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<p>Some of them, yes. And, yes, they all appeared onstage. There is a cost to the apprenticeship program, that’s true, but if you can afford it, and are fortunate enough to be accepted, it can pay off in the long run, both in training and in contacts. The non-Eq company is primarily grad students but there are often also undergrad students.</p>
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<p>I agree with you 100%, I hope that my comments didn’t cause you to think otherwise. My daughter made this choice.</p>
<p>Thanks for the clarification about summer stock being paid work. I wasn’t really thinking, and I combined internships with paid work. Paid fellowships/high level apprenticeships seem almost exclusively to be post-graduate, many post-MFA or during MFA. But I wonder if an approach for straight theatre can be to work at one theatre for several summers and get to be known there, and hopefully gain EMC points too. Then if they like you, you can then segue into paid work there and/or at a place the director is working. Several theatres work that way. </p>
<p>It seems to me the main difference between straight and MT for summer work is that approach–that MT does summerstock all across the country, but straight seems to do more fellowships, internships and apprenticeships at particular theatres you mostly apply directly to. Someone correct me if I’m wrong!</p>
<p>Good point about the continuity consideration, Connections. My son attended a very reasonably-priced (less than $1200, and work-study covered part of it) summer training program at a Shakespeare theatre one summer, worked at the same place as a paid intern teaching younger kids the next year, and subsequently was offered a position with their year-round education division, which includes an acting tour.</p>
<p>No equity points, and not a heck of a lot of pay, but great experience and connections!</p>
<p>When my d was an undergrad she interned one summer at the Berkshire Fringe Festival, no pay involved but she was housed and there was a group lunch every day. They were provided housing that came with a kitchen so they do some cooking but they were busy all the time -although there was some performance opportunity, there was physical work in setting up chairs, working the box office and concession as well as setting up tables with promotional info and selling stuff at various farmers markets. It was a great setting, she met many talented people that came in and out and participated. It ran about 4 weeks, mid-July through mid-August.
She also took a summer program one year at Shakespeare and Co. in the Berkshires that ran about $4000 including housing and meals, again a great experience plus they got to see many fine productions of their summer Equity performances. I think that it ran for 6 weeks or so, culminating in a day of scene work and Elizabethean dance performance.
She was also selected to participate in Shakespeare in the Valley in NH, in their summer training program. Again, pay to play… first time she tried out, she was waitlisted, second year, accepted. They take about 14 or so.
There are many summer theatre internships for production, props, publicity and so forth… not so many for performance until you are grad school level.
It is too late to register for Strawhats or NETC for this year…</p>
<p>^My son was at Shakespeare and Company too. The first summer he spent there, he did Shakespeare & Young (SYCo), a summer program that is far cheaper than the one bookmama22 mentioned. It is only for students age 16 -20. It runs longer than the Summer Training Institute (which is only a month long), and it is run by the same group of people as the program that bookmama22’s daughter did. There is work-study to help defray the cost.</p>
<p>Some people get the two programs mixed up and think that SYCo is more expensive than it is. It is really a great bargain.</p>
<p>The Texas Shakespeare festival pays college interns and provides housing (although you do have to live in Kilgore, TX). It is mostly tech (carpenters, painting, costuming) and front of the house jobs. My D worked in the box office the summer between freshman and soph years. It was a good experience. She got to meet a lot of the professional actors and directors - made good connections. And had fun. No on stage experience for undergrads, but nice experience over all.</p>
<p>I have known non-MT students who participated in paid summer stock opportunities at Shakespeare festivals and companies, summer stock companies that primarily do straight plays, outdoor dramas, and children’s theatre companies.</p>
<p>I have also hired non-MT students to work for the company where I am AD in the summer when we are doing straight plays as part of the season. Because they also have to appear in the musical, we do ask them to sing something in a callback, but are not necessarily looking for them to be MT performers.</p>
<p>@ KatMT " I have known non-MT students who participated in paid summer stock opportunities at Shakespeare festivals and companies, summer stock companies that primarily do straight plays, outdoor dramas, and children’s theatre companies."</p>
<p>Were these undergrads? Could you please let us know which paid Shakespeare festivals and companies and summer stock companies these are? How did these non-MT students land those paid summer stock opportunities? What was the process? My D did look at the National Outdoor Drama AUditions --but that requires you to fly out and audition physically in North Carolina (costs a lot) and the theatres listed as attending were largely not the right fit for her–many were either Christian theatres, historical theatres (eg a reenactment of some historical time) or children’s theatres. </p>
<p>For the students who did straight paid summer stock in your experience, what did they do to get placed? And what sorts of plays did they do? For paid summerstock Shakespeare—what festival accepts undergrads for this? Thanks so much.</p>
<p>Hi!!</p>
<p>Yes, they were undergrads… it does cost money to fly/ drive to auditions. The MT “kids” are also spending this money, and are not always getting a job out of the deal. It is difficult, and there is expense… all need to assess what is doable for them. </p>
<p>Yes… many of the outdoor dramas are historical reenactments, but they sometimes also do other shows… They may be CT shows, but that is work, and networking opportunity. There are also sometimes plays. Regardless, students have the opportunity to work professionally. Some top directors and designers also work at these theatres. </p>
