Internships

Taproot Theatre Company’s Internship Program educates emerging theatre professionals, enriches the lives and careers of our interns, and expands the PNW theatre community by providing exemplary professional training and quality experiences. Selection is based on the applicant’s career goals, professionalism, and availability. 

Internship applications for 2024 are closed.

Current Internships: 

• Acting Studio Summer Internships (June 17, 2024 – August 30, 2024) 
• Vision & Call Internships (June 2024 – May 2025) 
• Jewell Mainstage Directing Observerships 

Application & Interview Process: We will begin reviewing internship applications on March 1. Applications received after this date will still be considered, although we recommend submitting your application early, as positions will be filled on a rolling basis. 

Upon receiving your application, an Education & Outreach staff member will email you to set up a preliminary phone interview. Second interviews for all summer internships will be scheduled as needed with decisions made about placement by early April. Available positions will remain on the website until filled. 

Summer Internships

Summer internships run from mid-June through the end of August each year. Applicants who start school in August are still encouraged to apply! 

Summer internships directly support our Acting Studio Summer Camp program. Internships are generally held by undergraduate and graduate students, or recent college graduates. Summer interns have the opportunity to participate in the Summer Intern Project, a small end-of-summer performance produced by the intern cohort. We encourage all interns to talk with Taproot staff, guest artists, and other theatre professionals during their time with us. Each intern is offered complimentary tickets to any Jewell Mainstage performances that take place during the internship.  

2024 Summer Internship Details*: 

Orientation Week: Monday – Friday, June 17-21 (our offices are closed on Wednesday, June 19 in observance of Juneteenth) 

Internship Dates: Monday – Friday (some Saturdays), June 24, through August 30, 2024 (with flexibility on end dates depending on availability) 

Camp Hours: 9:30am-4:30pm (specific call time/schedule varies depending on internship) 

Intern Project: Hours vary, scheduled around intern availability 

Time commitment: 20 – 40 hours per week (depending on internship) 

Pay Rate: Dependent on internship, see individual job descriptions 

Housing is not provided. Our team shares any housing leads that may arise from the Taproot Theatre community with non-local candidates depending on availability.   

*Summer Internship Details apply to all internships listed below. Please see individual job descriptions for more information on hours and responsibilities. 

Public Health: Taproot Theatre Company requires every employee, volunteer, and contractor to present proof of vaccination against COVID-19. Proof of vaccination can be vaccine card (copy or photo accepted), WA state immunization printout, or verified medical record printout from medical provider.

Teaching Internship (up to 4 positions available)
This internship is for individuals who have a desire or interest in pursuing theatre education or directing. Teaching interns are teamed up with our teaching artists to assist with our Acting Studio summer camp program. Interns may assist with daily warm-ups, games, work with students on acting techniques and character development, keep students focused, be backstage for performances, and more. Camps range from Shakespeare to musical theatre, to creative dramatics and comedy, and everything in between. Interns may also be asked to assist with direction, choreography, music coaching, stage management, and administrative duties. Camp assignments are determined by need, schedule, experience, and interest of each intern. For a full description of this position, including responsibilities and benefits, click here. 

Musical Theatre Teaching Internship (1 position available)
This internship is for individuals with specific musical theatre experience that have a desire to pursue theatre education or directing. This intern will assist our musical theatre teaching artist in all musical theatre camps offered throughout the summer. Depending on experience and interest, the intern can serve as assistant director or assistant choreographer in some of the productions. The intern may assist with daily warm-ups, games, work with students on acting techniques and character development, keep students focused, be backstage for performances, and more. The intern may also be asked to assist with direction, choreography, music coaching, stage management, and administrative duties. When a musical theatre camp is not scheduled, the intern will be assigned to another one of Taproot’s summer camps. Camp assignments are determined by need, schedule, experience, and interest of each intern. For a full description of this position, including responsibilities and benefits, click here. 

Stage Management Internship (1 position available) The Stage Management internship is for individuals seeking practical stage management experience. Interns will be assigned to the Acting Studio summer camp program and gain practical application as both a stage manager and assistant stage manager. The intern is expected to take notes during camp rehearsal, track props and costumes, help keep the students focused, attend production meetings, call shows when needed, and run backstage, giving interns the practical backstage experience and the opportunity to work with professional stage managers. This intern is required to attend camp production meetings and performances. For a full description of this position, including responsibilities and benefits, click here. 

Costume Design Internship (1 position available)
This internship is for individuals who have interest in costume design and costume shop management. The Costume Design intern will be assigned to the Acting Studio summer camp program and act as costume designer for student showcase productions. The intern will work with teaching artists and a production team to create cohesive designs for the performance. Responsibilities include designing, pulling, and altering existing pieces, and acting as the backstage dresser for performances when needed. In addition, and based off experience, the intern may also assist the Costume Shop Manager with shopping, stitching, cutting/draping, and fittings for upcoming Taproot productions. This intern is required to attend camp production meetings and performances. For a full description of this position, including responsibilities and benefits, click here. 

Sound Design Internship (1 position available) This internship is for individuals who have interest and some experience in sound design and basic sound operations. The Sound Design intern will be assigned to the Acting Studio summer camp program and act as sound designer for student showcase productions. The intern will work with teaching artists and a production team to create cohesive designs for the performance. The intern will learn to use sound software to build sound designs. In addition, the intern will act as Sound Board Operator for performances and may have the opportunity to observe Jewell Mainstage rehearsals and performances. This intern is required to attend camp production meetings and performances. For a full description of this position, including responsibilities and benefits, click here. 

