<p>A quick question for all of you. Does anyone know if housing is provided for PCLO interns? Their program looks great - but we aren't from the area, and I'm wondering if they house their interns or not. My D is looking for an internship (SM if possible) for this summer, and this looks like a great program.
Thanks!</p>
<p>Hey everyone! I just wanted to add to this discussion because I worked at a summer stock company last summer and it really was a great experience. The company I worked for was only in their second year and I was hired because the director knew my work. Most of the other interns (I was an intern) were hired at MWTAs. The intern pay was extremely low but the company did provide housing for all employees...THIRTY plus people in ONE house. The house actually was THAT big, but I still shared a room in the basement (no windows) with four other guys (one bathroom). On top of being in both of the shows that summer, the interns also worked in the scene shop for a MINIMUM of three hours a day. We also did various marketing for the theatre. This was not an easy summer. The contract went from June 3rd-August 3rd and even though I lived about an hour from where we were housed, I only had time to go home about twice (and these visits were each for less than about 24 hours). Regardless of these negatives, the learning experience was amazing. The interns also had classes in improv, singing, dancing and acting. We also presented an intern showcase at the end of the summer. These were all great opportunities but remember that this is not college--class work is not the focus. The focus is on the rehearsals AND set/costume construction. The interns had the longest days and the lowest pay. The other (non interns) at this company shared some of their other experiences at summer stock that sounded even worse than this one. One of my friends worked with a company in Texas where the interns were required to clean the cast housing (which was actually a portion of an old hospital). Just make sure that you are CLEAR on and OKAY with what is being offered to you with whatever company you decide to work for. Some of the interns felt that they had been mislead as to what exactly would be the expectations for the interns. Always do your research before signing a contract...as a nonequity actor you have little to NO rights-union-wise. </p>
<p>I am currently registered for Strawhats and am very much excited about the auditions. I received EMC points from the summer stock experience I described above and hope that this helps.</p>
<p>PCLO (Pittsburgh) does not provide housing for its interns and actors. There may be an opportunity to sublet from a U Pitt or Carnegie Mellon or Point Park student with an apartment lease, though. Most students need to rent their apartments for the year and might be happy to get some rent for unused summer months. You could try a Craigslist Pittsburgh ad to check. BTW, PCLO tries to hire locally when possible, although there have been out of area students in the program.</p>
<p>famcruisefun,</p>
<p>One of the best opportunities for tech internships, in my opinion, is at Williamstown Theatre Festival. They're very selective about who they take but, if admitted, the student will have a great summer. </p>
<p>It also has terrific opportunities for actors. They have an apprentice program which has costs (although there are a few scholarships available) and they also hire non-Eq actors to be a part of their company for the summer. They get to perform in the season's shows with the wonderful Broadway and Hollywood actors who are cast. You'd be hard pressed to find an opportunity to equal that offered at Williamstown. It's also a beautiful place to spend a summer and you live in the dorms at Williams. This obviously is not for kids who definitely have to earn some money during the summer.</p>
<p>iacboi, I know the Texas theatre you are talking about; I live nearby. I don't, however, believe it is unreasonable to expect a person to clean the place where he lives, especially when it is provided without charge. Do other regional theatres offer maid service? That would be awesome, but I certainly wouldn't expect it.</p>
<p>I'm "replying" to my own post since I've been corrected on my statement. I wrote from the knowledge of students cast at PCLO who are studying in the Pittsburgh area. While some help may be offered for housing if actors are hired for the summer, it is not a guaranteed part of their funding. Apparently, that is not the case for out-of-area actors. I'll let others speak to that from experience.</p>
<p>I agree, musicmom, that it is not unreasonable to be expected to keep your living quarters clean. Perhaps iacboi meant that non-performing interns were required to clean the living quarters of the performing cast? In that case, I think it's a reasonable objection. As I mentioned before, there are as many different experiences (both good and bad) as there are summer opportunities. Being an informed 'consumer' is wise.</p>
