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APPRENTICESHIPS:

OLNEY THEATRE CENTER APPRENTICESHIP DESCRIPTIONS

Company Management

The Company Management Apprentice is an essential member of the Administration Department, working directly with the Company Manager and General Manager to ensure that all departmental needs are met in an efficient, timely, and professional manner. They will serve as the resident advisor for the apprentice cohort on campus, organizing and leading monthly housing meetings and some group activities, acting a a liaison between Company Management and apprentices when necessary. This apprentice serves as a primary contact to visiting artists, including assisting with travel and accommodations, attending to the needs of artists, executing hospitality with a smile, managing budgets, and maintaining company files. The apprentice will also have an opportunity to shadow the Managing Director and General Manager in meetings with production, administration, and creative personnel. Additional responsibilities include run crew assignments and serving as an emergency contact on-call for residents on campus. Please note, this position sometimes works irregular office hours (i.e., Tuesday through Saturday), with flexible time off.

Candidates should be able to multitask and establish priorities, be detail-oriented, have a valid driver's license and clean driving record, and be familiar with Microsoft and Google Suite. Excellent organization, interpersonal skills, and confidentiality are a must. Customer service experience preferred. Should be comfortable completing tasks both alone and as part of a team. This position is appropriate for those working toward careers as Company Managers, Production Managers, and General Managers.

Required Supplementary Application Materials: none

Carpentry

Carpentry Apprentices work as members of the scene shop staff to construct and install scenic elements for all productions. They also serve as deck crew for several productions throughout the season. Using essential carpentry and construction skills, apprentices learn daily shop operations while observing how to maintain a full-season scene shop. They will also gain hands-on backstage experience in a professional environment. Carpentry apprentices assist with all scenic load-ins and strikes. They will also develop their welding skills and get the opportunity to work with different building materials depending on the build needs of the productions.

Applicants should be comfortable using power tools and be comfortable lifting at least 50 pounds unassisted and 100 pounds assisted. This apprenticeship will hone new and resourceful methods of stagecraft and is suitable for those working towards careers as Carpenters, Technical Directors, and General Theater Technicians.

Required Supplementary Application Materials: carpentry/scenic design portfolio

Artistic Producing

The Artistic Producing Apprentice works with the Senior Associate Artistic Director and Associate Artistic Director/Casting Director to help produce our season. This individual helps schedule and monitor all auditions for our shows and assists with producing artistic and community engagement events. The apprentice also creates original dramaturgical materials, including actor packets, dramaturgy websites, and program notes. They have an opportunity to facilitate post-show discussions, write blog posts, and attend rehearsals. Additional responsibilities include a production run crew assignment.

The apprentice also has the opportunity to work with the artistic team on various responsibilities, including season planning and literary management. By the end of the season, the apprentice will be familiar with the Actors’ Equity Association rulebook as well as day-to-day and season-to-season theatre operations.

Candidates should be able to work independently and be prepared to take on a large amount of responsibility with support. Candidates should exhibit strong discretion and interpersonal skills, excellent writing, research, and communication skills, and be able to multitask and establish priorities. This position is appropriate for those working toward careers as Dramaturgs, Directors, Literary Managers, Casting Directors, Casting Agents, Producers, and Artistic Directors.

Required Supplementary Application Materials: analytical writing sample (i.e., academic papers, dramaturgy notes, reviews, etc.)

Education & Engagement

The Education & Engagement Apprentice assists in the planning and implementation of the theatre’s community engagement and educational initiatives. The apprentice works with teaching artists to develop and conduct lessons, classes, and other school programs throughout the year. Additionally, the apprentice collaborates with the Director of Community Engagement in a variety of programs that deepen our ties to our local community, ranging from running panel discussions to organizing donation drives and coordinating special community events. This individual also helps facilitate post-show discussions and has an opportunity to work directly with students as a teaching artist. They are also involved in artistic season-planning conversations and create written materials like study guides and other resources. In addition, the apprentice also completes administrative tasks like departmental finance and data tracking. Other responsibilities include a backstage production run crew assignment.

Candidates should be able to multitask and establish priorities. They should also be detail-oriented and familiar with Microsoft Office and Google Suite. A valid driver's license is preferred. This position is best served by someone who can act as a liaison between multiple stakeholders. Excellent written and verbal communication, organization, and interpersonal skills are integral. Graphic Design skills are a plus. This position is appropriate for those working toward careers as Arts Administrators, General Managers, Producing Directors, Education Directors, Community Engagement Managers, and Teachers.

Required Supplementary Application Materials: sample lesson plan 

Electrics

Electrics Apprentices work directly under the supervision of the Lighting Supervisor and Associate Lighting Supervisor to implement lighting designs for each production in multiple spaces. Apprentices also work alongside local and visiting lighting designers and other theatre electricians. Responsibilities include load-in, hanging and focusing lights, troubleshooting problems, maintaining electrics equipment during production runs, and participating in all lighting strikes and changeovers. During show runs, they share the responsibility of maintenance and running the light board or follow spot. There are also opportunities to learn programming and patching. Additional duties include serving as an emergency contact on campus.

Experience working on electrics crews, programming ETC consoles, and all types of equipment is preferred. This apprenticeship is suitable for those working towards careers as Electricians, Lighting Supervisors, and Lighting Designers.

