The Public Theater

Internship Descriptions

Artistic Director
The Artistic Director of The Public Theater spearheads the artistic vision of the theater, including artistic programming, season planning, and building relationships with writers, directors and actors. The Artistic Director plays a key role in rehearsals and the development of plays.  The office of the Artistic Director works with a diverse mix of artists in the national and international theater world. 

Responsibilities: This intern position serves as a second assistant to the Artistic Director.

The position involves answering phones, filing, updating invite lists, scheduling and running errands. The position requires the intern to get to know artists and patrons that are working with The Public Theater and helping them with their needs.  Interns are expected to familiarize themselves with the plays that are being produced or are under consideration in our theater. The ideal candidate is interested in dramaturgy, playwriting or directing with experience working in an office.

Position(s): Two part-time or one full-time.



Artistic Internship
The Artistic Office is responsible for producing the Public Lab program as well as spearheading projects in development for future seasons. This office communicates with all other departments at the theater.

Responsibilities: Interns work with Artistic Staff on projects in development as well as current shows.  Duties include assisting producers on readings and workshops, maintaining departmental databases, general office management and providing support for Artistic Staff and Literary Department as needed. The intern must be extremely detail oriented, have a great deal of initiative and be an independent worker. The ideal candidate is interested in producing, directing and all aspects of how a play develops.

Position(s): one full-time


Casting
NOTE : This is a full-time six month internship and does not fall within the normal program sessions

The Casting department handles casting for all full productions, workshops and most readings at The Public.

Responsibilities: This is a full-time six month commitment in which the intern will become intimately acquainted with the intricacies of the casting process. Duties include scheduling auditions, maintaining database and filing systems, and talking with actors and agents on a daily basis. The intern is an integral part of the day to day operations of the office. The ideal candidate is anyone who would like to enter the casting field. The internship is also an invaluable experience for those interested in producing or directing. However, it is NOT suitable for those pursuing an acting career.

Position(s): One full-time for six months. (Next application cycle begins June 2008)


Development
Become a part of the planning of opening night parties and upcoming special events, appeal processes, donor cultivation and stewardship, and foundation and government research. The development department is responsible for all fundraising for The Public Theater through working with individual donors, foundations, government agencies, and corporate sponsors.

Responsibilities: Duties vary but can include general office management, research of potential donors and grant-makers, conducting mailings, working with donors, and assisting at events. Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel required. Tessitura experience is a plus. Interns will assist the entire department while focusing on one of several areas: individual giving, foundations and government, special events, or database management. The ideal candidate is interested in a career in Fundraising and Not for Profit Management.

Position(s): Part-time or Full-time


Executive Director
The Executive Director works opposite the Artistic Director and deals directly with the Board of Trustees, works closely with the Development Department in fundraising and oversees the administrative side of the organization.

Responsibilities: The intern answers phones and maintains general correspondence, serves as liaison between departments and handles ticket request. It is important that the intern demonstrates effective problem-solving skills, the ability to time manage and prioritize, excellent computer and written skills; candidates must be highly organized and detail orientated. Intern may be required to assist Development Department on an ‘as needed’ basis. Confidentiality is a must. The ideal candidate is interested in a career in fundraising or not-for-profit management.

Position(s): One full-time


Administrative Internship
The Finance Department at The Public Theater is a five member team that is comprised of both accounting and human resource employees.  Major functions include financial reporting, payroll, receivable & payable processing, box office & development reconciliation, and fiscal forecasting. 

Responsibilities: Assisting in the processing of Accounts Payable and Receivable, bank reconciliations and box office statements. Supporting various projects associated with Human Resources and Finance, administrative tasks, and interaction with all departments, upper management and production.  Intern candidate must have computer knowledge (Excel a must), NY theater industry knowledge, and be able to work independently and handle numerous projects simultaneously. Work load will vary depending on experience and capability. The ideal candidate is interested in a career in Finance, General Management or theatrical administration.

