Internships and summer work are IMPORTANT STEPS in developing your craft and gaining the necessary experience to work in the arts. I would first check the Unified Auditions, Audition Conferences and Opportunities.
Internships and summer opportunities are where careers begin! Please use your faculty as resources to review your resume or if you need advice. Also, don’t rule out crashing on a family member’s couch if you find an internship in a far-flung area. You can make it work! If you have questions, please contact Shannon (sbskelton@ksu.edu). In the meantime, please use these links to help locate summer opportunities.
You will also see a list of faculty and students who have worked professionally. Please reach out to them with questions or suggestions. – Shannon
NOTE: sites that are “marked out” actually work (such as backstage, setc, etc.)
KC Theatre:
https://kclivetheater.com/ (lists major theatre in KC area)
https://www.artskcgo.com/ (lists theatres, performances, galleries, music, etc in KC area)
https://www.artskcgo.com/venue/uptown-arts-bar/ (Theatre, Improv, fringe, etc.)
https://kcfringe.org/ FRINGE FEST – submit, volunteer, etc.
Some people have asked about a comprehensive list of theatres in Kansas City. There are more than these listed (The Black Box, KC Fringe, Improv Groups, etc.) https://kclivetheater.com/theater-tickets/ but this list gives you a start. If you know you will be in KC this summer doing summer work, consider applying to – or auditioning for – one of these groups. If you have limited time, ask to attend rehearsals or volunteer. These groups always need some kind of help.
IMPROV IN KC
https://www.kansascitycomedy.com/
Area:http://thecoterie.org/internships#.VD_1F010zcshttps://www.kcstarlight.com/education_and_outreach/bob_rohlf_internship_program.aspxhttp://www.mtwichita.org/opportunities/employmenthttp://www.wichitatheatre.com/http://www.crownuptown.com/http://depottheaterco.com/http://www.mosleystreet.com/
http://www.unicorntheatre.org/
St. Louis:
https://www.stlmag.com/culture/theater/the-st-louis-theatre-guide/
Chicago:
https://leagueofchicagotheatres.org/
https://chicagoplays.com/member-theatres/
Specific Chicago Companies:
Improv Olympics Classes: https://ioimprov.com/training-center/#ioimprove_classes
Second City Courses: https://www.secondcity.com/courses/chicago/adult/
Comedy Sportz Training: https://www.cszchicago.com/learn
Out of State:
https://getacceptd.com/post/5-reasons-summer-stock-rocks
https://www.nbcunicareers.com/internshipshttp://www.strawhat-auditions.com/http://www.coloradoshakes.org/about/employmenthttp://lookingglasstheatre.org/work-with-us/
http://www.horizontheatre.com/education-and-community/intern-company/
http://americanrepertorytheater.org/intern
https://www.steppenwolf.org/education/professional-leadership-programs/summer-internship/
https://www.woollymammoth.net/join-us/intern
https://www.goodmantheatre.org/Engage-Learn/For-Professional-Development/internships/
https://www.irtlive.com/employment-and-auditions
http://www.networkstours.com/jobs/
https://www.worklightproductions.com/contact-us/
https://www.indeed.com/q-Concert-Tour-jobs.html
https://hangartheatre.org/summer-production-employment/
https://www.nebraskatheatrecaravan.com/employment-opportunities
https://www.broadwaymerchandiseshop.com/employment-opportunities
SUMMER STOCKhttp://www.cengage.com/resource_uploads/static_resources/0495898074/24674/summer_theatre_companies.html
https://mctinc.org/tour-actor-application/
https://www.indeed.com/q-Concert-Tour-jobs.html
https://hangartheatre.org/summer-production-employment/https://www.nebraskatheatrecaravan.com/employment-opportunities
https://www.broadwaymerchandiseshop.com/employment-opportunities
Costuming
https://www.mclennancostume.com/resourcesorganizations.html
USITT
Kansas State University
Our Faculty are WORKING PROFESSIONALS
Jerry Jay Cranford (AEA, AGVA, SDC)
Broadway (Les Miserables)
International and national tours (Les Miserables, Singin’ in the Rain, Evita, Anything Goes)
Aladdin in Disney’s stage musical Aladdin
Kansas City Lyric Opera
MUNY Theatre of St. Louis
Director/choreographer for the world premiere of Madagascar: A Musical Adventure at the Coterie Theatre
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and Les Miserables for the Merry Go Round Theater in New York
Two Ovation Nominations in Vancouver, BC for his production of The Marvelous Wonderettes
Best Director of a Professional Musical by Broadway World (Kansas City) Newsies
George Wame Matthews – Scene Shop Supervisor
Off-Broadway carpenter and stagehand in New York
Stagehand for the New York Premiere of Evil Dead: The Musical
Stagehand for the New York Premiere of Almost, Maine
David Mackay (AEA, SAG) – Acting/Directing
Fourteen seasons with Bard on the Beach Shakespeare company
Create and performed in a physical comedy play that toured around the world and on Broadway
The play was nominated for a Drama Desk Award
Jessie Richardson Award winning professional actor, director and playwright
TV/Film credits include: X-FILES, WATCHMEN and PROJECT BLUE BOOK
Ben Stark – Technical Director
Technical Director Pennsylvania Shakespeare
Regularly works off-Broadway (often taking students to assist)
Designed and managed multiple national television events including the History Channel and MTV
100% placement for students interested in technical work
Kathy Voecks – Scenic Design
Worked with Mary Katherine Nagle (Native American playwright and activist) on premiere production of Return to Niobrara at the Rose Theatre
Premiere ballet productions of Swing, Swing, Swing, Hans Christian Anderson and Dracula
Designed “Henry V” for University of Missouri, Kansas City production directed by Barry Kyle, Honorary Associate Director, Royal Shakespeare Company
Dana Pinkston – Costume Design
Designs include: North Shore Music Theatre in Massachusetts, Theatre by the Sea in Rhode Island, and The Virginia Shakespeare Festival in Virginia.
