How to Apply

All applicants must apply via the online application below, which includes contact information as well as the upload of both a 500-word-or-less personal statement and a résumé. All applicants must also provide the names and contact information for three references, along with a brief description of their relationship with each referrer. Please refer to the additional materials for your specific apprenticeship if applicable. You may submit the application multiple times (for apprenticeships in multiple areas); just be sure to tailor each application for that specific apprenticeship.

Your personal statement should be 500 words or less and may include the following: your career objectives and how you hope to achieve them, your experience and/or education in theatre, and the qualities you possess that recommend you as a candidate for an apprenticeship. Your personal statement should reveal information about you that might not be represented in your résumé or references.

The deadline to apply is Friday, January 31st, 2025 at 11:59pm PST.

***Key Summer Dates***

• Shops Begin Work: June 10, 2025
• Rehearsals Begin: June 10, 2025 for most apprentices (Stage Management apprentices begin June 3, 2025)
• Apprentice Show Tech Rehearsals: August 11 & 18, 2025
• Apprentice Show Opens: August 19, 2025
• Summer Season Closes: August 31, 2025
  • 1 Acting apprentice might stay an additional week (through Sep. 7). Stipend will increase accordingly (see below).
  • 1 Stage Management apprentice might stay an additional week (through Sep. 7). Stipend will increase accordingly (see below).
• Apprentice show rehearsals will generally be T-F 9am-12pm with additional days and times as needed.

***Additional Materials***

Costume Design Apprenticeship Applicants should submit an electronic portfolio of their work, either with the online application, by providing a website address, or by emailing a file.

Acting Apprenticeship Applicants must audition. Auditions should total no more than 3 minutes, and they should consist of the following:
- 2 contrasting monologues, one of which must be from Shakespeare's canon; OR
- 2 contrasting monologues, one of which must be from Shakespeare’s canon, plus 16-32 bars of a song (if you play an instrument, you may include this as well); OR
- 1 Shakespeare monologue, plus 16-32 bars of a song (if you play an instrument, you may include this as well).

Please upload audition reels to Vimeo or YouTube as a single video. Please send video submissions to apprentice@santacruzshakespeare.org. Apprentices must audition via video submission. Do not attend the in-person audition call unless you are auditioning for professional work (not the Apprenticeship program).

Directing and Dramaturgy Apprenticeship Applicants must submit a proposal, no more than one page in length, pitching a concept for a Shakespeare play. Be creative!

Please note that, while we accept submissions year-round, we will not review them until February 2025. We will contact select applicants for interviews and make final decisions by April 2025.

The Tommy Gomez Fund

Santa Cruz Shakespeare is committed to increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion in theatre. To this end, our Tommy Gomez Fund provides financial awards to select applicants who identify as BIPOC or people of the Global Majority. In order to be considered, please contact Rebecca Clark at apprentice@santacruzshakespeare.org and submit a one-page statement describing how this award would facilitate your participation in our apprenticeship program. 

 

Apprenticeships Available:

Acting

Costume Design

Directing and Dramaturgy

Stage Management

 

Acting

Four acting apprentices will be selected  for the 2025 Season. Our program provides acting apprentices the opportunity to work alongside professional artists and artisans -- networking, strengthening their craft, and performing in a repertory company. All acting apprentices are cast in mainstage productions. Apprentices also rehearse and perform in the annual Apprentice show, a part of our Fringe Series that is performed and designed exclusively by apprentices. Acting apprentices also participate in Master Classes taught by the company's professional members. Topics range from clowning to scene work, and from the business of theatre to Shakespearean verse. Acting apprentices receive a total stipend of $1,500 ($1,625 if staying the extra week), provided in weekly installments to help defray the cost of living. Non-locals also receive free housing for the 12 weeks of their apprenticeship.

Stage Management

Four apprentices will be selected to work on the Mainstage productions and Apprentice Show. Stage Management apprentices work directly with our AEA Stage Managers and non-AEA ASMs. Stage Management apprentices receive a total stipend of $1,625 ($1,750 if staying the extra week), provided in weekly installments to help defray the cost of living. Non-locals also receive free housing for the 13 weeks of their apprenticeship. Their duties may include, but are not limited to:

• Setting up rehearsal spaces and maintaining the rehearsal environment.
• Assisting with normal stage management  duties.
• Taking line notes, and being on book for rehearsals.
• Assisting during understudy rehearsals.
• Assisting with floor management during the run of the show.
• Assisting Stage Management with paperwork, including prop lists, contact sheets, calendars, etc.
• Serving as a member of the run crew if needed
• Assisting on special projects as needed.
• One apprentice will be selected to serve as Stage Manager of the Apprentice Show.

Costume Design

Apprentices in costume design will work directly under the Costume Shop Manager. Costume Design Apprentices will receive a total stipend of $1,500, provided in weekly installments to help defray the cost of living. Non-locals will also receive free housing for the 12 weeks of their apprenticeship. Costume Design apprentices are selected to support season costume designers on all summer productions. Duties will include but are not limited to the following:

• Assisting with the costume designs for the season, including rendering, sourcing, and/or researching;
• Pulling rehearsal costumes;
• Shopping for costumes, fabric, notions, etc. online or in person;
• Attending production meetings;
• Organizing costume plots, ditty bags, and/or inventory sheets;
• Attending run-throughs and dress rehearsals to support the costume designer
• Designing costumes for the Apprentice Show,
• Assisting the wardrobe crew on mainstage productions as needed.

Directing and Dramaturgy

Three apprentices will be selected to support the directors and dramaturgs working on our summer mainstage productions. Responsibilities will
vary based on the individual directors, dramaturgs, and production needs. Apprentices may be asked to observe rehearsals; they may also be assigned projects and research based on the scope of work outlined by the dramaturgy and directing staff. They may also assist in various crew positions, as well as assist in the Apprentice Show and create materials for our Student Matinees. Directing and dramaturgy apprentices will receive a total stipend of $1,500, provided in weekly installments to help defray the cost of living. Non-locals will also receive free housing for the 12 weeks of their apprenticeship.

 

Ready to Apply?

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE APPLICATION.