Professional Opportunities

The Gran Guignol by Normandy Raven Sherwood, spring 2010

Internships

A professional internship is an essential part of pursuing a career in the theater. This is how you get your start as a theater professional. There are many things to be gained through an internship:

• Learn new things and how to do things you know in a different way
• Meet professionals who will share their knowledge and experience with you
• Make contacts for future job opportunities
• Build you professional résumé
• Consider registering with Actors Equity as an Equity Membership Candidate so that you can earn points toward the 50 weeks of work required to join Equity as an actor or stage manager
• Discover if you’ve got what it takes to be a theater professional and see if you really want to be doing this for the rest of your life

The Theater Department encourages students to participate in professional internship programs whenever possible. Academic credit is available through TH 299 (3 or 6 semester hours) and TH 399 (3, 6 or 9 semester hours). The total number of TH 229 and TH 399 credits will be restricted to a maximum of 12 over four years. Most students taking advantage of this program do so in their junior year and/or during the summer.

Internships are possible for a full semester, during all or part of the summer, or, locally, on a part-time basis while enrolled in courses at Skidmore. Internships may be set up with production organizations (regional or summer stock theaters, opera or dance companies, commercial production companies, etc.), individual artists, radio or television stations, film companies, scenic, lighting, prop, costume or wig shops, casting directors, etc.

Summer internship applications are generally due during the month of February or very early March.

Things You’ll Need:

• Résumé
• Transcripts (for full semester or post baccalaureate programs)
• Letters of recommendation

Sources of Information:

• American Theater Wing
• New Dramatists
• Stage Managers Association
• Stage Source, Greater Boston Theatre Alliance
• Theatre Communication Group
• University/Resident Theatre Association (URTA)
• Juilliard School Internship Program
• Drama League of NY
• ArtSEARCH
• Back Stage (weekly)

Skidmore College Career Services

The Skidmore College Career Services Internship Page