<p>The students I know who have booked professional opportunities have traveled to audition for companies either at combined auditions (NETC, SETC, etc…), or have traveled to audition directly for companies on site. While more and more companies will accept video submissions… often nothing beats a live audition! Work begets work… connections are made… networks are formed… at the very least, actors demonstrate that they have been paid to act (this also opens up the door to deducting many expenses as an actor from taxes). These opportunities also open the door to professional recommendations and references. Directors work at many theatres, and can help open doors in areas that may be more up an actors preferred alley. </p>
<p>I have know non-MT undergrads who worked at Texas Shakespeare Festival, VA Shakes (on the William & Mary campus), Winni Playhouse, many Ren. Festivals, and outdoor dramas. I have also hired actors to perform leading roles in plays (and secondary roles in musicals) and CT at the summer company where I am the AD. Yes, these actors needed to also be able to sing… but they were NOT necessarily MT performers. Rather, actors with some singing/ musicianship skills. </p>
<p>I, honestly, am not sure of the salary/ fee situation at these theatres… but I have also known actors to work at other programs listed here on CC… Williamstown, Berkshire, NJ Shakes, Peterborough Playhouse. etc…</p>
<p>NETC has an “Acting Only” room. Auditionees have the opportunity to be seen by theatres who have chosen to be in that room to see the actors auditioning there. This is a great opportunity for actors to explore.</p>
<p>I said above that “work begets work.” I graduated with a MT degree, but had also pursued non-MT performance training. My first two professional jobs out of college were performing in Shakespeare plays. I continue to work in both MT and Theatre through my years as an actor, director, and teacher.</p>
<p>I believe that early career performing artists should seek out professional (and training) opportunities that will push them to grow, expose them to professional practice, and expand their professional networks. Obviously, finances have to come into play… but, student and early career performing artists (both MT and non-MT) need to take advantage of as many opportunities as they can afford, that they also feel will be positive learning and growth experiences.</p>
<p>Ultimately, performers really need to develop skills in as many performing areas as possible in order to maintain a long term professional career as a performer… and/ or develop skills in other related areas that will expand their opportunities to grow and network. Students need to assess what opportunities are fiscally available to them, and expand their skills as far as possible. </p>
<p>There are so many paths and opportunities available! At a young age I encourage students to be as inclusive as possible. We never know what doors might open!</p>
<p>Katmt, maybe I’m the only one that doesn’t know this :(, but what does “CT” stand for?</p>
<p>^Children’s theatre.</p>
<p>Thanks KatMT, this was really helpful.</p>
<p>Kat explains it well, as always. 
There are opportunities out there, and as much as I said that not all summer stock is created equal, which is true, I think it’s important to be discerning but also to realize that your student cannot be too picky about work. It’s true that all work is valuable, in different ways, and although the summer work in places like Wiliamstown and Chataqua and the off-off Broadway theatres is ideal, not everyone is going to get one of those positions.</p>
<p>Booking work at one of the many theatres for the summer will, as Kat said, allow you to make connections that you wouldn’t have had otherwise. This may be very helpful to those students who are at schools in locations where these types of connections are not as plentiful. You also don’t know who is coming to see these shows and what benefits may accrue from that in the future. Just a little example, I saw a show last summer while travelling that included one of those amazing actors whose stage presence just grabs your attention and hangs on for the entire show. A few weeks later, I was in NY having lunch with a friend who’s been in the business for many years and I mentioned this girl to my friend. To make a somewhat long story short, my friend contacted the girl which resulted in her being cast in a show that a friend of my friend was producing, and now the girl is also involved in another project that is being helmed by my friend. </p>
<p>Now this girl had graduated but just last spring so these contacts were of benefit to her and who knows how many more jobs she’ll get down the line as a result. I tell this story not because it’s so unusually interesting, but more because it’s not uncommon for contacts to be made in such a way. Connections are an important part of this business.</p>
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<p>I know this is not the main topic of this thread but I couldn’t agree with this post more. My kid is already out of her BFA program and she does not sit around waiting to be cast in a show and in fact, auditions very little. She creates a lot of her own opportunities to perform. That said, she did just get cast in something significant, at her highest level so far.</p>
<p>My D only was interested in trying summer stock once, the summer after her freshman year of college and she did it, but never did it again. </p>
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<p>I cannot agree with this more! That has been my D’s experience so far. A lot of networking and a lot of being seen on stage has led to more opportunities. In fact, even her most recent casting was from being called in for the audition as they were familiar with my D’s work. </p>
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<p>Again, not the main topic of this thread but I have to strongly concur with this statement. In my D’s experience, almost 4 years out of a BFA program, she has worked continually in her field since graduation but has skills in various areas of the field and so has four careers going at one time, keeping her working. The more things you can do, the more work you will get.</p>
