Applications for Summer 2024 are due February 16, 2024
OPFT Summer Apprenticeship Program
Every year, 10-15 young people are accepted into the Apprenticeship Program (formerly called Internship Program) and come to us from across the nation. These Theatre Arts majors and recent college graduates join us to learn first-hand about working for a professional outdoor theater company. They participate in professional development workshops, perform in their own showcase, understudy our mainstage production, and work on everything from set construction to box office management.
The Apprenticeship at OPFT is designed to provide an educational, inspirational, and career-broadening experience for post-high school and undergraduate college students in theatre arts. Every effort is made to provide an experience based on the goals and interests of individual Apprenticeship Program participants. Apprenticeship candidates should be highly driven, enthusiastic, and resourceful.
PLEASE NOTE: Apprenticeships with Oak Park Festival Theatre are paid a weekly stipend. Housing is not provided.
Why become an Apprentice?
OPFT Apprentices work with Chicago-area theater professionals. The Apprentice experience allows you to connect your craft and college education to work being done by theater professionals in a creative and supportive atmosphere.
Join us this year and broaden your understanding of professional theater in the Chicago area. Apprenticing with OPFT allows you to begin building a professional theater network.
Apprentice Educational Programming & Opportunities
Understudying
Apprentices have the opportunity to audition for Ensemble understudy roles in the mainstage production.
Roles for 2023 TBD
Professional Development Workshops
A season’s workshops and panel discussions are designed around the interests of our Apprentices based on survey responses following selection of the cohort. Examples of those offered in years past can be found here.
Apprentice Show
All Apprentices have the opportunity to participate in the Apprentice-led mini production at the end of the summer. This small scale production is presented prior to that evening’s mainstage performance.
Actor's Equity
Oak Park Festival Theatre is an Equity-affiliated theatre company under the Chicago Area Theatre agreement. Apprentices will have the opportunity to learn more about how Equity theatres operate and about the Actor’s Equity Association.
Apprentice Duties & Responsibilities
The 2024 Summer production is Romeo and Juliet.
2024 Summer Apprenticeship starts May 28 and goes through August 18.
A calendar draft from Summer 2023 can be found here. Please note that this is subject to change and represents the maximum time you would be called.
All apprentices will be involved in set construction & scene painting. Once rehearsals begin, apprentices will be split into the crew teams listed below. All apprentices will also be involved in daily show set-up and strike as well as set strike at the end of the summer.
Tech Team
The tech team is responsible for light, sound, and open caption board operations during the performances and the primary team members running power. This team has theatre tech professionals & designers supervising during performances.
ASM Team
The ASM (Assistant Stage Manager) team is made up of 2 apprentices who go through an additional interview with the Equity Stage Manager on the project. These apprentices assist with rehearsal paperwork then join stage crew during the run of the show.
Actor Team
The Actor team are Ensemble Understudies for the production. They work alongside professional actors and under instruction from prestige directors. Other crew duties during performances are assigned.
APPRENTICES ADDITIONALLY RECEIVE:
- Two (2) tickets to OPFT summer opening night performance and four (4) additional complimentary tickets to the run of the OPFT summer production.
- College credit as arranged with your individual college or university.
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CONTRIBUTE TO AN EXCITING TRADITION!
Oak Park Festival Theatre is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, charitable organization. Donations are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.