Student Co-Op Experience with the Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company
-Mary (Honey) Mathieu ’27
Trinity student Bianca Sotelo ’25, a communications and theater major, has been using her gifts in a co-op placement with The Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company. As a production intern, Sotelo completed tasks such as welcoming guests, setting up snacks, maintaining the stage area, caring for, gathering, and cleaning props. She worked three hours on weekdays and four to five hours on weekends until tech week, when she started working twelve hours daily.
Sotelo enjoyed seeing the production come to life, especially during tech week and the performances. She also enjoyed the company of the backstage crew, which felt like a family since they had fun together while putting on meaningful shows. Their production, Pirates of Penzance, was performed in March 2025. Sotelo is incredibly proud of all those involved in the production because it turned out to be all she hoped it would be and more.
The Co-Op Program at Trinity Christian College has been a positive experience for Sotelo. She knows now that she wants to continue with theater as a scenic designer after graduation, sharing that this internship has “allowed her to be grateful for the wonderful theater program at The Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company because she had the privilege of being in multiple roles at the same time as both a scenic designer and a production manager since many companies do not allow people to do this.” Sotelo loves being a part of every process of the work and is grateful that Kara Van Marion, who helps run the Co-Op Program at Trinity, worked with her to find the perfect co-op placement.
She is also grateful for her Theater Family at Trinity. The highlight of her college years as a senior has been participating in the theater program for all four years of her collegiate experience. Throughout her time at the College and in theater, she has received McGraw-Hill recognition in design and technology for her theorized scenic design at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, and also completed scenic design for her high school’s performance of In Juliet’s Garden. Trinity’s wonderful faculty and staff, especially Emma Schneider and Katie Oomkes, have played an influential role in her life during her time at Trinity.
Click here to learn more about Trinity Christian College’s co-op program and to find the academic program that would be right for you.