<p>Kedstuff, My daughter was in Peter Pan last summer at PCLO. She had just finished her freshman year at Elon. We live in Syracuse NY and she had a wonderful experience at PCLO, received her equity card, and was provided with an apartment a short walk from the theater,shuttle service to and from the apartment if she chose to use it (usually she walked), maid service once per week, fresh linens every week, and more money in the three weeks of work than she would have made working the entire summer at another summer stock opportunity she was offered. She also had the opportunity to work with extremely professional director, choreographer, music director, and adult equity actors including Cathy Rigby and Tom Hewitt (who was Captain Hook, and is now Billy Flynn in Chicago on Broadway). The local students probably weren't provided with housing because it would be assumed that they would already have housing, since most Pittsburgh area college students live in apartments after their freshman year in college so wouldn't need housing. Actually at least two cast members I know of lived at home, because they weren't even in college yet (and of course the young boys who played John and Michael lived at home). PCLO was an amazing experience, which my daughter would repeat in a heart beat.</p>
<p>famcruisefun, I'm sorry I didn't see your question about PCLO housing for interns. I'm afraid I don't know the answer to that question,however. I only know about housing for the actors.</p>
<p>alwaysamom and musicmom-
Yes, the interns were expected to clean the living quarters of the other NON-intern and union actors/employees. I believe the interns at this company in Texas were required to move in a few days early so that they could clean the entire living quarters before the rest of the company moved in. Some of the non-intern employees that I worked with this past summer were surprised that each individual living in the company's housing was responsible for cleaning their own specific bathroom/room that they had been provided with and not the interns. Apparently this way of handling the cleaning duties is fairly common. However, my understanding is that the company in Texas in which the cast members lived in a former hospital is no longer in operation and/or has a different manager/director? The company that I worked for had weekly chore duties that were posted every Sunday night and had to be completed by 9 am on Tuesday. It was a fairly efficient way of handling the cleaning duties for such a large house with many people living in it.</p>
<p>iacboi, you are right that this theatre is under new management for the past 3 or 4 years. I have personal friends who worked there as actors under the old company, and, although I never heard them mention cleaning the cast living quarters, they did say they worked them very hard every day on theatre-related things like set work and costuming. The costume director at that time was absolutely amazing--the costumes were my favorite part of the shows there. Their shows were great, also, but the costumer was incredible. She is no longer there since the new company took over, and I haven't seen enough of the new company's shows to comment on them.</p>
<p>For those out-of-state, how did you audition for PCLO?</p>
<p>^^Unless something has changed, I believe you must audition in Pittsburgh.</p>
<p>My D received confirmation that Strawhat received her application back in early Dec. Based on those that have received confirmed dates for audition usually the invites came about 2 weeks after that first letter. She figured a letter indicating one way or another would be waiting when she returned to campus after Xmas break but nothing. Anyone else in a similar position?</p>
<p>Same boat, HoosierMom!</p>
<p>We have not received a confirmation that my D's application was received by StrawHats even though we sent it in December. Is this unusual?</p>
<p>Michael I don't have the exact dates but she sent the application in early November and received confirmation they received it by the 10th of December. So based on that you might want to contact them and make sure it wasn't lost.</p>
<p>another thing you can do - you sent in 2 checks - check to see if one of them was cashed.</p>
<p>HoosierMom, we were thinking along the same lines :) . I pulled our checking account statement last night and confirmed the application fee was deposited and cleared in early December. My D sent an email late last night inquiring as to her application status. Thanks for replying.</p>
<p>The Strawhats paper (the one they sent initially) said that applicants will hear one way or the other. If they are accepted to audition, they will get a paper with the date and time of the audition on it. If they are not accepted to audition, then they get back the $45 (I think it was) second check that they sent in. My guess is that they got a lot of applications in early December (or right after Thanksgiving) and are going through them as fast as they can. Best of luck to all who are waiting.</p>