Paula Bennett

Experience

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  YMCA of Greater Seattle

  Jun 1996 - Aug 2006

  Group Exercise Instructor: Group Cycling, Body Shop, BOSU, American Arthritis Foundation Water Exercise, Active Older Adult, Healthy Lifestyles, ESLProvided supervision for the Group Exercise Program and created the ESL Program and International Holiday Celebrations. June 1996 – June 2001 (part-time during college) & June 2001 – 2004 (seasonal full-time & part-time)Group Exercise Instructor: Aqua Aerobics, Arthritis Foundation Water Exercise, Acting Classes and Improvisation for all agesAquatics: Lifeguard Swim Instructor, Assistant Swim Coach, After School Swim Program Coordinator

  • Group Exercise Coordinator, Healthy Lifestyles Coach

    Dec 2004 - Aug 2006

  • Group Exercise Instructor & Aquatics Associate

    Jun 1996 - Dec 2004
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  Milwaukee Repertory Theater

  Jan 2006 - Jan 2007

  Directing Fellow

  A year-long resident program that involves assisting directors on main-stage productions, directing the understudy rehearsals and a workshop with the intern company in a production. I directed Beth Henley's AM I BLUE.

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  Freelance Theatre & Film

  Jun 2007 - Oct 2013

  Theater Directing MFA

  I have directed and assistant directed many productions. Please see my theatre resume for details. My website is www.paulabennett.net.

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  The Robinson Company

  Aug 2007 - Apr 2012

  Marketing Associate

  This position was full-time for the first year and then I job-shared this position with my husband while I completed graduate school. I returned to full-time employment with the Robinson Company in July 2011 and left in 2012 when I moved to New Haven where my husband was completing his graduate studies in Sound Design at Yale School of Drama. My responsibilities included: Research potential projects through trade journals, word of mouth and industry contacts / Create Statements of Qualifications / Submittals for specific projects / Manage project database and all IT resources for the firm / Provide office management duties Show less

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  University of WA School of Drama

  Jan 2008 - Jan 2011

  MFA in Theatre Directing

  Graduate Student: Studying Theatre Directing with additional concentrations in Film and Television Production

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  The Last Witch by Rona Munro

  Jan 2011 - Jan 2011

  Director of "The Last Witch" by Rona Munro

  Based on the true story of Janet Horne, the last woman to be executed for witchcraft in Scotland, The Last Witch, is by leading Scottish playwright Rona Munro. This was my MFA thesis and the North American premier. Dornoch, in Sutherland, northern Scotland, 1727. The eccentric widow, Janet Horne boasts that she can cure beasts, call the wind and charm fish out of the sea. As her refusal to deny witchcraft incenses the local community, her crippled daughter steps dangerously into the fray. Photo Gallery: http://drama.washington.edu/events/2010-11-29/last-witchInterview with me: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ne3PpAMUq08 Show less

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  University of Washington School of Drama

  Jan 2011 - Jan 2011

  Director "Translations" by Brian Friel

  I returned to this play after assisting Ben Barnes on the Milwaukee Rep production in 2007. My preparation included classes in the Irish language and Latin and scholars were brought in for workshops with the cast and designers. The production focused on the power of language. The setting, designed by Michael Minahan with costumes by Anastasia Armes, was the historic Penthouse Theatre. This intimate theatre "in-the-round" nestled the audience within the relatively sheltered community of a rural Irish hedge school.Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jY9Yf1IdWL8Photo Gallery: https://drama.washington.edu/events/2010-04-18/translations Show less

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  Dolci Productions

  Jun 2011 - Jun 2012

  Director of "Dolci" by Shawn Wong

  Our Short Film "Café Dolci" was nominated for several awards. It premiered at the Action on Film Festival in LA, The Columbia Gorge Film Festival in WA, The Tacoma Film Festival in WA, The Williamsburg Independent Film Festival in Brooklyn NY, The Park City Film and Music Festival in NJ and STIFF - the Seattle True Independent Film Festival. It has received two honorable mentions for the score by Park City and Action on Film.

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  Yale University Press

  Jul 2012 - Aug 2012

  Marketing Assistant

  This was a contract position supporting the Director of Marketing and helping coordinate the catalog as well as the formatting of galleys and their distribution.

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  PlayMakers Repertory Theatre

  Feb 2013 - Apr 2013

  Assistant Director "Cabaret" based on a book written by Christopher Isherwood, music by John Kander

  Assisted Director Joseph Haj as part of the SDC Observership Program

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  NEW HAVEN INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF ARTS & IDEAS, INC.

  Jun 2013 - Aug 2016

  Development Manager - Individual Giving, Foundations & Government

  This position began in Individual Giving, but with the departure of the Foundations and Government Manager, I took over the management of the institutional portfolio. Some individual giving responsibilities continued including: Spring and Fall Appeal Solicitation and Follow UpSupport of the Gala, Auction Items, and Visionary Leadership Award LuncheonBoilerplate for the Website, Corporate Proposals, and Appeal LettersUpdating the Donor Database, Tax Letters / Thank YousCreating 3-year budget models and updating current budget projections Show less

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  Yale Cabaret

  Aug 2014 - Oct 2014

  Director of "Radio Hour"

  Two classic radio plays — Gunsmoke and Ray Bradbury’s The Zero Hour— transformed the Cabaret into a 1950s broadcast studio. Featuring live Foley artists and musicians, Radio Hour offered an evening of nostalgic western legends, spine-chilling science fiction, and the mad dash of a lost art.http://www.newhavenreview.com/index.php/2013/11/the-art-of-the-airwaves/

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  Performance Space New York

  Jul 2016 - now

  Director, Institutional Partnerships

  • Evaluate the foundation and government grant strategies with the goal of tapping into a broad range of prospective partnerships at the local, regional, and national level• Develop and execute a multi-year strategy for expanding foundation and government philanthropic revenue• Work with Finance and Programming to ensure organizational compliance with grant terms • Manage, cultivate and steward existing portfolio of foundation and government partners• Create customized solicitation strategies matching the objectives of the organization and interests of the prospect• Facilitate high level meetings with decision makers at foundations and government entities• Write and edit compelling proposals and presentations• Cultivate and foster relationships with funders, Board members, volunteers, government and community leaders• Maintain and articulate a deep understanding of Performance Space’s mission, vision, values, and history and effectively communicate these priorities Show less