2026 Internships

What is an SCS Intern?

An intern at Santa Cruz Shakespeare is a student who engages in a supervised, education-focused learning experience designed to provide exposure, mentorship, and training in various aspects of theater production. Interns at SCS serve in unpaid roles that primarily benefit their learning, are closely overseen by the SCS education department, and complement, rather than replace, paid staff. Internships are structured to provide meaningful skill development, observation opportunities, and a clear educational purpose.

How to Apply

All applicants must apply via the online internship application below which includes contact information, the upload of a 500 word or less personal statement, and resume. All applicants also must provide the names and contact information for three references, along with a brief description of their relationship with the referrer. Please refer to the additional materials for your specific internship if applicable. You may apply to multiple internships, just make sure to tailor your application for that specific internship.

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

***Application deadline will be Saturday, January 31st by 11:59pm PST.***

Key Summer Dates:

• Shops Begin Work: June 2, 2026
• Rehearsals Begin: June 9, 2026 for most interns; and June 2, 2026 for stage management interns.
• Season Closes: August 30, 2026

***Additional Materials***

Costume Design Interns

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

Directing and Dramaturgy Interns

Directing and Dramaturgy Internship Applicants will need to submit a proposal, no more than 1 page in length, where you pitch your concept for a Shakespeare play. Be creative!

*Please note that while we receive submissions year-round, we do not review them until February of 2026.

We will be notifying applicants for interviews and making final decisions by April 2026. For more information or to ask questions, please contact us at intern@santacruzshakespeare.org.

Reminder: These internships are unpaid but please check with your university about funding opportunities e.g. Praxis or Porter Fund (UCSC).

Internships:

• Administration and Marketing
• Costume Design
• Directing and Dramaturgy
• Technical