Internships and Assistantships

Woolly is looking for creative, ambitious, hard-working theatre-lovers who aren't afraid to defy convention! Assistantships are designed for recent college graduates and early-career professionals seeking greater understanding and deeper knowledge of artistic, production or administrative areas of a professional theatre company.  Assistants typically begin in August and last until the following June (see descriptions for exceptions).  Internships are designed for current undergraduates or recent college graduates looking for a glimpse at a career in professional theatre.  Internships are available during the summer months, and on occasion during the season.

Application deadlines:

SUMMER INTERNSHIPS APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED:
November 1, 2009 – March 1, 2010
SEASON-LONG ASSISTANTSHIP APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED:
December 1, 2009 – April 1, 2010

Applicants will be contacted regarding interviews within two weeks of the closing deadline.

Please be aware that applications are only accepted over email and must be received by the deadline date for consideration.

Benefits

As an Assistant or Intern at Woolly Mammoth, you will …

• Work intimately with Woolly’s leadership, senior staff and members of your department or area.
• Work independently and along side your departmental colleagues on short- and long-term projects.
• Interact with Woolly staff, board and visiting artists, as well as members of the dynamic theatre community in the DC-metropolitan area.
• Have your own email address, phone line and work station
• Attend intern seminars to learn about the various roles of Woolly staff members
• Attend company meetings
• Get free tickets to all Woolly Mammoth productions
• Attend special events at Woolly Mammoth including opening and closing night parties as well as the annual benefit
• Have the opportunity attend rehearsals of Woolly productions
• Assistants receive a $200 per month stipend (There is no stipend for Interns at this time)

Position Overviews

Woolly internships are ideal for candidates who are looking to have a real hands-on experience where they are treated as equals and are challenged with exciting projects.
Woolly Mammoth does not offer internships in acting.

Assistant to the Managing Director

Supervisor: Jeffrey Herrmann, Managing Director
Please note this assistantship is year-long, running June 1, 2010 – June 1, 2011.
With a focus on gaining experience in general management, fundraising, budget analysis and monitoring, contracts, board relations, and corporate and foundation research, the position of Assistant to the Managing Director offers a tremendous opportunity for those interested in theatre administration. This position provides an opportunity to gain experience in budget preparation and tracking, accounts payable, payroll, cash receipts, employee benefits, personnel, and internal and external financial reporting. The ideal candidate will have a demonstrated commitment to a career in theatre management.

Assistant to the Artistic Director

Supervisor: Howard Shalwitz, Artistic Director
Please note this assistantship is year-long, running June 1, 2010 – June 1, 2011.
As assistant to the Artistic Director, this intern is exposed to all areas of artistic administration including season planning, new play development, and organizing special events and workshops in addition to general administrative tasks. You work closely with Artistic Director, Howard Shalwitz, to help with his schedule and daily needs around the office. Attendance at board, development and design meetings is encouraged. This position requires strong organizational and communication skills.

Marketing Assistant/Intern

Supervisor: John Hirvela, Marketing Director
Woolly Mammoth’s marketing internship is an exciting opportunity to learn the basics of theatre marketing while honing/acquiring valuable skills in the areas of website design, graphic design and online media production. As an integral member of the marketing and communications department, the Marketing Intern assists in the planning and execution of Woolly Mammoth’s marketing plan and assists with activities that help reach the theatre’s earned income goals, which may include: marketing research; brainstorming promotional ideas; developing website content and generating email, brochure and ad copy and/or graphics. Some clerical and administrative duties will be expected, as well as involvement with special events. Experience with audio and video editing, podcasting, or other internet content technologies is a big plus. This position is project oriented and can be tailored to the strengths and talents of the individual selected.

Literary Assistant/Intern

Supervisor: Miriam Weisfeld, Dramaturg
The Literary Intern is responsible for organizing the flow of scripts through the department, reading scripts, writing script evaluations, and sitting in on new play development meetings with writers and directors. The Literary Intern is responsible for maintaining the literary database and communication with national literary offices. As part of the position, . there is also the opportunity to work as an Assistant dramaturg on one of Woolly's productions: compiling actor packets, attending rehearsals, and writing program notes. Strong administrative and organizational skills are a must.

