This past summer, Caroline Edmondson (’26) stepped into one of the country’s leading creative laboratories: the National Theater Institute’s Theatermakers Summer Intensive. A double major in Theater Studies and Dance and a 2025 Benenson Award recipient, Caroline spent her weeks generating new work, collaborating with emerging artists from around the world, and learning directly from professional directors and playwrights. Immersed in a community where bold ideas are the norm, she pushed her craft further than ever before, returning to Duke with a renewed artistic vision that is shaping her Graduation with Distinction project in Theater Studies. This Q&A with Edmondson explores the impact of her summer experience and is the first of a series of Q&As that will explore some of the incredible summer 2025 projects and opportunities funded by the Benenson Awards in the Arts.

Applications are open now for the 2026 Benenson Awards in the Arts, which provide funding for fees, travel, and other educational expenses for arts-centered projects proposed by undergraduates (including graduating seniors) to take place over the summer.

The deadline for 2026 Benenson Award applications is Monday, March 16!

Your background in theater is robust. In particular, what drew you to the National Theater Institute (NTI) this past summer?

I discovered my love for directing during my freshman year at Duke, and have since voraciously worked my way through the directing coursework in the Theater Studies department. I knew I wanted to spend a summer learning about directing through both theory and practice, and NTI emerged as the perfect place to do so. I was drawn to their motto of “Risk; Fail; Risk Again” because I knew that I wanted to push the boundaries of my aesthetic and ability as a director. Having mainly directed published plays, I was also excited to learn about the new play development process. 

At NTI, you were able to spend time with and learn from a number of experienced theater professionals. How did these conversations with mentors shape your experience?

At NTI, we learned from professional directors who modeled a number of different paths within the industry, from freelance artists to artistic directors of major regional theaters. They gave us permission to imagine a number of different paths within the industry, and invested generously in both our artistic and professional development. I learned so much from watching the new play development process at the highest professional level through the National Playwrights Conference while we were also immersed in our own experiments.

Can you share a favorite lesson learned from the experience?

Many of our conversations at NTI dealt with ensuring that the theater we make is generous; theater motivated by truthful storytelling and connecting with an audience. We also learned to avoid flat and sentimental choices, instead making sure that every element helped advance the story. I also learned about the leadership aspect of directing, improving my ability to facilitate the work of playwrights and actors through curiosity and conversation.

You and your peers created a remarkable seven original productions during the program! In what ways were you challenged or surprised by your work over the course of the summer?

Despite its obviously collaborative nature, directing is such a unique position that it can feel isolating. I was able to overcome that feeling because at NTI, I found myself in community with other emerging directors for the first time. Our directing cohort, which included three undergraduates and three early professionals, inspired and elevated my work so much. Observing my peers’ directing processes helped me better understand my own. I felt much more confident tackling those short production processes because I knew I could rely on my peers and incorporate their feedback. I left NTI with a clearer understanding of my own strengths and weaknesses and a community of friends, whose support and advice I continue to benefit from. 

As you look towards and beyond graduation this spring, how has your time at NTI influenced your perspective or aspirations?  

Although I’m not sure what lies ahead for me yet, I know that I will carry the lessons I learned at NTI into my professional life. I’m currently directing in a word by Lauren Yee as part of my Graduation with Distinction project in Theater Studies, and I already find myself reaching for my notes from last summer as we begin the rehearsal process. My research for my distinction project has to do with director-playwright communication, which is heavily inspired by the conversations I witnessed at NTI. I look forward to reuniting with my NTI cohort as colleagues in the professional world.

All photos: Emma Brown – National Theater Institute

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