How I'm Spending My Summer: Peyton Koehler '23

Chatham students always manage to maximize their summers, whether through study abroad experiences, internships, jobs, or on-campus research. In hopes of showcasing all the ways you can keep learning in-between semesters, we’re catching up with students this summer to learn more about what they’re up to. Next, we’re talking with Peyton Koehler, a senior Interior Architecture major who is spending her summer working on theater sets and traveling to New Orleans. Learn more about Peyton’s experience below—

Can you tell us a little bit about the internship you are completing this summer and how you got it?

PEYTON Koehler

Pronouns: She/her/hers
Major & Grad Year: Interior Architecture 2023
Summer Internship: Scenic Design with Sasha Schwartz

This summer I am lucky enough to be interning under a Scenic Designer named Sasha Schwartz, and together we have been working on a theatre production called, the dance floor, the hospital room, and the kitchen table by Lyam B. Gabel. I came to be a part of this production back in February when I volunteered as Scenic Assistant under Sasha for the run of shows on campus at Eddy Theatre. I really fell in love with the physical aspect of building the set, collaborating with other designers, and seeing how the actors and the show could be supported by elements within the set. I asked Sasha if she would be comfortable taking me on as her Scenic Intern for the upcoming shows in New Orleans and Pittsburgh, and she said yes!

Is your internship on-site or virtual?

My internship was on-site in a variety of different locations. Sasha and I met up to make a scale model of the theater we would be working at in our first location—New Orleans, Louisiana. This model was helpful for the team as we tried to negotiate moving the production from a traditional proscenium theater to a black box theater. Once on the ground in New Orleans, my days were anywhere from 6-12 hours long, and my work consisted of everything from painting and securing set pieces, sitting in on production meetings, taking notes during rehearsals, and operating a photo drop backstage during the live show.

What has been your favorite aspect of your internship so far?

My favorite aspect of my internship so far has been forming relationships with the people that I have been working with. There is such an importance placed on networking in this line of work and having a lot of social anxiety has made that very difficult for me. Working with this amazing group of individuals who work in various disciplines and art forms has created such a nurturing environment for me. I feel comfortable talking about my career ambitions. It’s helpful being able to talk to people who were once in my position and have made their own path to where they want to be; it gives me a lot of hope for my own future.

How is this internship relevant to your career aspirations?

Originally, I was not sure about what I wanted to do after graduation. When I volunteered with the production back in February, I had some relevant experience with set design from high school. I hadn’t thought of using my degree in reference to set design previously, but while working as a set design assistant I realized that I really appreciated all the daily challenges that came up on set. Problem-solving is a large part of being a designer, and having my brain engaged in those scenarios on a frequent basis made it easier to push for new ideas and solutions that I otherwise would not have thought of. Ideally after graduation I would like to continue working in theater and potentially the TV and movie realms of set design. I would love to assist Sasha again on one of her future projects.

In your opinion, what are the benefits of completing a summer internship?

I think for me, a summer internship was more appealing because I wanted to be able to dedicate my full focus to the work that I would be doing instead of trying to divide my time between my internship and my classwork.

What are you studying at Chatham and what, so far, has been the highlight of that program for you?

I am going into my senior year in the Interior Architecture department, and it has gone by incredibly fast. The highlight of my time in the program has been my classmates. We’ve supported one another through tough times; we are always happy to celebrate each other and our achievements; and I am so grateful to have met all of them.

Special thanks to Peyton for giving us a glimpse inside her summer internship. Interested in sharing more about what you’re doing this summer? Send any tips to cbell@chatham.edu.