Professional Theatre Apprenticeships

We have now completed hiring for our 78th season!

Our application process for our 79th season will begin in January of 2025. If you are interested in being considered for our apprenticeship program please read on. The following is designed to give you an overview of the program we offer here at the Barn Theatre. If, after reading the following you are genuinely interested in being considered for an apprenticeship, please contact us by filling out the form or clicking on the email link at the bottom. You will then be sent all appropriate application materials in January. In that, the following includes a lot of information pertinent to spending a summer at the Barn Theatre, please read it carefully or twice!

We will keep all applicants up to date on any COVID-related conversations with the union as well as our Covid-19 safety practices.

• We do not hold auditions here at the Barn Theatre.
• In that we may not be able to meet “in person” at a Regional audition, we can handle the whole process through email. All you would need is a YouTube link to some of your work or (preferably) an “audition”. The audition should consist of two songs: uptempo and ballad, a monologue (1 minute is fine), and anything else you feel would help us get to know your talent.
• Your audition should be sent with your application materials, not in separate emails. Because over 250 people are considered each year, auditions and application materials must be presented in the same email.

About Our Apprentice Program

To give you a little information about the Barn Theatre and its apprentice program: The Barn has been under the same family management for 78 years.

• Our theatre is active roughly from Mid June to Mid September.
• There are usually 7 mainstage shows. Each runs two weeks.
• Our schedule consists usually of 2 plays and 5-6 major musicals — the latest releases from Broadway. Each show runs two weeks unless extended by popular demand.
• We are a union theatre — our Equity members come from working actors on Broadway and Hollywood.

Apprentices make up a very important part of the Barn.

The apprentices become an integral part of the company performing in main stage shows, not student shows. Apprentices can and do get lead roles working opposite Equity members.

Our apprentices get an all-around theatre experience — having duties backstage/technically as well as performing. Although all performers are in residence all summer, we audition on a show-by-show basis in that growth can be exponential as the summer progresses.  As the program is an internship, our apprentices execute a variety of tasks, all pertaining to running a professional theatre. Our popular outreach program, the Backstage Xperience, gives school-aged kids an in-depth look at the current production, and one or two times a summer, our staff and apprentices lead a group during that program.

Nightly Cabaret Shows

There is also a nightly cabaret show that changes with each main stage show and showcases the apprentice company. Much of the time an apprentice will be in the main stage show as well as the cabaret show called “The Bar Show”. This is a wonderful forum in which to learn, as cabaret performing requires a different style than performing on a proscenium stage.

Performance Schedule/Backstage

Our schedule is one that will test a person in all areas. The days are long and the rehearsal process is only two weeks. One is asked to digest a lot of material in a short amount of time, as well as perform backstage duties. When one goes through our program they can handle anything in this business. Our feeling is we are only able to consider those who have completed at least one year of college, are majoring in theatre and seriously considering a career in theatre or film. Positions are filled soon after completed applications are received. A zoom interview will be the final step in the hiring process.

Housing

Housing is located for everyone and in recent years, grants have covered the roughly $75 weekly rent for apprentices. In order to give everyone the opportunity to partake in the program, our hope is to receive grants to once again fulfill this expense. Each apprentice is paid $200 weekly to offset other living expenses.

We hope this answers a few of the questions you may have regarding the Barn Theatre and our apprentice program.

Please email me back should you have any questions or are interested in receiving an application!

Have a great day and thank you again for your interest!

~Penelope