Position(s): One full-time


General Management
The General Management department is the liaison between all departments at The Public and our productions. GM handles contracts, budgets, union correspondence, house seats and the day to day administration of each production as well as a myriad of other organizational tasks.

Responsibilities: The intern provides office support for this busy department. The main responsibility will be completing house seat orders for both Shakespeare in the Park and downtown shows.  Light filing, answering phones and general office tasks will also be required. If the intern shows initiative and ability, more work and responsibility will follow.   It is very important that the intern is a self-starter, can work on their own, but also knows when to ask questions.  Sense of humor required. The ideal candidate is interested in a career in theatre administration.

Position(s): One part-time


Joe’s Pub
Joe's Pub at The Public Theater is one New York City's most celebrated and in-demand showcase venues for live music and performance. With its genre-blind booking and vast diversity of interests, the stage at Joe's Pub gives voice to a world of varied and stellar artists.


Joe’s Pub: Show Production Intern
The show production intern assists with set-up and execution of live shows. Responsibilities: Duties include stage managing live shows, assisting the production manager in advancing new shows, acting as liaison between the programming department, artist management and production team (sound and lighting engineers). Other duties include updating the advance production chart, responding to production inquiries from artists or their contacts and scheduling soundcheck times. During soundchecks you will work directly with the artists and engineers while assisting with setup for the daily shows. The ideal candidate is PC capable and knowledgeable in Microsoft Office and will have an academic music/theater background. It is also preferred that the candidate is somewhat familiar with equipment terminology and is potentially interested in pursuing work in the music industry in production or sound engineering. This position is ideal for those who are curious about how the behind the scenes work all comes together. Position(s): One part-time. Some evenings/weekends. Joe's Pub: Programming
The Programming Department is responsible for programming shows and artist relations. Responsibilities: The primary responsibility is to serve as the representative of Joe’s Pub and to facilitate the production process.  Duties include: artist hospitality including greeting performers and handling show guest lists, stage managing shows which involves serving as liaison between the house manager, the performers, the box office, and the production department.  Other responsibilities: assisting the programming department in putting newly added shows on sale through in-house ticketing system, as well as the creation and management of information databases.  Ideal candidates are interested in a wide range of music styles, interested in working in a live music venue and in operations management; they should be internet savvy and fairly proficient with basic computer tasks and MS Office. Position(s): Two part-time
Joe’s Pub: Press
Handles Press, Marketing, Publicity, Website and advertising for Joe’s Pub   Responsibilities: Structuring our weekly e-blast, fact-checking the website and all communiqués, compiling press summaries, exploring new venues and gathering contact information for members of the press, managing artist’s promotional material, working one-on-one with artists as a stage manager, creating advertisements, maintaining the venue’s MySpace site and many other small, detail-oriented tasks.  The ideal candidate is interested in the music industry. Position(s): Two part-time or one full-time
Joe’s Pub: Design
Handles Press, Marketing, Publicity, Website and advertising for Joe’s Pub   Responsibilities: Maintenance of the venue's print calendar, updating the venue's marquee, the occasional design of new advertising layouts, creation and execution of publicity material among other simple tasks. The ideal candidate is interested in the music industry. Position(s): One part-time


Literary
The Literary Office is in charge of scouting plays and playwrights, evaluating the hundreds of scripts that The Public receives each year, and working with writers to develop new work.

Responsibilities: Reading scripts, covering readings, evaluating inquiries, logging scripts into computerized tracking system, possible dramaturgical research, filing, and various general administrative duties.  Be on the ground floor as new work is submitted to The Public.  The ideal candidate is interested in Literary Management, Dramaturgy or Playwriting. 

Position(s): Part-time 


Marketing
Marketing spearheads marketing campaigns that include print/tv/radio/web advertising/promotions, printed materials and brochures, web/e-marketing and is responsible for the creation of all the materials needed for these campaigns. The department works with the box office to coordinate ticket sales and correspond with subscribers, in addition to group sales booking and donations of tickets to local organizations. Other duties include distribution of sales reports, web design/maintenance, and The Public Theater/Shakespeare in the Park merchandising.

