La Jolla Playhouse Internship Opportunities: A Launchpad for Aspiring Theatre Professionals

La Jolla Playhouse, a Tony Award-winning institution renowned for its adventurous and innovative contributions to American theatre, offers a comprehensive internship program designed to cultivate the next generation of theatre professionals. Founded in 1947 by Gregory Peck, Dorothy McGuire, and Mel Ferrer, and reborn in 1983 under Des McAnuff, the Playhouse has a rich history of developing groundbreaking works, with 33 productions transferring to Broadway and garnering 38 Tony Awards. This commitment to innovation extends to its internship program, providing invaluable hands-on experience across various artistic and administrative departments.

A Multifaceted Learning Experience

La Jolla Playhouse internships are paid opportunities that take place on the University of California, San Diego campus. These internships are available year-round and touch every aspect of this exciting and fun business. The program is open to all developing artists and professionals, offering a nurturing yet challenging environment to develop skills through hands-on learning and observation. Interns are encouraged to create, ask questions, speak loudly, advocate, grow, laugh, and learn. Play is a fundamental value at the Playhouse. We laugh, collaborate, support, and create together as an institution.

The internship program emphasizes three key pillars:

Rehearse: Forming professional relationships that expand pathways in your chosen field and beyond.
Develop: Providing opportunities to reach learning goals by participating and contributing towards projects and processes.
Play: Encouraging creativity, collaboration, and innovation through Playhouse functions, ticketing opportunities, and social events.

Internship Departments and Focus Areas

La Jolla Playhouse offers internships in a variety of departments, allowing aspiring professionals to gain experience in their areas of interest. Here's a glimpse into some of the available opportunities:

1. Artistic Internship

The Artistic Internship is a popular choice, providing a strong theatre background and exploring the day-to-day operations of an artistic department through administrative practice, rehearsal observation, and hands-on learning. Interns utilize their computer, writing, and organizational skills to learn the process of casting shows, new play/musical development, and artistic administration.

Casting Focus: The Casting Intern takes the lead in supporting the casting processes at LJP, including for mainstage productions, readings + workshops, and other additional programming through our Learning + Engagement department. The Casting intern can expect to work closely with LJP’s Local Casting Director in maintaining the LJP actor database and creating/organizing materials for upcoming projects. They have the opportunity to observe and participate in every stage of the audition process, and should expect to leave this internship with a full understanding of how auditions function at a LORT Regional theatre.
WOW (Without Walls) Focus: The WOW Intern takes the lead in supporting the Without Walls (WOW) Program. WOW is La Jolla Playhouse’s signature performance program that takes art outside traditional theatre walls and into unique spaces, including the annual WOW Festival and WOW stand-alone productions. Tasks include creating, drafting, and organizing documents (including contracts); scheduling meeting agendas; and assisting on communications on all WOW programming. This position provides on-site support for events throughout the year, including Innovation Night, Community Projects, and the annual Festival.

2. Company + General Management Internship

A Company + General Management intern engages in a high-energy department committed to the care of out of town and local artists. Interns in the Company + General Management department will gain hands-on experience with: coordinating transportation and housing for visiting artists, maintaining company owned housing units and vehicles, planning and executing special company events, and assisting artists with hospitality needs by serving as a liaison between La Jolla Playhouse and visiting artists. Company + General Management interns will meet and interact with staff from all departments at La Jolla Playhouse and a variety of professional artists. Interns who have an interest in the administrative side of theatre will enjoy refining their written and verbal communication, problem-solving and organizational skills.

3. Learning and Engagement Internship

A Learning and Engagement intern will be immersed in the daily operations of a vibrant, collaborative department and gain knowledge and experience in working with members of our extended San Diego community, including students and educators (K-12 and at the college/university level), military/veterans, adult learners, incarcerated youth and other community groups to whom the arts are less accessible. Through hands-on administrative experience, this position will gain knowledge of and provide support for: curriculum development, teacher professional learning, our Performance Outreach Project (POP) Tour for kids, student matinee, in school programs, community engagement, summer programs for youth, and adult classes. This position will also interact with and learn from our Teen Council and our Playhouse Leadership Council.

4. Communications Internship

La Jolla Playhouse Communications interns have the opportunity to be closely involved in the inclusive workings of a world-renowned theatre’s communications department by learning the building blocks of marketing campaigns, participating in weekly department meetings, completing special projects that contribute to the team’s goals and objectives and representing La Jolla Playhouse at community events. A communications intern is a creative, self-motivated, collaborative individual who is passionate about gaining a deeper understanding of communications, marketing, advertising, and or public relations in the performing arts. This opportunity is a terrific chance to interact with and be mentored by seasoned professionals who have an in-depth knowledge of sales and marketing, public relations, institutional communications, multi-media design, social media and the performing arts.

