Internship & Apprenticeship FAQs

BACK TO APPRENTICESHIPS

Can I participate in an apprenticeship for just one semester?
No. Our season apprenticeships run from September through May and span a full nine months. Our summer internships run from June through August and span three months.

Can I participate in an internship or apprenticeship part-time?
No. These three- and nine-month positions require full-time availability. A typical workday of an intern or apprentice is 10am–6pm. Occasionally, students may take part-time classes in addition to their apprenticeship, but interns and apprentices are expected to be able to participate in the full 40-hour work week.

Can I apply to multiple departments?
Yes. The application form will ask applicants to select three departments in their order of preference. Available internships and apprenticeships are subject to change every year. Positions have been offered in the following departments:

Does Roundabout offer internships or apprenticeships in Acting/Directing/Casting/Stage Management?
No, but we do offer a Directing Fellowship. The departments with administrative internships and apprenticeships are listed above.

Does Roundabout offer internships or apprenticeships in technical theatre or backstage work?
No, our internships and apprenticeships are based in our administrative departments. Our Theatrical Workforce Development Program focuses on technical theatre training and is available to those who are current NYC residents, 18–24 years of age, with a high school diploma or equivalent.

Can I apply if I do not have a major in theatre?
Yes! You may have administrative or other experience in various fields and we welcome applicants with an array of interests and skills. For example, a Business major may be a great fit for our Finance internship; theatres need accountants, too! We encourage applicants to construct a clear link in their cover letter between their skills from past professional experience and their fit for an intern/apprentice position.

Can I apply if I do not have a college degree?
Yes! You may have administrative or other experience in various fields and we welcome applicants with an array of interests and skills. For example, an applicant with retail experience may be a good fit for our Audience Services apprenticeship; this department is the frontline of interacting with our audiences and great customer service is a coveted skill! We encourage applicants to construct a clear link in their cover letter between their skills from past professional experience and their fit for an intern/apprentice position.

Do you have any recommendations for applicants?
Yes. Please take note of the following:

When applying for Roundabout’s Career Development program, it is recommended that an applicant have at least one previous internship/job on their resume if applying for an internship, and at least two if applying for an apprenticeship. This experience demonstrates the applicant’s ability to work in an intense, administration-heavy position. If an applicant does not have this experience, they should use their cover letter as an opportunity to clearly explain why they would be a good fit for a position regardless of minimal experience.

Be sure to follow directions indicated on the application form and our website. Successful candidates comply with specified deadlines, do not send unasked-for materials such as actor resumes, apply for positions during the periods in which they are offered, and take care to ensure that application materials are free of errors. While small mistakes won’t necessarily keep an applicant from getting an invitation to interview, it tells an employer about attention to detail and can be one of many deciding factors in which applications are screened out.

Please note that we typically receive over seven hundred applications for twelve summer positions and fourteen seasonal positions. While there are always more applications for each department than interview spots, a high number of our applicants apply for positions in our Artistic, Development, or Marketing departments, making the percentage of applications that move forward in those departments very small. Be sure to read through each department’s job description as you may be a great fit for a department you had not previously considered. Make strategic decisions; do not discount other departments. If you select one of the higher-demand departments, be 100% sure that you meet their job description requirements.

Does Roundabout provide housing for interns and apprentices?
Though we offer a paid internship and apprenticeship program, we do not provide housing. However, we do offer a Cost of Living scholarship whose details can be found here. Please pay careful attention to the application deadline for this scholarship.

Does Roundabout offer benefits for interns and apprentices?
Yes and no. Summer interns are part of our team for too short a time to be eligible for benefits, but season-long apprentices are eligible for these. Roundabout’s optional benefits package for season-long apprentices includes medical, dental, and vision insurance.

Are non-U.S. citizens eligible to apply?
Yes. Please note that international applicants must take full responsibility for arranging their travel and travel documents. Consult the U.S. Embassy in your country of permanent residence about visa application procedures. If an applicant is hired for an internship/apprenticeship, they must provide Employment Eligibility Verification as detailed on Form I-9, Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in order to receive payment. If an applicant cannot provide appropriate documentation, we will be unable to offer payment or a position.

What is the timeline for intern/apprentice applications, interviews, and hiring?
After reviewing applications, Roundabout will begin sending out interview invitations. The timeline for this process varies, but interviews typically take place between March-May. We will be in touch with those applicants moving into the interview round. Please do not email or call to inquire about the status of your application.

Apprenticeships typically begin in the last week of August/first week of September and conclude in the last week of May/first week of June. 

Internships typically begin in the last week of May/first week of June and conclude in the last week of August/first week of September.

What are the differences and similarities between an internship and an apprenticeship at Roundabout?

What educational opportunities are available during an internship/apprenticeship?
In addition to hands-on learning experiences in Roundabout’s administrative departments, Education at Roundabout coordinates the following opportunities for summer interns:

Seminars

Interns/Apprentices attend weekly seminars with senior staff members, career development alumni, and emerging leaders in arts administration. These seminars are an opportunity to learn more about fellow administrators’ career paths and their current work at Roundabout and beyond.

NYC Partnerships

We have several exchange programs with other NYC arts organizations’ internships/fellowships. These are an opportunity for interns/apprentices to meet other administrators in their field, and to make peer connections for their future involvement in the NYC arts scene and beyond. It is also an opportunity for participants to see one another’s work through Roundabout coordinated ticket exchanges.

In addition to the above experiences, seasonal apprentices participate in the following activities:

Workshops

Education staff and Teaching Artists lead workshops on professional skills such as financial management, resume- and cover letter-writing, and interview practice.

Mentorships

Apprentices are partnered with mentors in departments outside of their own. This gives apprentices an opportunity to learn more about Roundabout from a different perspective. The mentorships are also a chance for apprentices to learn skills of informational interviews.

Group Project

Apprentices create and lead an apprentice-driven project, modeled on a professional proposal process. The goal of the project is for the apprentices to have direct autonomy in a specific project, represent their department and their skills gained there, and learn more about the workings of arts administration.

In a recent survey of Career Development alumni, we found the following data regarding the most valuable skills learned at Roundabout:

Learn more about our Career Development alumni.