INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIESAT ACTOR’S EXPRESS

Interns Jason-Jamal Ligon and Kyle Brumley in the 2013 AE production of Equus. Photo by BreeAnne Clowdus.

OVERVIEWActor’s Express offers yearlong internships in acting, directing, stage management and technical theatre/design. Each internship is designed to bridge the gap between the educational and professional phases of the lives of young theatre artists. The program is highly selective and extremely rigorous.

The internship lasts for a full calendar year, beginning in August 2019 and ending in August 2020 (exact dates pending). It is designed for post-undergraduates to prepare them either to begin their careers or to move into an MFA program. To be eligible for this program you may not be enrolled in school during the year you would be interning here.

It is an unpaid internship and there is no housing provided. The internship is designed so that all interns can have a day job through the week. Interns’ time commitment to the theatre is typically limited to weeknights and weekends, preserving the work week for day jobs.

Actor’s Express is a nonprofit professional theatre located in the King Plow Arts Center in Atlanta’s thriving West Midtown neighborhood. Founded in 1988, the Express is one of the most daring and acclaimed theatre companies in the Southeast.

Lauded by local publications, the Express was named “Best Theatre in Atlanta” by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 2013, was Broadwayworld.com’s Atlanta Theatre of the Year in 2018 and has been profiled twice in American Theatre magazine since 2016.

Actor's Express develops new talent and pushes boundaries. Our work catalyzes discussion on the complex issues of the contemporary human experience.

ACTOR’S EXPRESS MISSION STATEMENT

Actor’s Express is a theatre that challenges and reflects

contemporary human experiences in an inclusive

environment.

We seek to jumpstart individual transformations

through the shared adventure of our live performances, which range from daringly provocative to audaciously

hilarious.Interns Abby Holland, Kiona Reese and Lucy Gross in the 2017 Actor’s Express production of The Crucible. Photo by Christopher Bartelski.

ABOUT ACTOR’S EXPRESS

Intern Marcia Cunning (right) with Michelle Pokopac in the 2020 Actor’s Express production of Fun Home. Photo by Casey Gardner.

ClassesInterns take up to ten classes, including but not limited to: Script Analysis, Clowning, Physical Theatre, On Camera Acting, Audition Techniques, New American Plays, Dramaturgy, Fitzmaurice Voice Technique, Physical Theatre and various acting classes. Classes are taught by leading theatre professionals from the Atlanta theatre community. Course offerings rotate season-to-season based on instructor availability. The courses for next season will be finalized by early summer.

Crew AssignmentsAll interns, regardless of specialty, assist in set building and on run crews.

Interns Kiona Reese, Abby Nicole Holland, Emily Stembridge and Max Mattox in the 2017 AE production of Little Shop of Horrors. Photo by Casey Gardner.

PRACTICUM OPPORTUNITIESActing InternsActing interns receive performance opportunities either in casts of mainstage productions or as understudies. Understudies get a special performance of the show, guaranteeing a chance to perform. Casting in mainstage roles is available on a competitive basis, but is not guaranteed. There is also an industry showcase, which is a new play commissioned expressly for the intern company. Other opportunities (readings and/or workshops) may become available on a competitive basis. AE also joins with other area theatres to offer interns an additional showcase for agents and casting directors in the film and TV industry.

Directing InternsDirecting interns serve as assistant directors on mainstage productions. Additionally, the directing intern will actually direct the intern showcase at the end of the season.

Stage Management InternsStage management interns will serve as A.S.M. on mainstage productions and may work as stage manager on additional projects, including our cabaret series and the intern showcase at the end of the season.

Design/Tech InternsDesign/tech interns will assist the Actor’s Express Production Manager in all areas of theatre production. Additionally, these interns will assist members of the creative team of AE productions. Assignments will be made based on intern’s specific area of specialty.

Intern Kristin Butler with Kathleen Wattis in the 2015 Actor’s Express production of Les Liaisons Dangereueses. Photo by BreeAnne Clowdus.

Intern Kelly Monahan (right) with Kelly Martin in the 2016 Actor’s Express production of Sweeney Todd. Photo by BreeAnne Clowdus.

FAQsQ: I’m concerned I won’t be able to support myself financially during an unpaid internship. I’m not independently wealthy. How does that work?A: Our internship is structured so that you may hold down a full time job while also being an intern. Some internships offer stipends but don’t allow for outside fulltime employment, so your overall earning potential may be greater than it might be with a paid internship. Since some interns prefer to work part-time because of the demanding schedule, we also recommend living with roommates to mitigate living expenses. We are happy to help matchmake you with other interns as possible roommates.