One former intern had an amazing opportunity to intern for La Jolla Playhouse in their Marketing and Communications department. It was their first experience working in an office and more specifically in a non-profit organization. From helping out with VIP Celebration Nights to attending intern seminars, these past few months have been a great opportunity for them to learn more about the Playhouse and arts administration. One of their most memorable times as an intern was when they were working on As You Like It. Part of the Marketing and Communications team's responsibilities are the programs and inserts. For this particular Shakespeare production, they thought it might be helpful to include a plot synopsis and character breakdown program insert for patrons. Throughout their time as an intern, a big part of their responsibility is making Instagram content for each VIP Celebration Night. This session included Fandango for Butterflies (and Coyotes), Kristina Wong: Sweatshop Overlord, and As You Like It. For each reel, they would capture video clips of the party decorations, food served, and the cast photo that's taken. The next day, they'd stitch it together to recap the previous night's festivities. They also were tasked with submitting calendar listings for upcoming shows as well as taking photos for various LJP events. In terms of other social media content, they've created a lot of posts related to terminology. For Fandango for Butterflies (and Coyotes), they highlighted specific Spanish terms that were related to the show such as "tarima" (a wooden platform used as a dance floor) and "jarana" (a guitar-like stringed instrument) which are both used in a traditional fandango.

5. Philanthropy Internship

A La Jolla Playhouse intern in the Philanthropy Department can expect to increase their understanding of fundraising for nonprofits, including how to conduct fundraising campaigns and what goes into special events. Philanthropy Department interns will learn what resources different people - staff, artists, trustees, volunteers, audiences and the larger community - contribute to make not-for-profit arts organizations successful.

Read also: Adams Playhouse and Shakespeare

Institutional Giving Intern: assist with administrative, prospecting, and stewardship tasks for corporate, foundation, and government relations and grants.

6. Production Management Internship

Production Management Interns will be exposed to the production process of a show from beginning to end. Throughout the course of their experience they will gain a strong understanding of all aspects of Production Management including design process, production process, rehearsal, tech and preview process, budgeting, scheduling, contracting, personnel management, time management, safety management and risk assessments. Production Management Interns will work with La Jolla Playhouse staff, Directors, Stage Managers, Designers, Actors, and Technicians and gain a deeper understanding of how these roles intersect in a not for profit regional theater. Further administrative learning opportunities include data entry, office correspondence, filing, and troubleshooting.

7. Stage Management Internship

Stage Management Interns will engage directly with professional union Stage Managers, Assistant Stage Managers, and non-union Production Assistants and University of California San Diego Stage Management Residents to learn about all aspects of the career path. Throughout the course of their experience they will gain a strong understanding of all aspects of Stage Management including running rehearsals, tech, and previews as well as running the show once it is open.

Application Information

Applications for Summer 2026 Internship opportunities will open January 19, 2026.

Key Considerations for Applicants:

Department Ranking: The Artistic Internship is a popular first choice. Applicants are encouraged to consider ranking at least two other different LJP departments that they would be interested in working with on their application.
Cover Letter: If applying to be considered for multiple internships, address the cover letter to ” LJP Learning and Engagement”.
Compensation: All interns at LJP are paid per city of San Diego minimum wage.
Work Hours: For Summer 2025, the number of hours per week will never exceed 30 hours, but interns must be available to work at least 15 hours per week. For Academic Year 2025/26, the number of hours per week will never exceed 20 hours, but interns must be available to work at least 10 hours per week. The specific schedule and educational goals will be decided between the intern and their supervisor.
Production Shops: While internships within production shops (costumes, props) are not currently offered, other opportunities may be available.
Letters of Recommendation: As long as the applicant’s names match on the application and Letter of Recommendation (LOR), there are no concerns.

Gaining a Competitive Edge

The internship program at La Jolla Playhouse also includes intern seminars with all the areas of the organization. Philanthropy, prop shops, and company management were a few of ours that helped me gain a better understanding of how a non-profit theatre company runs and to learn specifics about the other departments. One of my personal favorites was the production management seminar where we learned how to create a linear calendar that tracks the important dates for each show in the upcoming season. We were also able to learn more about how production management interacts with designers and how they problem-solve on the fly.

La Jolla Playhouse: A Hub of Innovation and Community Engagement

La Jolla Playhouse is more than just a theatre; it's a vital part of the San Diego community. The Playhouse actively engages with diverse audiences through various programs and initiatives, including:

The Latinx New Play Festival: This free-to-attend festival expands the presence of Latinx stories on the American stage and spotlights the broad range of today’s Latinx experience. Led by Dr. Maria Patrice Amon, the festival features in-person readings of new works, panel discussions, and other events.
WOW (Without Walls) Festival: This signature program takes art outside traditional theatre walls and into unique spaces, creating immersive and interactive experiences for audiences.
Innovation Night: This event brings together great minds from across arts and sciences to connect, learn, and share.
Community Engagement Programs: The Playhouse offers a variety of programs for students, educators, military/veterans, adult learners, and other community groups to whom the arts are less accessible.

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