Dobama Theatre Internship Program

Interested in an internship at Dobama Theatre? We are Northeast Ohio’s leading professional theatre dedicated to Cleveland premieres of contemporary plays by emerging and established playwrights – one of the region's only full-time Equity Small Professional Theatres.

The Intern Program at Dobama Theatre received a new, more accurate name during the 22/23 season. Our Resident Associate Directors (RADs) now receive $15/hour and, in alignment with our method of circular management, are included in staff meetings, adding their voice to Dobama’s decision-making process. RADs gain professional experience helping to produce some of the best new plays in American Theatre for Cleveland audiences.

WHY DOBAMA THEATRE?

Dobama Theatre offers paid hands-on experience in both artistic production and management areas, including Finance, Marketing, Development, Stage Management, Box Office, Front of House, Lighting, Sound, Costume, Scenic, Projection, Directing, and Props. All RADs work in both administrative and artistic capacities to create a well-rounded view of the industry while also developing skills in a specific concentration.

RADs gain valuable experience and are presented with  networking opportunities with theatre professionals in the greater Cleveland area. Summer RADs work closely with Dobama’s Director of Programs, Director of Education, and instructors in the Dobama Emerging Actors Program. Season RADs work with full production teams on at least two Mainstage Productions. All RADs work closely with Dobama Staff during weekly office hours.

 APPLICATION TIMELINE

We are currently accepting applications for Summer 2024 and the 24/25 Season..

All application materials should be submitted via the Google Form before the relevant deadline (click blue buttons below for links). These dates do not account for weekends or leap years; any discrepancy would be moved to the next business day. Please send any questions or requests for a deadline extension to WorkWithUs@dobama.org.

Applications for summer internships are due no later than February 16. Interviews begin February 1, and offers are made no later than March 31.

Applications for season internships are due no later than March 15. Interviews begin March 1, and offers are made no later than April 30.

AVAILABLE POSITIONS

Internships are available for either Summer Session (May – August) or for the Mainstage Season (September – May). Please refer to the FAQs for more information about required materials.


Summer Internships

Directing Summer RADs work closely with the director and instructors working on the Dobama Emerging Actors Program, acting as both an Assistant Director and a Teaching Assistant. This position also functions as dramaturg for the upcoming Mainstage Season, production assistance for any summer Mainstage shows, and meets regularly with artistic staff, among other duties as assigned. To apply for this position, please submit a cover letter, an application form, an artistic statement, a resume, three references, and a representative portfolio of your past work.

Design Summer RADs work in the areas of lighting, sound, or scenic design. In collaboration with Dobama’s resident designers and artistic staff, this position completes a full design for the Dobama Emerging Actors Program production. Design RADs may also help with renovation or technical changeovers, assist on summer Mainstage productions, and meet regularly with artistic staff, among other duties as assigned. To apply for this position, please submit a cover letter, an application form, an artistic statement, a resume, three references, and a representative portfolio of your past work.

Stage Management Summer RADs work closely with the director of the Dobama Emerging Actors Program and Dobama’s resident stage managers. RADs will work as the stage manager for the Dobama Emerging Actors Program, running production meetings and daily rehearsals. Stage Management RADs may also help with renovation or technical changeovers, assist on summer Mainstage productions, and meet regularly with artistic staff, among other duties as assigned. To apply for this position, please submit an application form, a cover letter, a resume, three references, and an SM binder or representative portfolio of your past work.

 

Season Internships

To apply for this or any season internship, please submit an application form, a cover letter, an artistic statement (Directing and Design only), a resume, three references, and an SM binder or representative portfolio of your past work (Directing, Design, and Stage Management only).

Artistic Direction/Directing RADs assist in the direction or dramaturgical work of at least two mainstage productions per season and shadow the Artistic Director and Production Manager for the remaining productions. Artistic Direction RADs assist in both the operations of the theatre and the rehearsal process and, in some cases, can direct smaller scale projects and events such as readings and education programs.

Design RADs serve as assistants to Dobama’s Resident Designers or Resident Painter on mainstage productions in the areas of lighting, costume, scenic, projection, sound, or props design. In some cases, design RADs can design smaller scale projects and events themselves. They assist their supervisors in both the rehearsal and technical processes and gain experience in hanging/focusing equipment, writing cues, creating artistic material and much more.

Stage Management RADs assist Dobama’s Resident Stage Managers on at least two mainstage productions. They may have the opportunity to stage manage for events, education programs, readings, and other programming, as well as work with the Technical Director and Resident Designers.

Administration RADs gain experience in the day-to-day running of an Equity Small Professional Theatre. RADs will work in marketing, public relations, contracts, archiving, ticketing/box office, front-of-house, grant writing and much more. RADs will gain hands-on training in theatre management and assist in planning special events including fundraisers, donor appreciation parties, and receptions.

Production RADs serve as Production Assistants on mainstage productions and assist with the production management of the Playwrights’ GYM and/or the Marilyn Bianchi Kids’ Playwriting Festival. Working closely with the Artistic Director and Director of Production, this position is ideal for someone who wants a taste of everything that goes into producing a show.

