An Outsider's View of an Insider's Job

Because this blog focuses on faculty at the Union Colony Civic Center, who are often out of the public eye, my first profile story introduces Mari Hein, the ticket services coordinator. Hein takes joy in being out of the limelight, she is happiest quietly watching from behind the scenes as all the preparation she has done unfolds at the beginning of a show.

I expected that condensing the information I gathered in preparation for writing this profile would be difficult, and that it was. Through writing and rewriting I was able to pear off extravagant words and redundant sentences. But, the very thing that made it difficult – a mountain of information, also sheds light on the personality of Hein and the rest of the theater facility. She is representative of many in the theater, who share great enthusiasm for their often-unseen work and are open and willing to share their experiences with interested observers.

My research and observations taught me what is necessary to make the smooth transactions at the ticket windows a reality. At the same time, asking more questions, spending more time and altogether becoming more integrated into the theater’s day to day operations would provide an even more honest, insiders look.