Responsibilities: Interns will support the marketing department in its many needs: sales wraps, distribution of marketing materials, mailings, marketing research, group sales, merchandising and general clerical/organizational support. The ideal candidate is interested in theatrical marketing.

Position(s): Part-time


Press
The Press department manages all coverage of The Public Theater in print, electronic, and broadcast media.

Responsibilities: One of the Press Department intern’s primary responsibilities is collecting, recording and distributing all media coverage pertaining to the Public Theater. In addition, the press intern aids the Press Manager and Director of Communications with scheduling press seats for all Public Theater shows, management and maintenance of the media archives of past productions, and coordinating opening night events—including photographer registration, pre and post-show VIP arrivals, and onsite interviews and photo opportunities with key party attendees. Additional duties include assistance with logistics and scheduling of interviews with actors/creative team, editing and organizing bios for show Playbills, and compiling a daily summary of industry news for Public staff members. The ideal candidate is interested in Press or Marketing for theater.

Position(s): One full-time for fall, two full-time or four part-time for summer


Production (not available for Summer 2008)
The Production Department consists of Production Management (the Director of Production, Production Manager, Production Facilitator and Production Administrator) as well as supervisors and assistants in the areas of Scenery, Audio, Props, Lighting, and Costumes.

Responsibilities: The Production intern will work directly in Production Management with opportunities to assist other departments.  Previous responsibilities have included: maintaining resume folders, filing, and shadowing the Production Facilitator in the development and execution of special events like the Under the Radar Festival.   The ideal candidate is interested in a career in technical theater, Production Management or Design.

No longer hiring summer 2008 interns. 


Artistic/Shakespeare Lab Intern
A full-time internship in The Public’s Shakespeare program. The program consists of three components: 1) The Shakespeare Lab, a 12 week classical training program for professional actors. The Shakespeare Lab consists of fundamental training in the craft, speech, movement and textual thought process behind Shakespeare’s words.  2) Teaching Artist Training: a two-week intensive teacher training program for theater artists. The Teaching Artist Training program focuses on developing actors who desire to teach their craft to young people. 3) Shakespeare Lab Jr., a 2-week educational program with a focus on Shakespeare, ensemble, and performance for high school students. 

The intern is an integral component in the day to day activities of The Shakespeare Lab and Shakespeare Lab, Jr. Interns gain hands on experience, helping with administration and management of all programs. The intern will also have the opportunity to participate in classes and programs as an observer. This is an excellent opportunity for young actors/directors to learn more about classical training and community outreach.

Responsibilities: Those interested in applying should be responsible, hard working and organized; an enthusiasm for and/or background with Shakespearean text is a plus. Strong communication skills are a must. A working knowledge of Excel, Word and Outlook. Ideal candidates have a passion for Shakespeare and an interest in education with an ability to work independently. 

Position(s): Full-time (Not available for Summer 2008)



Under The Radar Internships

Under the Radar (UTR) is an annual theater festival that spotlights international artists ranging from emerging talents to masters in the field. The ultimate goal of UTR is to offer a crash course in theater that is exciting, independent, and experimental, created by some of the most dynamic artists working today. In its four-year history, UTR has presented 52 productions from over 14 different countries. The upcoming festival is Jan 7-18, 2009.

This internship is a great opportunity for anyone interested in learning the ins and outs of the festival process, experimental and international theater, or those interested in pursuing a career in producing theatre. Those interested in applying should be creative, detail-oriented, extremely resourceful, have a sense of humor and able to work in a fast paced environment. Duties may include, but are not limited to: assist with planning, liaising with artists, party planning, maintaining web presence, administrative duties, etc. Good writing skills a must. Working knowledge of Word, Outlook, Excel is required. Mac and Design skills a plus. Unpaid internship but lots of free tickets. Please e-mail resume and letter of interest to Meiyin Wang at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

2 part time/ 1 full time