A racially diverse ensemble cast in the middle of a musical number. They are dressed in mid-twentieth century American clothing and looking at the camera.


Theatre Intern Fair
in partnership with the American Theatre Wing

JUMP TO: 2020 Intern Fair | About the Fair | Best Practices for Theatre Companies

The Theatre Intern Fair, presented in partnership with the American Theatre Wing, is an opportunity for attendees to meet and greet with theatre companies in New York City. All theatre companies present at the fair are seeking interns to support their work in fields such as production, marketing, fundraising, general management, and more. While most companies are offering internships for the upcoming Summer and Fall semesters, attendees can also find more immediate placement.

The 2020 Theatre Intern Fair

A colorful, vibrant graphic with orange, red, and yellow blobs. On top of the graphic is a box with information about the Intern Fair.

Saturday, March 14th, 2020
10:00am - 1:30pm

Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel
811 7th Avenue, W 53rd St, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10019
Map »

UPDATE: In light of concerns of COVID-19 spreading in New York City, we have postponed the 2020 Theatre Intern Fair. We are working with our partners at the American Theatre Wing to reschedule and/or offer avenues for virtual connections between theatre companies and potential interns. We will be in touch as future plans take shape.


Have a question? Please email Jeannely Lopez at [email protected].

About The Fair

For Theatres

  • Your representative should arrive at 9:30am to check in and set up.
  • Interns will begin arriving at 10:00am.
  • Your company should have a representative at the table until the fair ends at 1:30pm. You are encouraged to take turns to give each other breaks since interns will be arriving constantly throughout the fair.
  • The information you provide about your intern program when you register will be used to create a booklet that will be distributed to attendees as they arrive. It is important that the information provided be accurate.
  • Attendees are encouraged to bring their resumes but have been informed that they should not expect full interviews at the fair. They have also been told that this is not a casting opportunity.

For Interns

  • Attendees will be given a catalog of all companies in attendance when they arrive. This will not be widely distributed ahead of the Fair, but in order to provide comprehensive access to all attendees, it will be emailed in advance to potential interns with Autism or other Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. All companies will be A.R.T./New York Members. To see a current list of A.R.T./New York members, click here.
  • Attendees are encouraged to bring copies of their resume to distribute to companies they meet at the fair. Most companies will not be conducting interviews at the fair. This is not a casting opportunity.
  • When registering, attendees must select an arrival time. Arrival times are staggered in half hour intervals from 10am to 12pm to keep the room from becoming too crowded at any one time. If you are unable to arrive at any of the remaining times, please register for the slot closest to the time you would like to arrive. Attendees are welcome to continue speaking with theatre companies until the end of the fair regardless of arrival time.
  • One-hour intern fair prep sessions will be held for prospective interns with intellectual/developmental disabilities at 9am and 11am.

Best Practices for Theatre Companies

Compensation

Please keep in mind the mandated minimum wage and living wage in New York City when determining Intern pay rates. A.R.T./New York strongly encourages compensating interns if at all possible. A student interning for credit can also be paid by the host organization, however the position must meet the criteria for an intern/trainee and not an employee. Compensation can be paid as an hourly rate or as a stipend. Other perks, such as a Metrocard or theatre tickets, and other benefits, are of course, encouraged.

The following criteria must be applied to determine whether an internship or training program distinguishes internship status from employee status, especially for unpaid internships (U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division):

  1. The internship, even though it includes actual operation of the facilities of the employer, is similar to training which would be given in an educational environment;
  2. The internship experience is for the benefit of the intern;
  3. The intern does not displace regular employees, but works under close supervision of existing staff;
  4. The employer that provides the training derives no immediate advantage from the activities of the intern; and on occasion its operations may actually be impeded;
  5. The intern is not necessarily entitled to a job at the conclusion of the internship;
  6. The employer and the intern understand that the intern is not entitled to wages for the time spent in the internship.

The nonprofit status of your organization is also a factor when it comes to labor laws regarding internships. Check out these links for more information

New York Wage Requirements for Interns in For Profit Businesses »

New York Wage Requirements for Interns in Not-For-Profit Businesses »


Skills and Tasks

The skills acquired during an internship will help the student not only to clarify his or her career goals, but will also expand upon educational experiences, and help the intern develop his or her professional resume. Some benefits of a professional internship with a NYC-based theatre are to help the intern:

  • Prepare appropriate professional materials such as cover letter, resumes and develop professional portfolios, websites, or reels (for creative internships in particular).
  • Cultivate relationships and network with others in their chosen field.
  • Execute organization research, job search strategies, such as informational interviews and interviewing skills to help them distinguish themselves and compete in the professional marketplace.
  • Engage subject matter that expands on the curriculum at their school, if applicable.
  • Evaluate their professional experience, determine appropriate areas for growth and outline future goals.

All host theatres are encouraged to create a work plan and a contract for every intern they host that outlines the specific job requirements, hours, and compensation for their intern candidate. In many cases where an intern will receive school credit, the internship will have additional paperwork required by the school.

As always, when working with young people make sure you are aware if you are hiring a minor. If you do hire an intern that is under 18, make sure to familiarize yourself with New York City labor laws and ensure that any insurance for your office or production will provide adequate coverage. 

 

Header: Tectonic Theater Project's production of Carmen. Photo by Stan Borough.