the extra mile and work to the highest of standards. I got a little spoiled by the artistic standards at the Rose, but I now know the possibilities that come with hard work.
Do you have a funny or embarrassing story from your time as an apprentice?
One of my favorite memories was the “PRTC Sleep Challenge”. During the height of Dark Night, when sleep doesn’t happen, a few of us apprenti made a bucket list of all the places we could sleep at the Rose (going home just wasn’t convenient). I don’t think we got through the whole list, but we made a solid go of it. I highly recommend the Sound Library!
Of the shows on which you worked, which one was your favorite? Why?
They were all great in their own ways, but “Some Couples May” will always hold a soft spot in my heart. The cast had a fantastic bond, it was beautifully written, directed, and acted, and there was left over cake every night.