Super Bowl Internship a “Dream Come True”

Dave Grill ’86, associate professor of theatre design/technology and co-chair of the design/technology program, provided an invaluable opportunity to Marissa Michaels, a senior in the program.

Grill invited Michaels to intern on the lighting crew as he served as a Lighting Director for the Halftime Show during Super Bowl LIV in Miami, FL this past Sunday.

From Newington, CT, Michaels says interning at the big game was “truly a dream come true,” and adds, “The amount of knowledge I absorbed in a short 14 days was immeasurable.”

She set her sights on Purchase while still a sophomore in high school in large part due to the program’s reputation. “Being here made me realize that seven years ago I made the right choice.”

It was another hands-on experience that helped definer her career goals. “My plan for after graduation is to go into lighting design for television and live broadcast.” After earning the Fred Foster Student Mentorship award, she traveled to Las Vegas last November to attend LDI, North America’s largest stage technology tradeshow. “It was there that I realized live for broadcast lighting is what I wanted to specialize in.” 

She’s grateful for the opportunities provided by the program and its professors. “It instilled a confidence I never knew I had and gave me a family for a lifetime. I will always be indebted to all the professors for choosing to believe in me and supporting me in my education.”