Finding Home at the Seattle Repertory Theater

Maria Vandenburg
May 5
3 min read

Updated: Aug 4

2024 Was A Year

I‘m pretty sure we all felt it in some way, shape, or form. 😣

Finding Hope at the Seattle Rep

Life has flipped upside down for me, whether I wanted it to or not. I’ve gone from being a full-time project manager, to a grand adventure as an expert in the art of cover letter and resume writing. Or at least mastery enough to get past the algorithm so that my resume is actual viewed by a human being.

To returning to work via evening events, and learning how to create, edit, produce and direct online, in digital form... hence my reposting of the first 15 Seconds of my First Animated Sequence.. to hold myself accountable to finish its creation.

This past year, has changed me in more ways than I thought possible. My lesson has been in learning how to slow down. To breathe. To pause.

Without Judgment

To be ok with doing absolutely nothing and compassionate towards myself in that nothingness.

If I wake up at noon because I worked late the night before, that's okay. If I do absolutely nothing mid-afternoon as I need to gear up to go to work, that's also okay. Easy to say, not so easy to truly feel.

And Why?

Because I now have the honor of calling Seattle Reperatory Theatre my home.

This past year has been a "it's the darkest right before the dawn" type of year. When I was at one of my lowest moments, I felt the pull to check the Rep website. I have had a long-held love for this particular theatre. It deepened when I was spontaneously part of the opening of Freestyle Love Supreme. That serendipitous event still impacts me to this day. It was a chance for me to connect to Little Maria's (my inner child) original dream to become an actress. I saw it come to life in a way I could have never envisioned on my own. Video/photographic evidence below.

I called it: "When Little Maria feels like a Star"

Setting aside the prophecy of becoming the first female president (click the video), the Rep just so happened to have an opening for front-of-house staff. I was hired by Matty Sythandone (center) and love working with "the dream team," which also includes Brandon Mead.

Brandon, Matty and I — Brandon (right), Matty (center) and Moi

I cannot even begin to tell you how much being a part of this organization has changed my life. The Rep kept me afloat on every single level possible: physical, mental, emotional, and beyond.

I suddenly not only had part-time steady income, I also found a community and a family.

Every day I am grateful to work there. The fact that Suzy (Eddie Izzard) chose this theatre to bring her one-person Hamlet show to life is just icing on the cake. Although, I must say, it is kind of nuts to think that I'm currently sharing the same physical space as Suzy, absolutely amazing in fact, regardless of whether or not I'll get the chance to attend her show.

My love of the Rep has only expanded with the time I have spent there. I have slowly assumed more responsibilities, running the donor lounge, of which I was named the "Mistress of the Lounge" by actress Julie Briskman (who played Mother Russia in Mother Russia) and also being promoted within the front of house team to a more team leadershop focused position.

I only one day hope that I contribute to this organization that I love in a more full-time manner should the stars align