Development Assistant/Intern

Supervisor: Tim Plant, Development Director
As an integral member of the Development Department, the intern aids the daily process of fund-raising for a not-for-profit institution. During office hours, the intern will assist with donor research and database maintenance, routine clerical projects (including mass mailings and gift acknowledgment letters) and preparations for Board and Committee meetings. The internship will also focus on assisting with First Friday and Press nights, benefits and other special events. This position requires good communication skills, the ability to skillfully handle sensitive material, a good ability to multi-task and familiarity with Microsoft Office.

Production Assistant/Intern

Supervisor: Taryn Colberg-Staples, Production Manager
The Production Intern assists the Production Manager in all areas including budgeting, scheduling, and coordinating the technical aspect of all Woolly Mammoth productions, workshops, and special events.  The intern will be responsible for maintaining both show and casting files, scheduling and monitoring auditions, and assisting with travel and accommodation arrangements for visiting artists.  In addition, the production intern will be expected to attend all staff and production meetings and assist with the routine tasks of every day operations.  Good communication skills and a sense of humor are essential for this position.

Technical Assistant/Intern

Supervisor: Paul Bradley, Technical Director
At Woolly Mammoth, interns in technical production have the wonderful benefit of being able to tailor their internships to their specific interests. While interns must necessarily have a high skill level to work in Woolly's production areas, this internship can be adapted to accommodate individual needs and goals. It is possible to work in several different departments to get a fully realized understanding of how the departments come together to create a show. Alternately, an intern could focus on one aspect of production to gain a more in depth understanding of that particular skill set. For those interns interested in design development, it is also possible to attend production meetings with artists and directors to gain a broader understanding of the artistic process. The internship could focus on all or one of the following areas: lighting, set construction, props or sound.

Lighting Intern

The Lighting Internship is a unique 3-week intensive experience that provides the opportunity to work hands-on with Woolly's award-winning Resident Lighting Designer in a professional setting. The internship will include execution of the light hang and focus as part of the electrics crew, projects with the Master Electrician specific to the production, serving as the Designer's assistant during Tech and Previews, lightboard programming, and assisting the Master Electrician with lighting paperwork. The Lighting Internship can be a singular experiences or a series of productions throughout the 2010-2011 season; dates and availability to be discussed during the interview process. Recent graduates and undergraduates in their final year with flexible schedules are encouraged to apply.

Directing Intern

Directing Interns serve as the Assistant to the Director on a Woolly production. The internship provides an unique, intimate opportunity for early-career directors to follow a professional director through the process of mounting a production at regional theatre. The duration of each internship will vary from four weeks to six months based on the needs of the director and the production calendar; however, candidates should expect to work full time during rehearsal process (approx eight hours a day, six days a week). The scope of the position and specific responsibilities will be determined by the Director the intern is assigned to, in consultation with Woolly’s Intern Coordinator and Production Manager. Applications for this internship are accepted on an on-going basis, and interviews and placement are made as the need arrives. This position is designed for early-career directors; current undergraduates are not encouraged to apply as significant scheduling conflicts are likely to arise.

Application Materials

1. INTERNSHIP/ASSISTANTSHIP APPLICATION:   Adobe PDF    Microsoft Word
2. Cover letter indicating area of interest and interest in Woolly specifically
3. Resume including administrative and theatrical experience (if applicable)
4. Two letters of recommendation (employers, professors, etc). Not required for following Internships: Lighting, Directing.
5.If applying for positions in the following departments, please include an analytical writing sample: Artistic Director, Managing Director, Literary, Development. This sample should not a piece of creative writing. Do not submit a work of fiction or a script.

Once all materials have been received the intern coordinator will contact applicants for any additional materials needed and to set up an interview. Preferably interviews will be conducted in person, but phone interviews are acceptable in most cases. Applicants will be contacted for an interview within two weeks of the closing date.

Please note: we are not able to offer housing at this time.

How to Apply:

Applications are being accepted only over email: internships@woollymammoth.net

All application materials arrive together. If a university requires that recommendation letters be sent separately, please be sure that your name and the semester you are applying for are clearly indicated on these letters.

Direct all questions to internships@woollymammoth.net. No phone calls please.

Josh Lefkowitz in Now What? (2007)

Kimberly Gilbert in The K of D (2008)