<p>I am glad that someone started this thread. As a parent who went through the crazy process of my Ss BFA applications and auditions a few years ago, I have now moved on to worrying about whether my S is going to find an acting related position each summer. I realize that the next step in this process is going to be my agonizing over whether he is going to find acting work and be able to support himself when he graduates from his BFA acting program but I am putting off that worry until next year! </p>
<p>A few posters mentioned the Williamstown Theatre Festival apprenticeship program. During my Ss Freshman year in his BFA program, he applied to be an apprentice at Williamstown and was accepted. I know that the apprenticeship program is selective, but I do not know what criteria they use to select apprentices. Letters of recommendation and a short essay on why you want to be an apprentice are required. Based on his observations, it looks like Williamstown accepted students from a wide range of programs there were apprentices from BFA programs, the Ivies, LACs, state universities, overseas programs, etc. There also appeared to be some geographical diversity in the make-up of the apprentice class. There were about 70 apprentices, but practically all of them were older than my S. In fact, he met just one apprentice who was younger than my S by a few months. Some apprentices had already graduated from college. There is a fee for the program, but this covers housing, meals, and classes. The fees were worth it. My S worked extremely hard, mostly in behind the scenes jobs. However, he was able to see exactly what was required to produce several performances over the course of the summer, met a number of very nice folks, and had great - and at times amusing - experiences. There were performance opportunities based on auditions, mostly for smaller roles or human scenery roles. There also is a non-equity, audition-based program, but practically everyone in that program had graduated from college. He received equity credit and is an equity candidate, which has been helpful. If you would like more info on his experiences at Williamstown, please feel free to PM me.</p>
<p>Last summer, he had a paid acting position at a highly regarded equity theater in our hometown. He had worked volunteer positions with this theater in the past and they accepted him for a position during the summer. </p>
<p>I am now becoming nervous about what he is going to do this summer but am going with if he wants to find work as an actor, he has to figure this out for himself.</p>
<p>I’m not liking this thread at all. I was expecting that the worrying could wait 4 years once she got into a BFA.</p>
<p>ActingDad, once they are in school they start to become skilled at finding summer opportunities for themselves. They develop their own networking systems and have access to a better “grapevine.”</p>
<p>I have found that the biggest challenges to a parent during college are helping the student with the roadbumps that sometimes occur in the logistics and details of their summer plans…and trusting that the semester abroad will be safe and happy, if they take one!</p>
<p>In addition, there is a minor challenge involved in wanting to see their productions at school but sometimes not learning the dates until rather late and then having to juggle schedules.</p>
<p>Acting Dad, no need to worry too much. It is true that when the student is attending an acting program, he or she manages to find out about summer opportunities from their colleagues, particularly upperclass students, or from teachers. If there are out-of-town auditions for a summer program, students will usually band together and drive there. However, as freshmen, acting students may not have access to cars to drive to auditions. Thats when a parent might need to do some driving pick up student at college and take him or her to an audition for summer acting positions. Also, there is a great incentive for students to figure out summer acting opportunities it means they dont have to live at home with their parents for the summer! My S lived at home last summer and is trying like crazy to avoid having to do so this summer! While I garnered a great deal of info on the college application and audition process from other parents and from students on CC, I really did not know anything about summer stock. I had no idea what NETC, Straw Hat, etc. were until I began to read through some threads on the MT page. A few years ago, I saw a reference on CC to The Directory of Theatre Training Programs, located the publisher on the web, and discovered that they also published a book called Summer Theatre Directory that provided on a state-by-state basis descriptions of summer employment opportunities for actors and information about auditions. I purchased the directory for my S but am not sure if this book is still published. More recently, I saw this link on CC, which I thought was helpful for acting students looking for summer positions. </p>
<p><a href=“http://theater.nytimes.com/2012/05/20/theater/theater.html[/url]”>http://theater.nytimes.com/2012/05/20/theater/theater.html</a></p>
<p>ActingDad, no need to worry YET…get through BFA admissions. BUT…I can tell you, it doesn’t end there. That was just the beginning! Every year, my kid worked on what she was going to do for that summer (this is true for my non-MT kid too who also worked in her field every summer while in school). Then, after graduation, there is constant “job hunting” as most jobs in this field are not of the permanent variety. So, it NEVER ends! But like someone else wrote, the kid is more on their own once in college to take care of these processes, though my kids always shared and conferred with me about what they were pursuing. But the selection process and waiting…keeps going and going and going…well past college admissions!</p>
<p>My fear will be that S will hear about wonderful apprenticeships or internships while at college. He will get excited to apply, etc. then dear old mother has to say, “If you are not getting a paycheck, you can’t do it.” But that is the reality of it. The kid has to come up with some money to help with his tuition. I felt bad telling him he had to do work study at college, too, but he needs to bring in some money!!!</p>
<p>Yes - you make great connections, and it is very worthwhile to learn about an entire production (meaning not just the acting piece). But it is doubly bad if the kid doesn’t get paid, and actually has TO PAY to do the apprenticeship. </p>
<p>Hopefully, S knows that last year he was lucky to participate in a summer program, and didn’t work. But it’s back to reality this summer, and the summers after that!</p>