Q&A with Eleanor Marsh
What do you do at Metro Theater Company and when did you start?
I’m MTC’s Audience Services Associate, which means I serve as the first point of contact for patrons and am responsible for all audience-related needs, such as ticketing and booking school field trips and touring productions. I became part of the Metro family in March 2021 and have loved every minute I’ve spent here since!
What has been one of your most memorable moments so far working with MTC?
Recently, I asked my parents to help fund a first-grade classroom’s virtual field trip viewing of The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show. The educator I worked with was incredibly gracious and asked if I could provide her with their address so she could have the class send thank-you notes. A week later, a manila envelope showed up at my parents’ door, containing several beautiful crayon drawings of Brown Bear, Yellow Duck, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and other favorite characters from the show, along with a handwritten note from the instructor expressing her gratitude. My parents were overjoyed, and it was so wonderfully touching to see a concrete representation of the kids’ connection with the show.
What do you enjoy about theater for young audiences?
Theater was an integral part of my own childhood, and I firmly believe it helped me develop a strong and lasting capacity for empathy, connection, and imagination. What’s so wonderful about theater for young audiences, especially the variety we produce here at Metro, is that it not only fosters these skills but recognizes children’s ability to approach and think deeply about challenging concepts. Theater for young audiences isn’t simply a dumbed-down version of “adult” theater – it’s a unique art form that seeks to engage the particular ways in which children view the world. A big part of that worldview includes imagination and play, which I believe is something that 1.) Humans need for survival and 2.) Most adult humans lose somewhere in the messy process of growing up. Participating in theater encourages us all, children and adults alike, to celebrate those things instead of pushing them away.
If you were a superhero, what would your name be?
Before I was born, my mother asked my older cousin for her opinion on what my middle name should be. She pitched Eleanor Stands-Up-For-Herself Marsh, which I’ve always quite liked. So maybe Stands-Up-For-Herself… Man?
What is one of your favorite holidays and why?
Halloween! October is my favorite month, fall is my favorite time of year, and I’m a big fan of all things spooky. Plus, I already dress like a cartoon character every other day of the year – at least on Halloween, I have an excuse!
Do you like surprises?
Yes, when they’re parties or baked goods! 😊
Tell us about a new skill or strength that you developed during the pandemic.
Being at home more often has given me ample opportunity to work on my skills in visual art – something I’ve never been terribly accomplished at in the past because I lack most of the patience required to do so. However, if there’s one thing I’ve learned in the past year and a half, it’s how to slow down and take time to give the neglected parts of my life the attention and care they deserve. In that vein, I’ve begun going on a lot of walks and bike rides and challenging myself to pay close and compassionate attention to my surroundings, even if they’re things I see almost every day. In this way, I’ve discovered new streets, blossoming flowers, exquisitely climbable trees, Little Free Libraries, and some really excellent clouds.