Lighting Design Internship (1 position available)
This internship is for individuals who have interest and some experience in lighting design or stage electrics. The Lighting Design intern will be assigned to the Acting Studio summer camp program and act as lighting designer for showcase productions. The intern will work with teaching artists and a production team to create cohesive designs for the performance. The intern will build cues in a light board within the existing light plot gaining experience in designing, cueing, and teching a production. In addition, the intern will act as Light Board Operator for performances and may have the opportunity to observe Jewell Mainstage rehearsals and performances. This intern is required to attend camp production meetings and performances. For a full description of this position, including responsibilities and benefits, click here. 

Scenic Dresser/Prop Design Internship (1 position available) This internship is for individuals who have interest and are seeking practical experience in prop design. The Prop/Scenic Design intern will be assigned to the Acting Studio summer camp program and act as prop master and set dresser for student showcase productions. The intern will work with teaching artists and a production team to create cohesive designs for the performance. Responsibilities may include shopping for props and prop materials, pulling and altering existing props, construction of new props, and returning used props to storage. The intern will assist as needed during the performances for each camp (backstage help, for example). The intern may have the opportunity to observe Jewell Mainstage rehearsals and performances. This intern is required to attend camp production meetings and performances. For a full description of this position, including responsibilities and benefits, click here. 

Summer Internship Information Meeting (Virtual)

Tuesday, February 13, 2024 from 4-6pm (PST)

Click here to request a recording of the meeting.

Vision & Call Internship Program 

Taproot’s “Vision & Call” internship program is sponsored by the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust for the primary purpose of increasing the pool of talented emerging leaders entering the theater industry and for the secondary purpose of mentoring young Christian leaders and empowering them to pursue their specific calling.

The “Vision & Call” intern positions are open to any higher education student or early career theatre professional who self identifies as Christian and seeks to acquire new skills and experience within a non-profit theatre organization. Selection will be based on the applicant’s career goals, professionalism, and availability.

Vision & Call Internship Details: 

Orientation Week: Monday-Friday, June 17-21, 2024 (our offices are closed on Wednesday, June 19 in observance of Juneteenth) 

Internship Dates: June 2024 through May 2025, split into three quarters: Summer (June – August), Fall (October – December), Winter/Spring (February – April) 

Location: Taproot Theatre Company (Greenwood, Seattle, WA) 

Time commitment: 12-15 hours/week (schedule varies based on intern’s availability) 

Additional Requirement: Vision & Call interns are required to attend a “Vision & Call” retreat (hosted by M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust) on October 4-6, 2024. Travel costs and other expenses for this retreat will be paid for by Taproot.  

Pay Rate: $20.00/hour 

Housing is not provided. 

Both positions will be recruited at the same time and will operate as a mentoring cohort for the duration of their internship experience. The “Vision & Call” internship experience will be divided into three “quarters” according to the following schedule.

Summer Quarter (June –August)  

Administration Intern: Assist Education & Outreach Department

Production Intern: Assist Education & Outreach Production Team

Fall Quarter (September-December)  

Administration Intern: Assist Marketing Department

Production Intern: Assist Literary Manager/Artistic Department

Winter Quarter (February-April) 

Administration Intern: Assist Development Department

Production Intern: Assist Production Manager

Theatre Administration Internship 
This internship is for theatre students and/or early career theatre professionals who self-identify as Christian and who have an interest in learning more about theatre administration at a professional theatre company. Over the course of three quarters, this intern will assist with administrative tasks in Taproot’s Education & Outreach, Marketing, and Development departments. In addition to hands-on learning with each of these teams, the intern will also commit to weekly mentoring sessions designed to explore the intersections between faith and art and assist the individual in identifying the next steps in pursuing their calling and career goals.
 
Theatre Production Internship  
This internship is for theatre students and/or early career theatre professionals who self-identify as Christian and who have an interest in learning more about theatre production at a professional theatre company. Over the course of three quarters, this intern will assist with projects and tasks related to show productions for Taproot’s Acting Studio and Jewell Mainstage Theatre. In addition to hands-on learning as an assistant to Taproot’s Production Manager and Literary Manager, the Theatre Production Intern will also commit to weekly mentoring sessions designed to explore the intersections between faith and art and assist the intern in identifying the next steps in pursuing their calling and career goals.
 

Jewell Mainstage 2024 Directing Observerships 

Jewell Mainstage Observerships run for the duration of the rehearsal period for one of Taproot Theatre’s Mainstage professional productions. Observerships are generally held by undergraduate and graduate students, or recent college graduates who have an interest in pursuing directing. This observership is geared towards individuals who want to see the entire process of producing a professional theatre production from the Director’s perspective. From interacting with professional actors, stage managers, and technical teams, this observership spans from the production meeting to first read to opening night. Individuals will receive complimentary tickets for the show they are observing.

2024 Details:
Dates: See specific production schedules below. If a show is not listed below, there is no observership position available.
Hours: Specific call time/schedule varies and will be assigned by Production Manager, Associate Artistic Director, and Mainstage Director
Time commitment: 15 – 25 hours per week
Observership is unpaid and housing is not provided.

Sherlock Holmes and the Precarious Position 

By Margaret Raether \Directed By Karen Lund 

Rehearsal Dates: April 15-May 16, 2024 

• • Typically, Monday – Thursday evenings, Saturday during the day (plus Friday rehearsals on 4/26, 5/3 and 5/10) 
  • Opening Night: Friday, May 17, 2024 

Additional shows will be added as they arise. Check back for more opportunities.