Technical RADs assist Dobama’s Resident Technical Director and Master Carpenter with the construction of each mainstage set throughout the season. RADs will gain experience working with designers to craft their artistic visions, learn how to operate equipment and assist in the management and daily operations of an Equity scene shop.

All Season RADs assist with some office/administrative tasks and other duties as assigned.

FAQs

WHAT ARE THE HOURS LIKE?

All interns work ten hours per week during regular office hours (10am-5pm, Monday-Friday). These hours are used for administrative and operations work, including things like staff meetings, development, box office duties, etc. Work on productions have variable hours depending on the position and happen in addition to office hours (they are paid via a separate stipend); for example, a Stage Management intern may have evening hours for rehearsal, while a Technical intern may come during daytime hours to work with the Technical Director on a day when they do not have office hours.

Everyone on the Dobama staff was once an intern, and we are sensitive to the challenges of scheduling multiple work calendars. To that end, we are flexible and will do all we can to accommodate outside schedules, including offering a fixed schedule each week.

ARE INTERNSHIPS PAID OR UNPAID? WHAT ABOUT HOUSING?

Internships are paid an hourly rate of $15/hour for daytime office work and separate artist stipends for production roles ($300-800, depending on the role). We also train those interested in front-of-house duties (box office, bartender, house manager, etc) and interns may earn up to $20/hour performing those jobs as well. Please reach out to WorkWithUs@dobama.org with any concerns about affordability and we will discuss ways to accommodate or supplement.

Housing is not provided to Dobama interns, but we are happy to help you find lodging in the area and make recommendations whenever possible. We encourage local applicants.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY?

Season Internships are open to anyone looking for theatre experience including high school graduates, undergraduate students, graduate students, recent graduates, and those who did not go to college looking for an opportunity to work in a professional theatre setting. Several senior project opportunities are also available to high school seniors at the end of each spring semester.

Summer Internships are more targeted to emerging designers, directors, and stage managers. The definition of emerging has nothing to do with having a certain degree or being a certain age; anyone who has a history of working in community, educational, semi-professional, or professional theatre is eligible to apply as long as they are able to produce all the required application materials.

WHAT ARE THE REQUIRED APPLICATION MATERIALS?

Please click on one of the blue buttons above to apply.

Season Internships require a cover letter, artistic statement (for Directing and Design interns only), resume, application form, list of three references, and SM Binder or representative portfolio (for Directing/Artistic Direction, Design, and Stage Management interns only). Please do not send letters of recommendation.

Summer Internships require a cover letter, an application form, artistic statement (for Design and Directing Interns only), representative portfolio (or SM binder for SM interns), resume, and list of three references. Please do not send letters of recommendation.

The Cover Letter should help us get to know you as a person, and may answer some of the following questions (or whatever you feel we should know): What inspires you? What brought you to this art form in the first place? Why is this a good time in your career for this opportunity? Why is Dobama the right place for your next step? Please limit cover letters to a single page, 12pt font.

The Artistic Statement is a chance for you to tell us who you are as an artist. Please write in your own voice, and try to answer some of the following questions (along with whatever else you want us to know): What kind of work excites you? How do you approach a play? What is something you’ve been wanting to explore? When was the last time you had the opportunity to learn something from a perceived “failure?” Please limit artistic statements to two pages, 12pt font.

The Resume should be a list of all of your work, both artistic (i.e. any production position, even outside the position you are applying to) and non-artistic (i.e. were/are you a barista? An RA? A cashier?), along with your past training/education and any awards or special skills. Please limit resumes to two pages.

The References should include only names, relationships, phone numbers, and email addresses for three people familiar with your work. This could include past collaborators, advisors, professors, bosses, etc. but should include at least one non-academic reference.

The Representative Portfolio is yours to interpret. It could include a mix of production photos, video reels, director notebooks, vision boards, etc. We should see evidence of at least one concrete production represented. Please submit no more than 10 pages of materials. If you have only assisted or are entirely new to the area for which you’re applying, please send a brief concept for a show of your choosing. This may be written (no more than two pages, 12pt font) or represented in a vision board/Vectorworks/other visual format, or some combination.

The SM Binder should showcase your work as a stage manager on a past production. This could include blocking notes, paperwork, rehearsal reports and/or daily calls, run sheets, or any other materials that gives us a sense of your work. Please submit no more than ten pages of materials.

WHAT NETWORKING/JOB OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE TO ME?

Internships have led to many Dobama associates being employed both inside and outside Dobama. Current Director of Production Colin Anderson started as a Dobama intern, as well as multiple actors, stage managers, front-of-house personnel, and other positions. We are dedicated to providing Dobama interns with continued opportunities where available.

Working on Dobama events allows interns to network with other area theatres, including the professionals who work within those theatres. We are happy to make introductions and set up personal networking opportunities where available; we encourage you to feel empowered to set up those opportunities yourself!