Studio Theatre’s Fellows-in-Residence Program prepares early-career artists and administrators for a successful career in the arts. Offering a rigorous, hands-on training experience over the course of a full theatrical season, this program is designed to help early-career professionals transition into the workforce of the professional theatre. With guidance from professionals across the institution, and through supplemental programming and networking opportunities, Fellows hone their problem-solving skills, cultivate effective communication techniques, and gain broad experience working at one of the country’s leading midsized theatres.
The Fellows-in-Residence Program runs from July through May each year with positions available in production and technical areas, directing, producing, development, marketing and communications, finance, and company management. Fellows live together in a residence located less than a mile from the theatre. Each Fellow is embedded within a department and works closely with that team, in addition to having the opportunity to observe the larger workings of the full institution. Throughout the year, Fellows participate in a series of professional development opportunities that include mentorship, seminars, and networking opportunities.
Studio’s Fellows-in-Residence Program, launched in 2024, is the largest training program of its kind in the DC area to provide full employment and housing. Studio has had a long-standing commitment to training the next generation of theatre, with the Apprentice Program running for 18 years prior. With more than 150 past participants, program alumni continue to enrich the DC area’s theatre workforce as well as the national industry. Alumni have gone on to the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale, Carnegie Mellon University, Manhattan Theatre Club, Signature Theatre, New York Theatre Workshop, the Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation, Shakespeare Theatre Company, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, Roundhouse Theatre and Studio Theatre itself.
Fellows are imbedded in every Studio Theatre department, working with their peers, supervisors, and senior leadership of the institution. The work is hands-on and structured so that Fellows gain new skills and professional credentials which will set them apart from their peers when transitioning to permanent full-time work.
SKILLS-FOCUSED LEARNING
Fellows are not required to have professional experience before joining the Program. The Program includes developing and learning demonstrable skills that will prepare them to take on professional roles in the field. These skills will be developed by executing daily tasks as well as taking on longer-term projects.
ORGANIZATIONAL KNOWLEDGE
During the program, Fellows are able to observe the workings of the full institution, helping to develop an understanding of how a mid-size theatre functions. Through interdepartmental collaboration, the open office culture, attending regular All Staff meetings, having opportunities to interact with the Board of Directors and a meeting with Executive leadership, Fellows can gain a broad knowledge about the structure of non-profit theatre.
Studio Theatre’s Fellows-in-Residence Program prepares early-career artists and administrators for a successful career in the arts. In addition to the experience that Fellows gain through hands-on experience, the program offers additional components to support their professional development.
SEMINARS
During the program, Fellows will attend regular seminars about a broad range of topics including the main areas of the non-profit theatre, giving them access to learn about departments outside of their own discipline. Seminars will also be offered on topics to support the next steps in their career, such as resume writing and graduate school options. Seminars will be led by a mix of Studio staff and theatre professionals from other area institutions.
NETWORKING
Studio coordinates opportunities to meet with other DC-area apprentices, fellows, and training program participants to help Fellows build a network of peers. Fellows can also take advantage of the opportunity to be connected to industry professionals outside of Studio to discuss career goals and industry trends based on the individual’s interest.
SCHEDULE
The 2025-2026 Fellows-in-Residence Program will run from July 15th, 2025, through May 22nd, 2026. Access to housing will begin on July 10th, 2025. Participants are expected to complete the full length of the program from July through May. The Program is only considered completed if the Participant stays the full nine months; however, Participants are considered “at-will” employees and may leave at any time.
This is a full-time commitment and Fellows are expected to work 40 hours a week with occasional paid overtime. Overtime is based on the needs of any given production or project.
Studio Theatre’s remote work policy allows certain positions to work remotely up to two days a week plus exceptions on a case-by-case basis. Due to the nature of live entertainment, all positions may require some evening and weekend work.
Studio Theatre’s hours are as follows:
Administrative hours are Monday through Friday 10am to 6pm.
Production department hours Monday through Friday are 8am to 4pm.
Rehearsal schedules run six days a week in accordance with LORT/AEA guidelines.
PROGRAM PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS
Must be able to work on-site at Studio Theatre a minimum of 3 days a week.
Must be 21+
Must be able to legally work in the United States.
POSITION QUALIFICATIONS
The Program is designed for early-career professionals looking to gain experience and knowledge firsthand in a professional theatrical environment. Applicants wondering if they are a good match for a specific position should focus their own interest on the listed “Essential Duties & Responsibilities” and their qualifications on the attributes listed under “What We are Looking for in a Fellow.”
APPLICATION PROCESS
The application process will open on January 22nd, 2025. Positions will remain open until a match is found. The description on the website will indicate if a position is closed.
Applicants will have the option of uploading a resumes or filling out employment history within the process; there is also an opportunity to indicate no prior employment history. Cover letters are encouraged and can be uploaded along with other supplemental materials; however, Applicants will also be given the opportunity to answer prompts in lieu of including a Cover Letter.
Certain positions require specific supplemental materials, details are included in the Job Description.
If you have any questions or concerns about this process, please do not hesitate to reach out to [email protected] or 202-232-7267 x 0
SELECTION PROCESS
Hiring Managers will begin reviewing applications on March 3rd, 2025, and reach out directly to applicants who they would like to interview. Interviews will be held virtually even if the candidate is based in the DC area. Candidates may be invited for up to two (2) interviews. Please note that not every track requires a second interview.
For the first interview, questions will be sent ahead of time so the candidate can prepare accordingly. Each interview will include the direct supervisor and any other relevant members of the department up to and including members of senior leadership. Candidates will be informed who will be present in any interview ahead of time.
Every effort will be made to accommodate interview needs, including IT difficulties or otherwise.
COMPENSATION
Compensation is equivalent to $17.50 an hour for 40 hours a week, inclusive of the value of housing, which is provided. Weekly pay is $450 and housing is valued at $250 per week, totaling $700 per week in total taxable compensation. This position is non-exempt and eligible for overtime pay after 40 hours, which is paid at time-and-a-half rate of $26.25.
*Rates above are based on the current Washington D.C. minimum wage. In the case of a D.C.’s minimum wage increase, compensation will be adjusted accordingly.
BENEFITS
Studio Theatre offers a generous benefit package including:
Medical insurance with a partial employer contribution and a funded HRA.
Employee funded dental, vision, FSA, commuter benefits, and the opportunity to contribute to a 401K.
Employer-funded long-term disability insurance, life insurance, and workers’ compensation.
TIME OFF
Time off for the Fellows-in-Residence Program includes paid holidays, floating holidays, annual vacation leave accrual at ten days equivalency*, and paid sick time.
*Program lasts nine months so total accrued vacation leave is estimated to be 8 days.
HOUSING
Fellows-in-Residence live in the Butler House, a fully-furnished town house located one mile from the theatre with a shared kitchen, living space, laundry facilities and bathrooms. All bedrooms are private. Utilities, including electricity, water, and internet are provided.
There is no parking at Butler House. Registered Service and Accessibility Animals are permitted at Studio Theatre and accommodations can be made at Butler House. Emotional Support Animals and pets are not allowed at housing or Studio Theatre. If you have specific questions about housing please email [email protected]. Please note – for the safety of our Fellows, we cannot give details related to the location of the housing.
REMOTE/HYBRID WORK POLICY
While Artistic and Production positions primarily work on-site, Administrative positions can work remotely occasionally up to two days a week. Due to the nature of live entertainment, all positions may require some evening and weekend work.
ACCOMMODATION POLICY
Studio Theatre complies with federal and DC law concerning the employment of qualified individuals with disabilities. Furthermore, Studio Theatre commits to providing a reasonable accommodation to any employee who has a physical or mental need (regardless of qualified disability status) if such accommodation can be met without creating an undue hardship to Studio Theatre or a direct threat to the health or safety of the individual or other.
Additionally, while great care and thought have gone into the physical and work environment descriptions; if there is something listed which you would like to discuss possible accommodations, please do not hesitate to reach out and ask at [email protected].
Click on the title below to read a job description for each position. The application process will open January 22nd, 2025.
TITLE: Artistic Producing Fellow
SUPERVISOR: Dual reports to Associate Artistic Director and Literary Director
DEPARTMENT: Artistic
DIVISION: Artistic
ONSITE REQUIREMENTS: This position will require onsite work in conjunction with Studio Theatre’s remote work policy.
SCHEDULE DESCRIPTION: This position requires occasional weekend and evening work in order to attend required artistic and community engagement events.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Artistic Producing Fellow will both learn and practice Artistic Producing, deepening their understanding of the relationship between available resources and artistic programming; learn how to effectively manage relationships with visiting artists; meaningfully engage with community members; observe the interplay between management and board governance; develop practical artistic administration skills; develop strong communication skills by working with people in multiple departments with differing work styles and priorities; and build leadership skills through problem solving. Fellows are also mentored through a year-long process to set and pursue their own learning goals to set them up for work after Studio.
APPLICATION MATERIALS
As part of the application process, Applicants are required to submit up to five pages of critical writing that shows your ability to communicate original ideas in a clear and non-academic tone; at least one writing sample should be about a theatrical production.
TITLE: Business Fellow
SUPERVISOR: Business Director
DEPARTMENT: Business
DIVISION: General Management
ONSITE REQUIREMENTS: This position will require onsite work in conjunction with Studio Theatre’s remote work policy.
SCHEDULE DESCRIPTION: This position may require occasional weekend and evening work in order to support special theatre events.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Business Fellow works closely with Studio Theatre’s entire Management team assisting in daily tasks as well as long-term institutional projects. Opportunities and responsibilities include: introductory bookkeeping and accounting duties like Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, and daily cash management; regular financial reporting including aiding in the preparation of the annual financial audit as well as the budgeting process; supporting the Theatre’s Board of Trustees by attending all meetings of the full Board and supporting key committee meetings; and providing general admin support to all staff. The position will often work cross-departmentally, collaborating on budgets, hiring, culture, professional development programs, and training fellow staff members in financial procedures.
TITLE: Company Management Fellow
SUPERVISOR: Company Manager
DEPARTMENT: Company Management
DIVISION: General Management
ONSITE REQUIREMENTS: This position will require onsite work in conjunction with Studio Theatre’s remote work policy.
SCHEDULE DESCRIPTION: This position requires occasional weekend and evening work to support evening shows, tech rehearsals, and artist emergencies. Position will have “on call” shifts on some weekends, holidays, and evenings.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Company Management Fellow will work closely with the Company Manager to help build and maintain relationships between the theatre and visiting artists. The Fellow will support visiting artists in contracting, hospitality, and housing. The Fellow will get to see firsthand negotiations between actors, agents, and the theatre. The Fellow will collaborate with the rest of the Management team on supporting and executing company culture events and needs; support the Theatre’s Board of Trustees by attending all meetings of the full Board and supporting key committee meetings; and work closely with the Artistic and Production departments on successfully producing a six-show season.
TITLE: Development Fellow
SUPERVISOR: Development Operations Manager
DEPARTMENT: Development
DIVISION: Development
ONSITE REQUIREMENTS: This position will require onsite work in conjunction with Studio Theatre’s remote work policy.
SCHEDULE DESCRIPTION: This position requires occasional weekend and evening work in order to support fundraising events.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Development Fellow is an engaging, hands-on opportunity for an early-career individual interested in non-profit administration, specifically fundraising, institutional storytelling, and connecting artistic vision with fiscal stewardship. The Fellow will receive broad exposure to Studio Theatre’s fundraising program, which provides roughly half of the operating income for the Theatre.
APPLICATION MATERIALS
As part of the application process, Applicants are required to submit at least one writing sample illustrating an argument using critical thinking.
TITLE: Directing Fellow
SUPERVISOR: Duel reports to Associate Artistic Director and Literary Director
DEPARTMENT: Artistic
DIVISION: Artistic
ONSITE REQUIREMENTS: This position will primarily work onsite in order to support rehearsals; remote work is available during non-rehearsal weeks in conjunction with Studio Theatre’s remote work policy.
SCHEDULE DESCRIPTION: This position requires regular weekend and evening work in order to attend rehearsals, previews, and performances as an Assistant Director. This position regularly involves working more than 40 hours a week, which will be compensated with overtime.
POSITION SUMMARY
Studio’s Directing Fellow will gain a deeper understanding of directing, strengthen their communication skills by working with people in multiple departments with differing work styles and priorities, build their leadership skills through problem solving, and learn practical artistic administration skills. Fellows are also mentored through a year-long process to set and pursue their own learning goals to set them up for work after Studio.
APPLICATION MATERIALS
As part of the application process, Applicants are required to submit up to five pages of critical writing that shows your ability to communicate original ideas in a clear and non-academic tone; at least one writing sample should be about a theatrical production.
TITLE: Electrics Fellow
SUPERVISOR: Lighting & Sound Supervisor
DEPARTMENT: Lighting
DIVISION: Production
ONSITE REQUIREMENTS: This position will require mostly onsite work in conjunction with Studio Theatre’s remote work policy.
SCHEDULE DESCRIPTION: During tech and preview weeks, this position often works 12-hour days, six days a week often over 40 hours in a week. These long days do include breaks and downtime and time worked over 40 hours will be compensated for with overtime.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Electrics Fellow will participate in load-in, hanging and focusing lights, troubleshooting problems during tech rehearsals, programming and running board for tech rehearsals, maintaining electrics equipment during production runs, and participating in all lighting strikes and changeovers. The Fellow will have hands-on experiences and have opportunities to learn various skills including soldering, wiring practices, and miscellaneous theatre specific electric's needs.
TITLE: Marketing and Communications Fellow
SUPERVISOR: Associate Director of Marketing and Communications
DEPARTMENT: Marketing and Communications
DIVISION: Marketing and Communications
ONSITE REQUIREMENTS: This position will require onsite work in conjunction with Studio Theatre’s remote work policy.
SCHEDULE DESCRIPTION: This position requires occasional on-site weekend and evening work to support front-of-house and box office and to help conduct special events.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Marketing and Communications Fellow will receive a first-hand look at marketing and communications for a nonprofit theatre, working closely with all members of the marketing and communications department.
This position will give the Fellow a 360-degree view on the workings of a theatrical marketing department; they will participate in all of the department’s day-to-day activities, strategic planning, and decision-making. They will receive training and experience in the planning and implementation of key marketing operations, including creating and implementing email marketing strategies, maintaining press and media relations, creating social media and digital marketing, distributing promotional material, undertaking grassroots marketing strategies, and researching new marketing opportunities. They will play a role in audience identification, measurement, and analysis, as well as performance measurement and reporting on marketing efforts. They will also collaborate with the Artistic Department in support of community engagement efforts, including working with community partners on public-facing projects.
TITLE: Production and Events Management Fellow
SUPERVISOR: Assistant Production Manager
DEPARTMENT: Production
DIVISION: Production
ONSITE REQUIREMENTS: This position will require mostly onsite work in conjunction with Studio Theatre’s remote work policy.
SCHEDULE DESCRIPTION: This position requires weekend and evening work in order to facilitate the needs of tech and productions.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Production Management and Rentals Fellow works closely with Studio Theatre’s entire Production and Rentals team assisting in daily tasks as well as long-term institutional projects. This position will facilitate external Rentals communication with prospective clients through the lifespan of the rental as well as facilitate communication and scheduling with all necessary departments. The Fellow will work closely with design teams and production departments to help support the execution of Studio’s productions and external events. The position will often work cross-departmentally, collaborating on budgets, hiring, and scheduling.
TITLE: Sound & Projections Fellow
SUPERVISOR: Lighting & Sound Supervisor
DEPARTMENT: Audio
DIVISION: Production
ONSITE REQUIREMENTS: This position will require mostly onsite work in conjunction with Studio Theatre’s remote work policy.
SCHEDULE DESCRIPTION: During tech and preview weeks, this position often works 12-hour days, six days a week often over 40 hours in a week. These long days do include breaks and downtime and time worked over 40 hours will be compensated for with overtime.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Sound and Projections Fellow will help implement the sound design and projections design for each production. The Fellow will work closely with local and visiting projections designers, sound designers and engineers. They will assist with load-in, troubleshooting problems during tech rehearsals, programming and running board for tech rehearsals, maintenance of audio and projections equipment during the run of productions, and participation in all strikes and changeovers.
TITLE: Stage Management Fellow
SUPERVISOR: Assistant Production Manager
DEPARTMENT: Stage Management
DIVISION: Production
ONSITE REQUIREMENTS: This position will primarily work onsite in order to support rehearsals; remote work is available during non-rehearsal weeks in conjunction with Studio Theatre’s remote work policy.
SCHEDULE DESCRIPTION: This position requires regular weekend and evening work in order to attend rehearsals, previews, and performances as an Assistant Stage Manager. This position regularly involves working more than 40 hours a week, which will be compensated with overtime.
POSITION SUMMARY
Studio’s Stage Management Fellow will have a unique opportunity to learn through working as an Assistant Stage Manager and as a member of the run crew in a non-profit regional theatre setting. The Fellow will work with multiple professional AEA Production Stage Managers (PSM) throughout the duration of the program, working on all productions from prep week to handing the show off before the next production starts. In rehearsal, the Fellow will prepare rehearsal and performance paperwork, coordinate rehearsal properties and costumes, be on book, track and distribute line notes, and interact with other members of the production department. During performances the Fellow will manage all backstage show operations, including managing additional run crew and wardrobe. The Fellows participates in a career-building curriculum while gaining exposure to all areas of the theatre operations.
APPLICATION MATERIALS
As part of the application process, Applicants are encouraged to include one piece of paperwork that you are proud of.
TITLE: Technical Director Fellow
SUPERVISOR: Technical Director
DEPARTMENT: Production
DIVISION: Production
ONSITE REQUIREMENTS: This position works primarily onsite.
SCHEDULE DESCRIPTION: During tech and preview weeks, this position often works 12-hour days, six days a week often over 40 hours in a week. These long days do include breaks and downtime and time worked over 40 hours will be compensated for with overtime.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Technical Director Fellow begins as a shop carpenter and grows into the equivalent of an Assistant Technical Director role by the end of the year. This involves conceiving a build plan based on the desires of the scenic designers, sourcing materials and labor for the plan, and executing it in a safe and sensible manner. Responsibilities include helping to draft scenery for build plans, aiding in leading teams through the build process, and doing finish work and fix-it notes throughout the run of each show
APPLICATION MATERIALS
As part of the application process, Applicants are highly encouraged to share their portfolio, website, or any other supplemental materials they deem appropriate to the position.