How an internship reignited a passion and launched a career 

Growing up, Sarah Greco ’25 found a second home at the theater. 

As a passionate ballet dancer and self-proclaimed “theater nerd” for most of her adolescence, being surrounded by the arts always felt natural. Whether she was rehearsing for a performance or sitting in the audience, theater was simply a part of her life.  

“I kind of grew up my whole life dancing,” Greco said. “I just loved the environment of the theater.” 

It wasn’t until an opportunity through the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media that Sarah realized she could turn her love of the arts into an exciting and creative career. 

When Sarah first arrived at Carolina, she pursued a major in exercise and sport science, thinking she might eventually help dancers in sports medicine or another health-related field. After realizing that path might not be the best fit, she began reconsidering her direction. Preparing to leave behind a potential career based in the arts, she leaned into the public relations track at UNC Hussman.  

“I always thought marketing was cool and kind of blends everything together,” Greco said.  
“It’s all about promoting places or things and finding people that will really connect with them.” 

What she didn’t realize at the time was that this decision would immerse her deeper into the world of arts and theater than she ever could have imagined. This realization came at a career fair during her junior year when she heard about an internship program offered at the Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC). 

“I remember speaking with the lady from DPAC and thinking, ‘This is actually a job?’ This sounds like the most amazing job on the planet,” Greco said. 

DPAC is one of the nation’s leading performing arts theaters and presents a wide range of performances such as touring Broadway shows to immersive musical acts and even stand-up comedy from world-class performers. 

After applying and getting accepted into DPAC’s internship program, Greco quickly got a peek into what’s behind the curtain at a major performing arts hub.  

As the marketing and public relations intern for DPAC, she quickly gained hands-on experience working on a variety of projects designed to promote shows and connect with audiences in creative ways. From social media to experiential marketing, Greco began to see firsthand how much coordination and creativity goes into bringing a performance to life. Through it all, the audience’s energy and mutual love for theater remained a pivotal part of her internship experience.  

“People have had these shows on their calendars for months and saved up to buy their tickets,” she said. “The energy when they come in is so fun.”

Greco’s social media marketing role gave her direct involvement interacting with audience members and is still an experience she remembers vividly.  

“We’ll go around with a little microphone and find people to interview before the show. Sometimes we do trivia or finish the lyric,” she said. “For ‘Hell’s Kitchen’, we asked people their favorite Alicia Keys song, and people just started singing right there in the lobby.” 

With the help from UNC Hussman, Greco was able to graduate in December of 2025, allowing her to accept a full-time role at DPAC, promoting the same shows that inspired her as a young girl. She remains surrounded by the same energy, creativity and excitement that first drew her to theater many years ago. Her suggestion for anyone who feels the passion of the arts in the way that she does?  

“Try to get in the building. Try and find an internship, find someone to shadow for a night … just come see what we’re doing all day. If you love the arts, there’s no cooler job than working at the theater.”