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Start Planning for Summer ’25 (Theatre Work, Internships, Etc.)

By December 29, 2024December 30th, 2024News

Image from PracticeGoodness.comGeorge Bernard Shaw quote: Don't wait for the right opportunity: create it.

Wait no longer!

Internships and summer work are IMPORTANT STEPS in developing your craft, meeting other theatre workers, and gaining the necessary experience to make a life in the arts.

Internships and summer opportunities are where careers begin! Please use your faculty as resources to review your resume, offer advice, etc. Also, don’t rule out crashing on a family member’s couch if you find a job/paid internship in a far-flung area. You can make it work! In addition, if this sounds like a bit much, speak with faculty and arrange a day visit to a professional theatre company to observe rehearsal, shadow a technician, etc. for one day over the summer. The arts are a discipline, so you have to put yourself out there.

YOU have to make the opportunities . . . .

Talk to your faculty! Look at their experiences. Ask for guidance! In the meantime, please use these links to help locate summer opportunities.  Questions? Email Shannon at sbskelton@ksu.edu

 

 

NOTE: sites that are “marked out” actually work (such as backstage, setc, etc.)

Apply for Summer Work:

https://video.playbill.com/jobs

https://careers.broadway/resources/

https://www.broadwayworld.com/classifieds-jobs/

https://staging.offstagejobs.com/jobs.php

https://www.actoraesthetic.com/blog/audition-conferences-for-summerstock

 

SUMMER STOCK CASTING (paywall):

https://www.thecastingconnection.net/summer-stock-theatres

https://www.actoraesthetic.com/blog/audition-conferences-for-summerstock

 

SUMMER STOCK LISTING:

https://www.entwork.live/theatres-festivals

https://www.actoraesthetic.com/blog/audition-conferences-for-summerstock

 

Theatre for Young Audiences (a great way to gain valuable experience)

https://www.tyausa.org/

https://mctinc.org/about-mct/work-for-us/

https://childrenstheatre.org/about-us/work-with-us/job-openings/

https://nashvillechildrenstheatre.org/education-internships/

 

(There are many, many more jobs. . . . Google “Theatre for Young Audiences Hiring” or “Children’s Theatre Hiring”)

 

Camps:

https://texasmusicandarts.com/camp-staff-info

https://greatcampjobs.com/apply

 

Additional:

https://kstatemtd.com/interships-and-summer-work/

 

Conferences/Unified Auditions/Tech Associations:

https://www.entwork.live/acce

HERE ARE THE MAJOR WEBSITES (sites do indeed work):
(This ^Works)
https://www.simplyhired.com/(search for theatre, film, etc.)
 
Unified Auditions, Audition Conferences and Opportunities:
 
Theatre for Young Audiences:
 

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. 

KC REP

https://opportunities.kcrep.org/

Starlight College Internship Program (KC)

https://www.kcstarlight.com/engage/bob-rohlf-internships/

American Theatre Guild (KC)

https://americantheatreguild.com/careers/

 

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.thebirdkc.com/

https://www.kansascitycomedy.com/

https://www.blackboxkc.com/calendar

https://www.comedycity.cc/

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:

https://neofuturists.org/

https://www.theannoyance.com/

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/

http://www.troika.com/careers

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

 

Costuming

https://www.mclennancostume.com/resourcesorganizations.html

 

USITT

https://www.usitt.org/

Kansas State University

Our Faculty are WORKING PROFESSIONALS

Jerry Jay Cranford (AEA, AGVA, SDC)

Broadway (Les Miserables)

International and national tours (Les MiserablesSingin’ in the RainEvitaAnything 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

 

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