Topic Internship from the Theatre Chat forum.
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| Author | Topic: Internship |
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 MsPetersFan1
Registered User
Registered:
6/25/2002
From:
Long Island, New York & Boston, | posted: 11/18/2003 at 9:50:30 PM ET
Hey all...I'm looking for an internship for this summer and I really don't know where to begin. I'm looking to work backstage doing whatever is needed or be an usher. Does anyone have any information about how I should go about doing this?
~* Megan *~
| jmslsu01
Registered User
Registered:
6/9/2003
From:
northern VA | posted: 11/18/2003 at 11:32:57 PM ET
When I looked for an internship (not theater related),I used the Insider's Guide. Of course,there are lots of stuff online that weren't available back then in the dark ages.
Asking your teachers might also help-they may be able to give you some pointers.
Are you only looking at internships in Manhattan? Don't neglect to investigate regional programs and theaters.
Princeton Review's site may help (search for internships):
http://www.princetonreview.com/cte/search/careerSearch.asp
Look at the webpages of the theaters listed here:
National Alliance for Musical Theater
http://www.namt.net/
American Theater Web
http://www.americantheaterweb.com/
For the American Theater site,you can search for theaters and find websites.
Hope this helps in some way...
Jenn
| MsPetersFan1
Registered User
Registered:
6/25/2002
From:
Long Island, New York & Boston, | posted: 11/19/2003 at 3:39:41 PM ET
Thank you Jenn for all of those links!
~* Megan *~
|  Christine-NYC
Registered User
Registered:
3/23/2002
From:
New York City
Fav. BP Song: With So Little to be Sure Of
Fav. BP Show: Gypsy
Fav. BP Character: Marie (insert last name) lol There's a few
Fav. BP CD: Bernadette Peters Loves Rogers and Hammerstein
| posted: 11/20/2003 at 11:48:05 AM ET
Well personally, I think you should be in College first. As I stated on another message board, I don't think it's right for Highschool students, or even students who have just started college to go out and seek internship opportunities that someone might need in order to pass a class and/or graduate. Most companies (I don't know about theaters) will not even take on interns who are not at least in their 3rd or 4th year of college.
If you're just looking to get experience you might want to try volunteering with a local theater by your home. That way, when you are in College and trying to get an internship, you'll have it on your resume.
<3CMH<3
|  MollyEliz
Registered User
Registered:
6/13/2002
From:
Fla | posted: 11/20/2003 at 12:52:39 PM ET
Christine- I love you but I'm going to have to disagree here. I had an internship last summer, before I was in college, and it was a great experience. And I hope to have one this coming semester, which will only be my second semester in college, so I guess you're talking about me when you say you don't think it's fair for kids who just started college to have an internship.
Megan- I say go for it. The more experience you have, the better, especially for when you actually are in college and want to get more prestigious internships. Plus, you're lucky enough to live close to NYC and you should take advantage of that.
I'm going to NYU partly because it's in New York City, so my internship opporunities are better than probably anywhere else in the country.
As for getting them, I'd say just start calling places. I did that, and sent out resumes expecting maybe one of them to call me back, and so far I have 5 interviews!
So definitely try- some places in the city might not want a high school intern, but it definitely doesn't hurt to try! Good luck
| jmslsu01
Registered User
Registered:
6/9/2003
From:
northern VA | posted: 11/20/2003 at 12:57:53 PM ET
Oops-I assumed you were in college. Christine is correct-many won't take high school students. Although Actors Theatre in Louisville-which has an outstanding and competitive internship/mentoring program-may take high school students (I can't remember right now). Some do,some don't.
However,you may have a better opportunity at getting an internship once you're in college or university. You'll have to do more research to find internships that do take high school students,because many do not. But there are quite a few out there,and if you're determined,you'll find them.
However,I do not agree that new college students or high school students should not take internships just because someone might need it for a class or to graduate. Internships are competitive regardless of where you are in your educational career-you're always going to be competiting with a significant amount of people.
Jenn
| Christine-NYC
Registered User
Registered:
3/23/2002
From:
New York City
Fav. BP Song: With So Little to be Sure Of
Fav. BP Show: Gypsy
Fav. BP Character: Marie (insert last name) lol There's a few
Fav. BP CD: Bernadette Peters Loves Rogers and Hammerstein
| posted: 11/20/2003 at 1:01:45 PM ET
That's ok Molly I didn't mean you personally. I didn't even know you had interned before.
I'm glad that you got so many interviews; and if Megan can get some I'll be happy for her too. I would just take into consideration that it can be tough being so young and interning. We had an intern where I worked about a year and a half ago, and she was a senior in highschool. People were not very nice to her all the time, mostly because they resented having somebody that young there. But it is up to the people who hire, and if they think you have what it takes to do well, then they will hire you.
I know Megan is a very smart girl, so I just want her to be prepared for whatever she takes on. 
<3CMH<3
| jmslsu01
Registered User
Registered:
6/9/2003
From:
northern VA | posted: 11/20/2003 at 1:15:34 PM ET
Molly has a good point about just calling places-some places may not have an official internship program,but may take on a student-unpaid. That's how I got one of my internships.
There are some good things and bad things about that. Good thing-you may have the opportunity to do more "hands-on" things and develop your internship with the aid of your supervisor.
On the other hand,you could run into a situation where they don't know exactly what they want you to do,which can lead to a very long and boring internship.
Jenn
| MsPetersFan1
Registered User
Registered:
6/25/2002
From:
Long Island, New York & Boston, | posted: 11/20/2003 at 10:58:18 PM ET
I probably would feel very strange working with people much older than me too and I have to say I agree with you Christine that it would be unfair to college students..because I know what it's like to go to school with disrespectful freshmen. The only reason I'm looking this year is because last summer a woman emailed me looking for interns and when I asked her if they had to be in college she said she takes High schoolers too. As much as I'd love to be in Manhattan every day I'm starting to realize that's not really a possibility because I have no transportation to and from the train station. I'll stick to the summer job and maybe start small and work my way up..after all thats the only way to do it. Thanks for your opinions!
~* Megan *~
| Christine-NYC
Registered User
Registered:
3/23/2002
From:
New York City
Fav. BP Song: With So Little to be Sure Of
Fav. BP Show: Gypsy
Fav. BP Character: Marie (insert last name) lol There's a few
Fav. BP CD: Bernadette Peters Loves Rogers and Hammerstein
| posted: 11/21/2003 at 1:36:13 PM ET
Well also, once you start going to College (perhaps a College in Manhattan), it will probaby be much easier for you to find internships closer to school.
Like I said, I'm sure there are local theaters that offer summer jobs or at least look for volunteers. Maybe you can see if there are any summer camps that need counselers (I mean like the Broadway/Theatre camps...not regular summer camps).
<3CMH<3
| jmslsu01
Registered User
Registered:
6/9/2003
From:
northern VA | posted: 11/21/2003 at 3:23:19 PM ET
Megan-
Christine is correct-it will probably be easier to find internships once you're in college. Your professors/instructors should have information about internships/programs/mentorships/volunteer opportunities. Their contacts in their fields should help. This is why it's important to get to know your professors and to have them know you (which is hard when you're in a class with 100+ people,but that's only in the beginning).
You're still in high school,so don't stress too much if you don't get an internship this summer. Call local theaters to see if anything's available. The worst they can do to you is tell you no.
Jenn
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