Q: If I’m a member of your intern company, may I also audition for productions at other theatres?A: No. While in residence at AE, your schedule would not likely allow for outside theatre gigs. In some instances, we have been able to approve short term projects for interns, such as readings, industrials or film shoots. These requests are handled on a case-by-case basis.

Q: Why would I limit myself to one theatre for an entire season and not keep all my options open for auditions?A: The yearlong commitment creates an artistic home for an entire season and allows for each intern to enter the theatre community with a built-in network of colleagues, collaborators and mentors.

Q: What does a typical day look like for an intern?A: It varies based on what project you’re working on at any given moment. If assigned to understudy a production, you would attend evening and weekend rehearsals, and then work backstage on the crew once the show opens. Additionally, you would be attending intern-specific rehearsals. Classes are typically held Tuesday nights when productions are running (no classes are conducted during the rehearsal period). If assigned to a pre-production crew, you would spend evenings working in the shop or in another production capacity as assigned. Typically, interns are expected to begin work around 6:30 pm through the week; weekend hours vary.

Q: What is the hardest thing about the internship?A: The workload is significant and it makes for a strenuous, sometimes demanding experience for interns. Managing the stress of the workload during busier periods is likely the biggest challenge.

Q: What is the biggest benefit to the internship?A: The benefits are many. You will become immersed in all areas of professional theatre and develop the kind of discipline required of a professional career in this industry. You will emerge from your experience with connections and relationships that otherwise might take years to cultivate. Your hard skills will also grow from classes and practicum experience. And you will become a member of the artistic family of a theatre that is deeply respected both locally and nationally in the theatre industry.

RECENT SUCCESS STORIES1. Eric Graise (Acting Intern 2015-16) stars as King in the YouTube Red series Step Up: High Water and is a series regular on the Netflix Series Locke and Key.

2. Curtis Lipsey (Acting 2018-19) appeared in Theatrical Outfit’s acclaimed Our Town and The Laramie Project.

3. Abby Nicole Holland (Acting Intern 2016-17) appeared in Horizon Theatre’s 2018 production of Freaky Friday and AE’s 2019 Production of Head Over Heels.

4. Ebony Jerry (Acting Intern 2017-18) recently received a Suzi Bass Award for Outstanding Ensemble for Horizon Theatre’s The Wolves.

5. Gil Eplan-Frankel (Acting/Directing Intern 2017-18) came back to AE following his internship to appear in the World Premieres of Reykjavik by Steve Yockey and Jump by Charly Evon Simpson.

6. Kevin Qian (Acting Intern 2017-18) appeared in Horizon Theatre’s 2018 production of Nomad Motel and Alliance Theatre’s Maybe Happy Ending.

7. Ryan Vo (Acting Intern 2016-17) was in Theatrical Outfit’s 2018 Suzi-winning production of The Book of Will and returned to AE for the 2019 production of An Octoroon. He has performed extensively with Shakespeare Tavern, Synchronicity Theatre and others.

8. Justin Kalin (Directing Intern 2016-17) is currently Casting Associate with AE and is Literary Manager and Casting Director for Out Front Theatre.

9. Ibi Owolabi (Directing Intern 2016-17) recently directed The Nether with Theater Emory, Electric Baby with The Weird Sisters Theatre Poject and Lysistrata with Impulse Repertory, and was Alliance Theatre’s Kenny Leon Fellow in the 2017-18 season.

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HOW TO APPLYAll applicants should submit a resume and cover letter. Actors must also submit a headshot. All applicants should also include the name and contact information of a faculty member from your undergraduate department whom you would like to list as a reference. If a faculty member is not available, another reference may be used.

If you would like to be considered for more than one area of specialty, please indicate this in your cover letter and be sure your resume reflects your varied experience and interest. If you prefer, you may submit multiple resumes from the various disciplines in which you have interest and experience.

Email materials to freddie@actorsexpress.com with INTERNSHIPS in the subject line. No phone calls, please.

TO ENSURE CONSIDERATION FOR THE 2020-21 SEASON, PLEASE SUBMIT ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS BY

APRIL 17, 2020.

For more information, please visit www.actors-express.com.

Intern Precious West (far right) with Michael Champion and Jeannette Illidge in the 2018 Actor’s Express production of The Color Purple. Photo by Casey Gardner.