Westcoast Black Theater Troupe: Adult Education & Dramaturgy Intern (PAID Fall 2021 SMAH Internship)
Westcoast Black Theater Troupe:
Fall 2021 SMAH Adult Education & Dramaturgy Intern
PLEASE READ CAREFULLY AND THOROUGHLY: This paid internship position is a part of the Fall 2021 Sarasota-Manatee Arts & Humanities (SMAH) Internship Program, funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation grant and private donors to New College of Florida. Thus, this internship has certain expectations per the funding and program requirements.
- The SMAH internships are for CURRENT New College students and will be expected to be completed for academic credit. The student selected for this internship must find a faculty sponsor and create/add a full-term tutorial (select "internship" as the objective) to their Fall 2021 academic contract. Go to the internship website for step-by-step instructions: https://www.ncf.edu/ceo/internships/
- Students selected for SMAH internships must review and complete a Student Intern Agreement Form, which details program expectations. Fall 2021 interns will receive an updated electronic fillable agreement form once they have been offered an internship. Please review the attachment as a past example, so that you are aware of the expectations.
Organization's Mission:
The Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe was founded in December 1999, as a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Our mission has always been to produce professional theatre that promotes and celebrates the African American experience, attracts diverse audiences, supports and develops African American artists, and builds the self-esteem of African American youth.
Internship Description:
In this internship, the intern will perform research and writing about productions in our upcoming season with the end goal and deliverables being at least one in-person or Zoom-based webinar for patrons, and at least one written dramaturgical piece to be published in our playbill. Dramaturgy is a comprehensive exploration of the context in which the play resides. In particular we will ask the intern to act as a dramaturg and will research the physical, social, political, and economic environment in which the production takes place. This year, productions are planned for Eubie!, Broadway in Black(a musical revue of African Americans' works on Broadway) and Ruby-- a drama centered in 1950's Live Oak, FL.
Learning Outcomes:
- The intern will learn how to research the social, racial and political context of dramatic works.
- The intern will learn how to write historical essays for a theatre audience.
- The intern will learn how to craft an engaging and relevant adult education program.
Qualifications:
- Access to a computer which we may be able to provide if needed
- Comfortability with computer programs and web-based solutions for presentations
- Good presentation and writing skills and be willing to do some public presentations
- Interest in theatre and history, especially as it relates to social movements and historical situations that affect and are reflected in theatre works
- Should be a self-starter and provide a consistent work schedule
Internship Location:
Hybrid (in-person and remote): Student can work flexibly from the college campus and at our theatre 1012 N. Orange Ave, Sarasota FL. Most visits to the campus will be to interact with their intern supervisors, and come to theatre productions or rehearsals related to their work. We can support their travel through Uber or other ride-sharing if needed, but the theatre and campus are close by and bicycling is also possible.