2018, BroadwayWorld Best Costume Design-Rhode Island for the smash Mamma Mia!
ACTF/ Kennedy Center National Award for Excellence in Costume Design for Our Country’s Good
Five former students currently on Broadway
Kansas State University Students WORK in Theatre
Recent Graduates
Janelle Augustine – Production Assistant for Musical Theater Heritage (MTH) Theater at Crown Center’s production of Oklahoma!; works in arts and theatre management in Denver
Emily Barnhill – Painter, Cobalt Studios (NYC); painter at Julliard
Ashley Barrow – Teaching Artist/Drama Therapist, Round House Theatre (DC)
Rose Brown – Scenic Art Intern at the Hangar Theatre in Ithaca, NY
Olivia Carter – Annoyance Theatre, Chicago; stbd up comedian in NYC
Darrington Clark – Director, THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE (Stage Right Education in KC); New Theatre and KC Rep
Elizabeth Cook – Agent Assistant, Wolf Talent Group
Blake Cordell – Master Electrician (Queen of the Mist), Firebrand; Master Electrician (Desire in a Tinier House), Pride Films and Plays; Master Electrician (Lefty and Crabbe), Underscore; Sound Designer (Grace), Brown Paper Bag; Sound Designer (King Lear), Red Twist; Master Electrician (Kiss)
Ali Davids – Stage Manager and a counselor at French Woods in Hancock, NY
Annie Davis – Scenic Design and Painter, Showboat Theater in Clinton, Iowa; scenic work St. Louis
Michael Duncan – Theatre Assistant, Ocean View School, South Africa
Jonah Ericson – Threepenny Theatre Company, Salt Lake City, Utah
Drew George – Breckenridge Backstage Theatre (CO)
Morgan Grote – Cowtown Opera Summer Academy in Calgary, Canada
Cat Huck – Crocodile Nasties and Arts & Culture Club, Chicago
Logan Jones – PSM, Southern Gothic at Windy City Playhouse; Production Consultant for The Last Defender at Denver Center for Performing Arts
Kristin Kelley – SM, Wolf Trap Opera
Noah Lindquist –Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat with New Theatre Restaurant (KC)
Shannon Madden – Kaufmann Center, Front of House Manager
Meghan McGehee – Actor, Great Plains Theatre (Pirates of Penzance)
Karis Eliese McMurtrey – Scottsdale Musical Theatre – Season Contract: (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Pajama Game)
Kerstin Mesmer – Lighting Technician, Circus Smerkus
Hannah Miller – Teaching Artist, Emerald City Theater, Stage School and Skyline Studios (all Chicago)
Hunter Nelson – Literary Management/Dramaturg Apprentice (Magic Theatre, San Francisco)
Cody O’Hare – Threepenny Theatre Company, Salt Lake City, Utah
Ceslie Parker-Waller – Actor, Great Plains Theatre (Pirates of Penzance)
E.H. Petropulos – Assistant Wig Supervisor, Be More Chill (NYC)
Elise Poehling – Performer, Unicorn (KC)
Tori Ptacek – Entertainment Host, Disney Cruise Lines
Randy Rhoten – Lead Vocalist, Princess Cruises
Aaron Rojas – Actor, Great Plains Theatre (Pirates of Penzance); stunt performer
Morgan Sterrett – BEAT BUGS: A Musical Adventure, Coterie; Oklahoma Shakespeare Festival (Miranda in Tempest, Katherine in Newsies, Company in Cabaret)
Emily Trube – Drama Therapist, Topeka Correctional Facility for Women
Shiana Tyler – Tour Actor/Director, Missoula Children’s Theatre
Kelly Urschel – Choreographer, THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE (Stage Right); Actor, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Faust Theatre in KC
Alex Wakim – NYU grad school; workshop of An American in Beirut
Mitch Ward – Stage Manager (Kiss), Haven Theatre; Director, readings, Climate Change Theatre; playwright in Chicago and Indiana
J.D. Warren – Actor, Great Plains Theatre (Pirates of Penzance, Disaster!, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat);
Emily White-Winter –National Tour of King and I (SM); SpongBob (SM)
Kim Wong – Scenic designer and paint charge at Great Plains Theatre
Jacob Woolworth – Carpenter, Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre