Delaware Shakespeare offers apprenticeships for college students who wish to gain professional classical theatre experience prior to graduation. Apprenticeships are held in conjunction with the 2025 Summer Festival. Apprentices work with our professional directors, actors, designers, and staff to gain hands-on experience both on and off the stage.
Overview
PERFORMANCE, DIRECTING, AND STAGE MANAGEMENT APPRENTICES
Acting Apprentices appear in supporting roles in the mainstage production, understudy leading roles, and create a pre-show entertainment.
The Directing Apprentice will assist the director of the mainstage production with the planning of daily rehearsals, serve as another set of eyes and ears for the director in rehearsals, and take notes for the director during runs and tech. The directing apprentice may run small scene rehearsals outside of the main rehearsal and helps the understudies prepare. The directing apprentice also assists in the development of the pre-show, and serves in the box office during the performance run.
The Stage Management apprentice will work under the direction of the professional Stage Manager throughout the rehearsal and performance process. The stage management apprentice will attend all rehearsals as an assistant to the SM and will then have the opportunity to “run the deck” backstage.
Performance, directing, and stage management apprentices will be offered a series of Master Classes, with a focus on the unique demands of Shakespearean performance. (We know not all apprentices will be actors, but we feel it’s important that all apprentices have appreciation for the skills it takes to deliver these plays to an audience.)
PRODUCTION APPRENTICES
Three production apprentices will join the process in advance of load-in and tech week. In this first week, they’ll be part of design meetings with the professional designers working on the project. Once we move into load-in, the apprentices will work side-by-side the professional tech staff to create the performance infrastructure for the production at Rockwood Park. During tech week, production apprentices will have the opportunity to shadow a designer or crew member of their choice to learn about a design/tech discipline.
During the run, production apprentices perform daily set-up and strike duties. Some apprentice will serve as run crew, and others will serve as part of the front of house team (ushering, concessions, etc.)
Prior to the official beginning of the apprenticeship, production apprentices will be invited to attend production design meetings.
Stipend
All apprentices receive a stipend of $170/week (six weeks for production apprentices; seven weeks for all other apprentices).
Timeframe
All apprenticeships (besides production) begin at the first rehearsal (June 18, 2025). Production apprenticeships begin the following week (June 25, 2025). All apprenticeships run through strike (August 5, 2025).
Rehearsals and performances will be held on weekdays and weekends. A draft of the rehearsal and performance calendar can be found here. A more detailed apprentice and tech schedule will be available soon.
Production apprentices need to have both daytime and evening availability (daytime availability is focused during the first three weeks of the apprenticeship before shifting to the evening performance schedule).
Eligibility
Applicants should be enrolled in a college program. It is not necessary to be a Theatre major.
Delaware Shakespeare does not offer housing. All applicants should be able to provide their own local housing and transportation.
To Apply
Please follow the instructions on this form. Acting apprentice submission must upload a video with a song from the production and a monologue from Shakespeare. All other apprentice roles will be asked to speak to some of their experience and their interest in the different roles. Submissions are due by EOD Sunday, March 16th, 2025. If you have any questions, please reach out to us at apprentice@delshakes.org.
Nancy B. Lynch, Delaware Shakespeare’s board president from 2005-2020, is a passionate believer in theatre education. The College Apprentice Program was named in her honor in 2020.
