A carpenter apprentice at work.
Professional Apprenticeship Program
Walnut Street Theatre's Professional Apprentice Program provides a training ground for early career professionals to bridge the gap between education and the professional world. It provides hands-on experience working alongside professionals in a specific, concentrated area. The program is designed to provide a season of intensive education and work experience in one of several aspects of theatre operation: Acting, Audience Services, Carpentry, Casting/Literary Management, Costumes, Education, Fundraising, General Management, Marketing, Props, Public Relations, Running Crew/Stage, Scenic Painting, Shop Management, Stage Management/Production Management, Subscriptions and Wigs/Costumes. Apprentices earn a weekly stipend, health benefits, gym membership and free tuition to theatre school classes.
Following are descriptions of Apprenticeships offered at Walnut Street Theatre:
Acting
The Dorothy Haas Acting Apprentices rehearse and perform a four-show repertoire, touring to schools in the Philadelphia area as Walnut Street Theatre's Touring Outreach Company. Acting Apprentices teach workshops and acting coaching sessions, are cast in two mainstage Kids Series shows and will audition for EMC understudy opportunities for three mainstage productions. (4 positions available; September-May)
Audience Services
Audience Services Apprentices work primarily in our 1,075-seat mainstage theatre, assisting the House Manager in all duties before, after and during productions. The Audience Services Apprentices are responsible for organizing, maintaining, and assisting customers in the theatre gift shop. Audience Services Apprentices will greet VIP patrons attending Walnut Street Theatre pre show dinners and events. One Audience Service Apprentice will also house manage all five productions in Studio 3. (2 positions available; August-July)
Carpentry
Carpentry Apprentices work with IATSE carpenters and the Technical Director to build five mainstage and five Studio 3 shows in Walnut Street Theatre's shop, which is located off premises in North East Philadelphia. (2 positions available; August-May)
Casting/Literary Management
The Casting/Literary Management Apprentice assists in the organization and running of auditions both in Philadelphia and New York for mainstage and Studio 3 productions. On the Literary side, the Apprentice handles correspondence with playwrights and aids in the evaluation of script submissions. (1 position available; August-June)
Costumes
Costume Apprentices assist the Costume Shop Manager in building and altering costumes for five mainstage and five Studio 3 shows, with possible design opportunities for Walnut Street Theatre's mainstage produced children's show. One costume apprentice will primarily work with wigs and hair. Costume apprentices act as the wardrobe crew for A Christmas Carol and the final mainstage musical of the season. (3 positions; 1 August-May, 2 August-July)
Education
The Education Apprentice will directly participate in the planning and maintaining of various educational programs, including: the researching, writing and designing of Study Guides; assisting in the coordination of The Theatre School, Camp Walnut and the Touring Outreach Company; and participating in workshops and residencies at local schools. (1 position available; July-May)
Fundraising
The Fundraising Apprentice learns about all aspects of fundraising and development for a major non-profit theatre, working closely with individual giving (database work), special events, major donors and Board members. This is a very hands-on opportunity to be a significant part of a six-person fundraising team. (1 position available; August-May)
General Management
The General Management Apprentice works directly with the Company Manager and Managing Director to assist in a wide-range of tasks, including the handling of artist contracts, housing and travel arrangements; scheduling all activities that occur in the theatre; contracting all rental space for rehearsal and performance; planning opening night parties, company luncheons and other company events; and managing office supplies and computer equipment. (1 position available; August-May)
Grants
The Grants Apprentice provides support for the Annual Corporate and Foundation fundraising campaigns by assisting with all grant-writing and reporting. Also provides additional support to Development Staff where needed, including special events and Board of Trustee relations. (1 position available; August-May)
Junior Apprentice Program
Intermittenly, exceptional students ages 18 and under may audition for our Junior Apprentice Program. Junior Apprentices enhance their skills thorugh specialized seminars designed for the young pre-professional. As part of this new scholarship program, Junior Apprentices recieve a weekly stipend and appear in Mainstage productions.
Marketing
The Marketing Apprentice works closely with the Director of Marketing and Marketing Assistant on: managing and processing all group sales orders for the theatre; proof reading; assisting with displays; and handling correspondence, mailings and other general office duties. (1 position available; August-May)
Props
Properties Apprentices work with the IATSE crew and Props Manager to build and shop five mainstage and five Studio 3 shows in Walnut Street Theatre's shop, which is located off premises in North East Philadelphia. Properties Apprentices also assist in managing prop rentals. (2 positions available; July-May)
Public Relations
The Public Relations Apprentice will primarily assist the Communications Manager to: write and prepare press releases, invites, mailings, correspondence and press kits; research plays on the mainstage; proof read; attend all publicity photo shoots; and organize and file press clippings and photos for Walnut Street Theatre's archives. (1 position available; September-June)
Running Crew/Stage
The Stage Crew Apprentice acts as run crew for eight performances a week on the mainstage, assists in the load-in and load-out of all shows and works with the IATSE crew, including the Head Flyman, Head Carpenter, Head Sound Operator, Head Electrician and Props Manager. (1 position available; August-July)
Scenic Painting
The Scenic Painting Apprentice assists the Scenic Charge and IATSE crew in painting five mainstage and five Studio 3 shows in Walnut Street Theatre's shop, which is located off premises in North East Philadelphia. (1 position available; August-May)
Shop Management
The Shop Management Apprentice works with the Technical Director and Properties Manager to manage Walnut Street Theatre's busy scene shop. The Shop Management Apprentice assists with payroll, purchasing supplies, managing budgets, answering phone calls and building scenery and properties. (1 position available; August-May)
Stage Management/Production Management
Production Management Apprentices assist the Production Manager and Assistant Production Manager in maintaining budgets, payroll and archives for all of the season's shows. Stage Management Apprentices assist Stage Managers onstage for the large-scale Christmas musical and stage manage Walnut Street Theatre's Mainstage produced kid's show. (4 positions available, August-May (2), August-July, October-July)
Subscriptions
The Subscriptions Apprentice is responsible for ticket sales, distribution and ticket fulfillment for over 50,000 Walnut Street Theatre Subscribers (most subscribed theatre in the world!), working closely with the Subscriptions Manager and the rest of the staff on areas such as customer service and database management. (1 position available; November-August)
To Apply:
Please print out the application form and send two (2) copies of the following materials: the completed application, resume, photo and statement to:
Susan Nicodemus Quinn
Director of Education
Walnut Street Theatre
Education – Apprenticeship
825 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Please Note: Applications are only accepted by mail ONLY, beginning Feb. 1 until all positions have been filled.
Timeline: Interviews begin in March are concluded by mid-June. You will be notified if you are eliminated at any time during the process.
For Actors: Auditions are scheduled at the end of May each season. Applicants selected for an audition will be contacted by mid-April.
Please make sure to include all components of this application. Incomplete applications will be delayed in their processing!
Download the Apprentice Application [74K Word Document]
For answers to questions about the Professional Apprentice Program at Walnut Street Theatre call 215.574.3550, x511 or email us.
Apprentice Alumni, tell us about your successes here:
