NYC Theatre Interns Get Networking Group, Courtesy American Theatre Wing; College Kids Also Find a "Springboard"
By Kenneth Jones
25 Jan 2005
The American Theatre Wing, the not-for-profit theatrical service organization best known as the founder of the Tony Awards, has announced two new programs for 2005, both focusing on providing support for aspiring professionals in the theatrical field.
Theatre Intern Group launches Jan. 25 as "a social and professional networking and professional development group for the dozens of interns who are integral to the operation of theatrical offices, both not-for-profit and commercial, across the
city."
Springboard NYC is a two-week boot camp for college students following junior year or upon their graduation, designed to introduce them into the city of New York and the New York theatrical community. The program began as an initiative of the now-defunct Musical Theatre Works.
Theatre Intern Group "creates social and professional development opportunities for the young people who work in theatrical offices, enabling them to build contacts with their peers immediately upon starting work in the theatrical
community," according to the announcement. "Monthly panel discussions on the many facets of the theatrical field offer intimate opportunities for the interns to learn from professionals with 5 to 10 years of experience — long enough to be immersed in the profession, but not so far removed from the experiences of the interns themselves."
The Theatre Intern Group was founded by Lesley-Anne Stone as the "Broadway Intern Group" during her summers interning in 2000 and 2001; it was revived by her in summer 2004 in partnership with Liz Jurist, a past group member.
Stone now works at SpotCo, where she previously interned. Jurist is studying for her Masters in arts administration at New York University, following a stint as associate general manager of the Helen Hayes Theatre. The pair will continue to lead the
group.
The Theatre Intern Group kicks off 2005 on Jan. 25 at 6:45 PM with a social gathering for both new and returning members, to be held in Studio 4 of
the Manhattan Theatre Club Studios, 311 West 43rd Street, 8th Floor. For more information, visit the website at www.theatreinterngroup.org; to RSVP for Jan. 25 event, call (212) 765-0606 ext. 302 or e-mail theatreinterngroup@americantheatrewing.org.
Coming up on Feb. 23 at 6:45 PM, Theatre Intern
Group will host a panel on Casting and Talent Agents.
Initiated and operated for three years as a program of Musical Theatre Works,
Springboard NYC is a college-to-career transition program "that equips young
people for their transition from a protective academic training environment to
a competitive professional life."
Springboard NYC "provides up-to-date,
practical, hands-on career guidance for college students in the arts. The theatrical
immersion curriculum includes a series of workshops, seminars, master classes
and field trips, placing participants in the center of New York's theatrical community, with access to influential working artists."
Past mentors and speakers have included: Harold Prince, Raul Esparza, Graciela Daniele, Randy Graff, Jefferson Mays, Robert Lopez & Jeff Marx, and Jason Robert Brown. Students learn job seeking skills and urban survival tools to translate their academic training into productive careers.
Springboard NYC will be led by Randy Lutterman, former executive director of Musical Theatre Works, who developed the program for MTW.
The 2005 Springboard program will run June 6-17.
For program information and fees, as well as application materials, call (212) 765-0606 ext. 307, or visit the website www.springboardnyc.org.
*
The American Theatre Wing is a not-for-profit service organization dedicated
to education and excellence in the theatre. Sondra Gilman is the chairman of
the board of directors and Doug Leeds is president. In addition to creating and awarding the Antoinette Perry Tony Awards, ATW's programs include the long-running "Working in the Theatre" Seminars, broadcast in New York on CUNY-TV;
a grants and scholarship program awarding $150,000 annually to New York not-for-profit theatre companies and theatre students; and "Downstage Center," a weekly theatrical interview show on XM Satellite Radio.
Visit www.americantheatrewing.org.
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