Required Supplementary Application Materials: lighting portfolio

Production Management

The Production Management Apprentice works as a member of the Production office team with the Director of Production and Production Manager to provide the administrative and operational support for all production departments. This apprentice assists in the daily operations by keeping track of all the receipts from all production personnel, as well as managing schedules for the department and helping staff shows and shops by working with the Production Manager to review resumes and candidates. This individual also assists and shadows the Production Manager in meetings with production and creative personnel. The Production Management Apprentice will be able to develop relationships with all the shops on campus and have the opportunity to work with other industry professionals like designers, directors, and technicians. In turn, they are involved in creating the production schedule for the upcoming season.

The Production Management Apprentice also acts as the secondary crew swing on call for all mainstage productions, and the primary swing for shows in our smaller spaces, meaning this individual learns most backstage tracks for all productions, so they can jump in and fulfill that role in case a member of the crew cannot perform their duties. 

Candidates should be able to multitask and establish priorities, be detail-oriented, have a valid driver's license, and be familiar with Microsoft Office and Google Suite. Excellent organization and interpersonal skills are a must. They should be comfortable completing tasks both alone and as part of a team, and be enthusiastic about jumping in to solve an issue while also remaining cool under pressure. This position is appropriate for those working toward careers as Production Managers, Technical Directors, Directors of Production, and General Managers.

Required Supplementary Application Materials: paperwork/organization examples (i.e., stage management paperwork like run sheets or reports, calendars, etc.)

Properties

The Props Apprentice assists the Props Supervisor and Props Artisan in creating, building, and sourcing all props for all productions. As part of this, the apprentice will have the opportunity to work closely with all production departments and to meet and work with guest designers and directors. The apprentice has the opportunity to talk through designer visions and assist in shopping and decorating.

Duties may include–but are not limited to–building show props, prop maintenance during a show’s run, load-in and strike, creating tracking paperwork, attending design meetings, pulling rehearsal props, researching, shopping, restocking, maintaining inventory, and set dressing. Builds are based on the needs of the shows, and the apprentice will have opportunities to do many different types of construction and management projects over the course of the apprenticeship. They will also help maintain inventory and will be on run crew for multiple productions during the season.

The ideal candidate should be comfortable with power tools, painting techniques, crafting techniques, and working with fabric. Excellent email communication skills are required, and a valid driver’s license is a plus. This apprenticeship is suitable for those working toward careers as Props Supervisors, Props Artisans, or designers.

Required Supplementary Application Materials: prop/scenic construction/artistic/design portfolio

Sound & Projections

The Sound & Projections Apprentice works directly with the Sound & Projections Supervisor and Associate Supervisor to implement the sound design for each production. In addition, they collaborate with the team to implement the projections design when projections needs arise for a production. The apprentice gets the opportunity to work alongside local and visiting projections designers, sound designers, and engineers.

Responsibilities include assisting with load-in, troubleshooting problems during tech rehearsals and performances, maintaining audio and projections equipment during the show runs, and participating in all strikes and changeovers. During production runs, the apprentice serves backstage as audio assistant on all our musicals (A2), and will get the opportunity to learn more about systems design and sound mixing.

Experience working as an A1 and/or A2 and awareness of current sound boards and equipment is preferred. This apprenticeship is suitable for those working towards careers as Sound Engineers and Sound Designers.

Required Supplementary Application Materials: none

Stage Management

The Stage Management Apprentice works as an Assistant Stage Manager or Production Assistant alongside Equity Stage Managers and Actors. The apprentice begins working on productions during the Stage Manager’s prep week, assists in all rehearsals, and runs a backstage track during performances. During a show run, they may learn more than one backstage track and possibly serve as a swing for crew and stage management roles on select productions.

For each production, the apprentice may be assigned responsibilities such as tracking props, costumes, and set pieces, or making script revisions. When not assigned to a show, the Stage Management Apprentice may assist with office work and other areas of production, depending on the season schedule.

Candidates should have excellent organizational and communication skills. Previous stage management experience is preferred. This position is best suited for those working towards careers as professional Stage Managers.

Required Supplementary Application Materials: stage management paperwork examples (especially backstage running documents)

Wardrobe & Costume

Working directly with the Costume Shop Supervisor and Associate, Wardrobe Supervisor, and visiting designers, Wardrobe & Costume Apprentices assist in the construction and alteration of costumes. They also serve as wardrobe crew on productions, which includes laundering, maintaining, and repairing costumes and wigs during the run, as well as assisting in costume and wig changes during performances. Please note the apprentice’s time is spent equally between wardrobe crew and costume shop duties.

Wardrobe & Costume apprentices will get to experience the day-to-day operations of a full-time costumes shop. They have the opportunity to assist with tasks such as budgeting, tracking, and purchasing alongside the Costume Shop Supervisor. They will also strengthen sewing skills such as draping, construction, and patterning through hands-on projects with the Associate Costume Shop Supervisor. In addition, apprentices will learn how to craft wardrobe paperwork for backstage, such as run books, mirror plots, and preset checklists under the guidance of the Wardrobe Supervisor.

While not on show call, apprentices serve as crew swing on-call for wardrobe team members, meaning they learn all backstage wardrobe tracks so they can step in and fulfill those duties in case a team member is unable to do so.

Applicants should have at least basic sewing skills and an interest in working backstage on a production. This apprenticeship is suitable for those working toward careers as First Hands, Cutters, Drapers, Costume Shop Managers, and Wardrobe Supervisors.

Required Supplementary Application Materials: sewing or costume portfolio

Questions?

Send an email to apprenticeships@olneytheatre.org.