Mentoring Artists, Artisans

 

Perseverance Theatre offers a wide variety of internships: for the entire season, half a season, or even shorter periods of time, are available, all providing extensive hands-on experience on professional theatre productions with leading artists from the Alaskan and American theatre community.

 

Interns are an important and vital part of our small, tight-knit staff here at Perseverance Theatre and, while each will be provided with an experienced mentor at PT, who will closely oversee and evaluate their work, interns are given a great deal of autonomy and responsibility.  Some have even gone on to receive full paid positions within the organization, either on special projects or mainstage shows.

 

In past seasons, we welcomed interns in the areas of set building, costume construction, educational theatre, administration, production management, and lighting.  All interns should have some experience in the area in which they wish to work.

 

Full-time internships at Perseverance Theatre ask for a commitment of 40 - 60 hours a week and come with a stipend of $100/week, plus roundtrip travel to Juneau from Seattle or elsewhere in Alaska, and housing in Juneau.  Part-time unpaid internships are available without housing or travel.  Interns are also eligible to receive college credit through PT's new educational partnership with the University of Alaska Southeast.  Volunteer internships are also available to high school students on a very part-time basis.

 

If interested, please send in a letter of interest, including your availability, your resume, and names and contact information for 3 references who have worked with you in the past three years.

 

Mail to:

Perseverance Theatre

Re: Internships

914 Third Street

Douglas, AK 99824

 

or fax to 907-364-2603

 

 

 

 

Assistant Technical Director/Carpentry Intern Job Description

(Aug 2008 - May 2009)

Perseverance Theatre is seeking an Assistant Technical Director Intern.  Applicants should have experience in scenic construction, metalworking, budgeting/scheduling a build, and AutoCAD. Problem solving skills a must.  Automation skills a big plus. Responsibilities include budgeting/planning for sets, participating in construction/load in/strike, overseeing a build crew, shop and building maintenance.  We are a close-knit organization, the ability to work as a production team is essential.  Should have a desire to learn new techniques in scenic construction, and learn about other disciplines on the production side of the theatre.

 

Perseverance Theatre is seeking carpentry interns for its upcoming season.   Applicants should have a working knowledge of scenic construction.  Must have the ability to use hand/power tools and work as part of a team.  Should have a desire to learn techniques in scenic construction, and other disciplines on the production side of the theatre.  Applicants with experience in metalworking will receive special consideration.  Responsibilities include building sets, working crew on some shows, pitching in with electrics and building maintenance.  The theatre is willing to train the right personality.  

 

Perseverance Theatre is seeking costume interns for the upcoming season.   Costume Interns will get exposure to all aspects of costume construction and hands-on experience in creating the costumes for Perseverance shows.  The goal of the internship is to provide the student with skills necessary for becoming a costume shop employee or costume designer.  Opportunities for designing smaller theatre projects at the theatre may exist for the right person.  Duties include assisting costume shop manager, designers and other theatre staff in the cutting, draping, stitching, shopping, laundry and maintenance of costume production.  Applicants should have costume construction and design experience.  Interns are expected to work 40-60 hours per week.  Housing, transportation and a stipend are provided.

 

The Electrics Intern will have the opportunity to learn the duties and responsibilities of being a Master Electrician in a professional theatre setting.  He/She will assist the Master Electrician in all areas of the Main Stage and Second Stage lighting, will train under the ME for the first half of the season and ideally take over as Master Electrician for the second half of the season.  All Interns will get hands on experience as running crew for Main Stage productions.  Hanging, circuiting, focusing, and striking all lighting instruments, color, patterns, cable, and effects for each Main Stage and Second Stage show.  Responsibilities include: facilitating equipment maintenance, purchasing, and organization; scheduling and coordinating with designer, staff, and volunteers; assisting with facility upgrades; and managing and updating all production lighting plots.  The Electrics Intern will have a heavy workload throughout the season, and will be required to attend all technical rehearsals, preview performances, and production meetings.  A strong theatre lighting background, preferably with prior training or experience as a Master Electrician.  The ideal candidate will be interested in pursuing a career as a Lighting Technician, Designer, or Master Electrician.  Must be fearless, dedicated, organized, and eager to learn.

 

The Props Intern will have the opportunity to learn the duties and responsibilities of being a Props Master in a professional theatre environment.  He/she will assist the Props Master in all areas of the properties department, will train under the Props Master and ideally take over as Props Master for one or more shows at the theatre. Duties include assisting the Props Master, designers and other theatre staff in the building, altering, stitching, shopping, procuring, paperwork and maintenance of props for Mainstage and Second Stage shows and helping to maintain the various props storage facilities and inventory.  The Props Intern will have a heavy workload throughout the season, and will be required to attend all technical rehearsals, preview performances, and production meetings.  The ideal candidate is someone who is excited about learning a variety of different building and procurement techniques and is willing to work within a job that requires cooperation and compromise.

 

The SM/PM intern will serve as assistant stage manager for at least 3 Main Stage shows.  Through attending all rehearsals, production meetings, technical rehearsals,  and preview performances, the intern will assist in all aspects of production stage management.  The intern will assist in: creating and updating rehearsal calendars; managing production contact information; providing daily schedule information on the rehearsal hotline; creating and distributing departmental lists and schedules; communicating between production departments, administration, cast, and crew; managing the production prompt book; distributing the script and score; managing all rehearsal and performance props and costumes; organizing all archival information for the season; and coordinating with the production stage manager on cleaning and maintaining the rehearsal hall and performance space.  The intern will also have a heavy workload throughout the season working directly with professional actors, directors, designers, and technicians to help guarantee that every production stays organized and safe.  In addition to their work in rehearsals and performance, the intern will also assist the Director of Production in managing the production process, organizing artists, staff, budget, and resources to achieve the artistic goals and technical/production standards of Perseverance Theatre.  Qualifications: A strong theatre background with an emphasis on production, preferably with some professional theatre experience.  High level organizational, computer and production skills needed.  Drive to succeed, eagerness to learn and working hard is a must.  The ideal candidate has long-term career goals of working in stage and/or production management at the professional level.

 

Summer Education Intern Job Description (May 2009 - August 2009)

The education intern will assist the Director of Education in the administration, creation and instruction of all education programs including the STAR program, a youth theatre training initiative.  Perseverance Theatre has a strong relationship with the local University, school district and local adult community and teaches classes with each of these groups.  The internship may include but is not limited to maintaining correspondence with students and parents, working with elementary aged students through adults, producing student performances, marketing student shows and classes, participation in education grant writing process, recruiting high school students for UAS theatre program, and other production related tasks.  A strong theatre background with an emphasis on teaching (special attention will be given to work done with elementary through high school age students).  Computer experience is a must.  MS Excel, MS Word and MS Access is ideal.  Desktop publishing experience is a plus.  The intern must be detail oriented with a strong work ethic.