Unveiling Public Theater Internship Opportunities: A Comprehensive Guide
The world of theater offers a myriad of opportunities for aspiring professionals eager to make their mark. Public theaters, in particular, provide invaluable platforms for learning, growth, and networking. This article delves into the realm of public theater internships, highlighting opportunities at renowned institutions and offering insights into what makes these programs so beneficial.
The Public Theater: Nurturing Talent and Fostering Diversity
The Public Theater stands as a beacon for creative and motivated individuals seeking to contribute their talents to a leading non-profit theater. The Public Theater actively seeks active communicators, thoughtful problem solvers, dreamers, and visionaries. Committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment, The Public Theater encourages applications from populations underrepresented in the theater field.
The Public Theater’s mission is to create high quality professional theatre that is integral to the lifeblood of our community. Artistic excellence is central to the mission. The Public strives to assist the next generation of theatre professionals take that pivotal ‘first step’ in their career. Through this program, individuals will have hands-on experience working with various technicians, designers, Equity stage managers and actors. They will learn how to lead diverse groups of people, while making lasting, career-long connections. The Public Theatre operates under the guidance of a small staff, so there is no bureaucracy to get lost in. All training is hands-on, and every effort is valued.
Here's a glimpse into specific internship roles available at The Public Theater:
- Assistant Stage Manager (ASM)/Company Manager: This dual role encompasses ASM duties on all productions, working closely with the Equity stage manager on pre-production, rehearsal, and performance aspects. Responsibilities also include run crew, prop support, and Company Manager duties, overseeing the care of the acting company.
- Directing: This internship combines ASM/Company Manager responsibilities with assisting the director. The intern will attend all rehearsals and production meetings and be invited to attend note sessions, gaining exposure to the director's role in realizing a professional production.
- Acting: Designed for early-career performers, this internship offers insights into the expectations and processes of a professional actor. While performance opportunities are granted through auditions for specific roles, acting interns who are not cast will assume ASM/Company Manager responsibilities. The Public Theater also extends a free monologue and/or audition coaching session with the Artistic Director and the opportunity to observe professional auditions.
La Jolla Playhouse: A Hub for Innovation and Artistic Growth
La Jolla Playhouse, located at the University of California, San Diego, is another prominent institution offering a wide array of internships. As a place where artists and audiences come together to create what’s new and next in the American theatre, from Tony Award-winning productions, to imaginative programs for young audiences, to interactive experiences outside the theatre walls, La Jolla Playhouse will keep Letters Of Recommendation (LORs) on file for 1 year from submission. If you have applied for a previous session within one previous application cycle timeframe, you are able to use LORs previously submitted. La Jolla Playhouse internships are paid opportunities that take place at the Playhouse theatre campus located at University of California, San Diego. Internships are available year-round and touch every aspect of this exciting and fun business.
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La Jolla Playhouse internships are structured around several core principles:
- Hands-On Experience: Interns gain immersive experience, building administrative skills, participating in production processes, attending key meetings, and exploring career pathways in theatre.
- Professional Connections: Interns forge meaningful relationships with Playhouse staff and visiting artists. The Playhouse team is committed to supporting individual goals and connecting interns with relevant professionals and resources.
- Skill Development: Interns contribute to real projects and processes, developing skills through hands-on learning and observation.
- Creative Community: Play is a core value at the Playhouse, fostering a vibrant and collaborative environment.
La Jolla Playhouse offers internships in all artistic and administrative departments, for developing professionals to gain industry experience by learning side-by-side with extraordinary artists, administrators and technicians. Interns will join a group of people who value creativity, collaboration and innovation while developing plays and musicals that impact people across the globe. Interns get to enjoy Playhouse performances, make valuable connections, and hone skills that will benefit you in your chosen career.
Here's a closer look at some of the internship opportunities available at La Jolla Playhouse:
- Artistic Internships: Artistic Interns with a strong theatre background will benefit from exploring the day-to-day operations of an artistic department through administrative practice, rehearsal observation, and hands-on learning. By utilizing excellent computer, writing and organizational skills, they will be guided by Artistic staff to learn the process of casting shows, new play/musical development and artistic administration.
- Casting Focus: The Casting Intern will take lead in supporting the casting processes at LJP, including for mainstage productions, readings + workshops, and other additional programing through the 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 will 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 Festival Focus: The WOW Intern will support the Without Walls (WOW) Program. Tasks will 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. The WOW Intern will also have the opportunity to help with the Casting processes throughout their time at LJP. Regardless of their chosen focus, both Artistic Interns will participate in casting, WOW events, and all other departmental functions over the course of the internship.
- General/Company Management Internship: The General/Company Management Intern will engage in a high-energy department committed to the care of out-of-town and local artists. Interns 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. General/Company Management interns will meet and interact with staff from all departments at La Jolla Playhouse and visiting 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.
- 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, the 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 the Teen Council and the Playhouse Leadership Council.
- 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 time-sensitive 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, outreach and 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, partnership-building and the performing arts.
- Philanthropy Internship: An intern in the Philanthropy Department will gain hands-on experience in nonprofit fundraising, including running campaigns and supporting special events. Interns should have an interest in theatre, arts administration, or fundraising, be open to learning new systems and adapting quickly to changing circumstances, communicate in a friendly, positive, and professional manner, and value and support diversity within the arts. Interns will be involved in fundraising and stewardship tasks, while gaining skills in CRM systems, project management, and working with a variety of donors and staff.
- 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.
- Summer Technical Director Internship: The Summer Technical Director Intern is a learning-focused position intended for individuals who are currently completing, or have recently completed, formal training in technical theatre or a related field. Under the mentorship of the Technical Director and Production Department staff, the intern will gain an introduction to the role and responsibilities of a professional Technical Director within a LORT regional theatre during an active summer production period. This internship emphasizes education, mentorship, and skill development appropriate to an early-career professional. Through observation, guided discussion, and supervised office-based projects, the intern will learn about production workflows, technical problem-solving, budgeting and cost estimation, drafting and documentation, material research, and safety practices.
The Broadway League: Shaping the Future of Broadway
The Broadway League supports a year-round internship program with positions available for the fall, spring, and summer. All internships are part-time and range from 16-24 hours per week in the office; the League does not offer remote or hybrid internships. Hours are flexible within business hours. Interns gain valuable experience by working closely with League staff members and, when possible, they attend meetings, seminars, and conferences. In keeping with their mission to foster an inclusive work environment, they encourage individuals who strongly commit to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion to apply.
The Broadway League offers internships in the following departments:
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- Audience Engagement: This department creates and supports Broadway industry education and community engagement programs designed to ensure an audience for live theatre in the future.
- Marketing: This department plans and manages programs, partnerships, and activations to promote the current Broadway season.
- Research: The Research Department is the official hub for all statistical and historical information for Broadway, compiling statistics for Broadway and touring Broadway productions, managing the Internet Broadway Database (IBDB), and collecting data on and analyzing the demographics of the audience and the economic impact of the industry.
It's important to note that The Broadway League does not offer internships in performance or creative jobs such as acting, casting, directing, or theatrical design. However, individuals with experience in these areas are still encouraged to apply if they have an interest in learning more about performing arts administrative jobs such as producing, management, marketing, public relations, audience engagement, etc.
Clubbed Thumb: Immersive Summerworks Internship
Clubbed Thumb is seeking production interns for their 29th Summerworks. The festival features three fully-produced new plays, as well as a number of ancillary activities and events.
- Production Assistant Internship: Clubbed Thumb will assign three interns per production to assist stage management throughout rehearsals and serve as run crew throughout tech and performances. This is an approximately 6-week internship: interns are in the rehearsal room for the first 4 weeks, then in the theater for the final 2 weeks. In this track, interns are focused on one of the three Summerworks productions, though they will also be asked to support load-in and strike for all three shows, as well as occasional front of house shifts. No technical experience is required, but a basic understanding of theater and the type of work that Clubbed Thumb produces is preferred.
- Producing/marketing: Interns will work in the Clubbed Thumb office, supporting day-to-day producing and general management tasks, including contracting, marketing and social media management, and ticketing and front-of-house tasks.
Interns are expected to work roughly 30 hours per week during the 6-week process of the show to which they are assigned, and 10-15 hours per week during the festival otherwise. Interns receive a weekly travel and meal stipend, but Clubbed Thumb understands that some will need more remunerative work in addition to the internship, which the schedule can typically accommodate. Clubbed Thumb makes every effort to provide a structured, respectful, and rich learning experience for every intern, and will support any requirements for students to receive school credit and/or school-funded internship compensation whenever possible.
General Advice for Aspiring Interns
- Highlight Relevant Skills: When applying for internships, emphasize skills that align with the specific requirements of the role.
- Express Enthusiasm: Convey your passion for theater and your eagerness to learn and contribute.
- Tailor Your Application: Customize your cover letter and resume for each internship, highlighting your relevant experiences and skills.
- Seek Feedback: Ask mentors, professors, or career counselors to review your application materials and provide feedback.
- Network: Attend theater events, workshops, and conferences to connect with professionals in the field.
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