Ellie Howell ’25
Assistant Company Manager of Hadestown 2nd National Tour
New York, NY (and on tour!)
WFU Class of 2025
Majors: Theatre & History double major
Career
Tell us about your journey from graduation to current job:
I actually used DeacLink to reach out to a bunch of connections in NYC! Through that, I learned about a lot of Arts Admin positions. I initially wanted to be an actress, but I wasn’t sure if it was the lifestyle for me. After all of those conversations, I applied for the Company Management Apprenticeship at Theatre Aspen for Summer 2026. At the time, I had no idea what company management was. I applied, interviewed, and got the job within a week. It was a very quick process. I spent the summer in Aspen, CO! I didn’t understand I wanted to do theatre until later in my career, so this was my first real industry experience. I learned so much about the industry and networking. I left for Aspen 5 days after graduation in Winston-Salem. I stayed there the full summer. While there, I was connected with someone who worked at RCI Theatricals. She put in a good word for me, I ended up as a general management intern at RCI in the Fall. I had 5 days between leaving Aspen and moving into NYC. At RCI, I learned so much about commercial theatre, budgeting, and the NYC industry. About a week after that contract ended, one of the general managers called me and asked if I would be willing to tour. This felt like a good time in my career to go on tour, and I know I love to travel, so I accepted the position.
How did you find/apply to your current job. Do you have tips for undergrads applying to post grad jobs?
I completed so many applications and networking calls that have not come to fruition. Doing a good job in the roles I’ve been in has gotten me my next positions.
Do not take a “no” personally. You have no idea if AI is looking at your resume, if the role is already full when you’re applying, if they already have someone in mind, etc. You might think you’re a good fit, but if it doesn’t work out it isn’t saying anything about you.
Always be changing your resume. Have your core resume, but it’s so helpful to tailor your resume to the exact verbs and skills that the job is looking for (even down to the special skills at the bottom).
Use any networking connection you have. It’s helpful if you can guarantee someone will see your application.
Be confident in your brand! Try to figure out what you’re good at and highlight it! People are looking for the individual as much as the skills you bring. Part of the reason I got this job is because I know I love to travel and RCI knows I love to travel.
What is your favorite part about Hadestown 2nd National Tour?
The biggest perk for me is that I’m working an office job but I’m not in an office. I like spreadsheets, emails, organizing, etc, but I don’t like sitting at a desk and being in a 9 to 5. I’m getting to try new coffee shops, see new spots, work in new venues, etc all the time.
What and where is next for you?
My current contract ends in June 2026, and I’ll be returning to NYC for the summer. From there, I will be looking for further opportunities in artistic management.
Home
What is your favorite part of living and working on the road? What is the most interesting thing going on in the art scene there at the moment, in your opinion?
It’s really cool that I’ve gotten a sense of the unique vibes various cities have. It’s also cool to see how different crowds will respond to different moments in the show, and how everyone across the country is able to really connect with this material and music.
I’m learning more about myself in every place.
How is living in NYC?
There’s just so much opportunity. There could be a job I didn’t even know you could do for a living in the arts, and NYC has it. As a multihyphenate artist, it’s a great place to be. There are possibilities for me to do everything. There are so many passionate artists in the city who are excited to engage in new material. It really is the theatre capital of the nation.
Wake/Advice
How much did your studies and general experience at Wake inform or drive your career path?
Wake prepared me as a human to enter the job world in general because it has made me into a great multitasker, a dedicated hard worker, and a driven professional. Wake also fostered my excitement for theatre. It introduced me to the rest of the theatre world (outside of performing) that I didn’t know existed in high school. In terms of the theatre industry, Wake didn’t really prepare me for the commercial theatre industry. Its focus is more on regional/educational theatre. But overall, it gave me a passion and ability to connect with so many artists and have the language to communicate with them. It makes me better at my job because I know a lot of the company’s jobs.
What advice would you give to a student reading your profile?
Stay hungry and keep working hard. This is an industry where doors will open, but you just don’t know when the doors are going to open. If you really want it, it will happen because you’re doing the things to make it happen.
Stay immersed and stay active in the industry.
Don’t doubt yourself and your capabilities. If you doubt yourself, others will too. You need to enter rooms with confidence and maturity. Your age doesn’t matter. Your confidence does.
