Apprenticeships

"My experience with the Young Playwright's Festival and The Blank Theatre Company is unlike any other internship experience I have ever had. As a requirement for my Masters program, I was required to fulfill a summer internship and I could not have found a better opportunity with The Blank. For one, the location could not be beat. Los Angeles is the center of the entertainment industry and being an active part of "the scene" was great.

Also, I could honestly say that I was a part of the Festival. As a member of the intern team, I was active in creating the best possible Festival, not just observing from an outsider's perspective. In this internship, I exercised all of my theatrical knowledge, both technical and administrative.

The people that I worked with are beyond compare as well. The staff is willing to answer any question and help out when needed. Also, where else do you get to interact with professional actors and directors on a daily basis? As if these experiences were not enough, the young playwrights are wonderful. This Festival is truly about the experiences of these teenagers. There is no better feeling than seeing their face light up when their plays are presented to the public, knowing that you were an integral part of its success. The playwrights are truly what the Festival is all about and their appreciation makes everything completely worth it."

Bethany Hilliard
Masters of Arts Management student
Carnegie Mellon University

About the Program

THE BLANK THEATRE COMPANY in Hollywood, CA is a non-profit artist-run theatre company whose mission is to produce premieres and ‘re-inventions’ of existing plays and musicals. The Blank seeks several apprentices to help with various programs throughout the year including:

The Blank’s Annual Young Playwrights Festival Apprenticeship

(mid-May to beginning of July )

This apprentice team will work directly with the Festival Producer and the Production Stage Manager and will assistant direct/stage manage at least one play in the festival. Some of the apprentices’ duties will include: load in/strike, light hang, gathering props and set pieces, assisting the director in rehearsals, typing contact sheets, sending rehearsal reports, and copying scripts. The team will also work as the running crew for each performance in the festival. In this program apprentices will learn about every aspect of producing the festival, from casting and pre-production to performance.

Producing / Arts Administration Apprenticeship

These apprentices will be work side by side with the Company Producer and Artistic Director in every aspect of production for our mainstage season, our Living Room Series program, as well as assisting with the general operation of the company. This program can be part time or full time and can take place over the summer, one semester or the full school year. It is also completely flexible. We structure the schedule according to the apprentice’s availability.

Living Room Series Apprenticeship

The Living Room Series is our new play development program and is currently in its 15th season. Each Monday night from Labor Day to Memorial Day, we produce a fully staged reading of a new play. Apprentices in this program will work as Assistant Director/Stage Manager on new plays with various directors. They will have the opportunity to sit in on as many rehearsals as they choose, run the lights and sound for various productions, and work in the box office. This is a part time position.

All Blank apprentices get “hands on” immersion training. Every apprentice gets the opportunity to become a major part of the process of producing theatre.