My Internship at The Chrysalis: A Stage Full of Surprises
Finding the right internship was never an easy task, but I was always looking for opportunities that matched my interests. That’s how I ended up at The Chrysalis (opens in new window) , a new department at the Toronto Metropolitan University focused on live arts and creative research. From the moment I joined, I felt a mix of excitement and curiosity—after all, I was stepping into a world I knew well: theatre, stage, lights… everything felt familiar, but at the same time, full of new possibilities.
One of the most exciting things about this experience was that I was actually their very first intern! Since The Chrysalis was still in its early stages, there were many things in the works, collaborating with different teams—many of which were involved in live performances. This gave me the chance to learn about interesting projects and meet incredible people in the industry.
Wearing Many Hats (Sometimes Literally!)
Throughout my time at The Chrysalis, I worked on a variety of tasks, from design and digital operations to helping with event management on-site. One of the highlights for me was connecting the production team with talented technicians from my network of classmates and alumni. It felt great to use my connections to help bring projects to life.
This internship also pushed me to develop skills in project management, something I’ve been wanting to dive into more. Getting hands-on experience in this area made me even more excited about my future in the industry.
The Challenges (And How I Dealt with Them)
Of course, not everything went as planned. One of the biggest challenges I faced was not being able to use my creative skills as much as I’d hoped—particularly in stage design. Many of the projects that came to The Chrysalis focused on rehearsals, not set design. And when design was needed, the projects already had their own designers in place.
So how did I handle it? I focused on what I could learn instead. Since stage design wasn’t part of my role, I took the opportunity to explore other areas—such as understanding different types of performances (especially dance), learning about interdisciplinary creative research, and seeing how digital arts are evolving in live events. Rather than feeling stuck, I embraced these new experiences and made the most of them.
What I Took Away from This Experience
This internship was an eye-opening journey. I learned about different performance styles and how creative research can bring fresh ideas to the stage. Most importantly, I met inspiring people—like Owais Lightwala, the director of The Chrysalis. He shared so many insights about live performances and gave me great advice for my career.
Looking back, The Chrysalis was more than just an internship—it was like having a backstage pass to see how live arts are growing and evolving. And honestly? I’m excited to see where this journey takes me next.
