Are you a young professional or student looking to start a career in the nonprofit theatre? Do you want to meet the leaders of the field today and understand the issues they are facing? Apply to become a TCG intern and gain direct contact with TCG staff and leadership; participate in meetings, conferences, teleconferences, site visits, and program launches; and make yourself a more competitive job candidate!

As the national service organization for the not-for-profit professional theatre, TCG offers services in line with our mission: to strengthen, nurture, and promote the professional not-for-profit American theatre. TCG serves theatre artists and organizations by recognizing and encouraging activism, artistry, advocacy, and global citizenship. We provide professional development for theatre leaders, research and data analysis for the field, advocacy on the federal level, as well as the publication of American Theatre magazine, ARTSEARCH, and works from our award-winning book program.

Our internships are offered year-round and are generally held in the fall, spring, and summer semesters. There is no housing or stipend available, but TCG makes sure to provide other worthwhile benefits and perks. Some of these include: the unique experience of interacting with the national theatre community, networking opportunities at our field-wide convenings, practical experience in a variety of professional disciplines, free copies of American Theatre magazine, free books and plays, and discount ticket offers. Below are descriptions of the internships available at TCG, as well as information on how to apply.

Past interns have said:

INTERNSHIP POSITIONS

American Theatre Magazine Intern

Intern will work closely with the staff of the magazine, assisting with a variety of editorial and administrative tasks such as fact checking, proofreading, photo research, and story planning, with the possibility of some writing assignments. Candidates must have strong journalism skills. Intern may also work with the book program, assisting in editorial duties. In addition to your résumé and cover letter, please submit two journalistic writing samples.

Hear what a couple of former American Theatre magazine interns have to say about their experience.

Artistic and International Programs Intern

TCG designs and administers grant programs for non-profit theatres and individual theatre professionals, which provide opportunities for organizational innovation and professional development. Interns assist and observe the grantmaking process and are introduced to a national network of theatres and practitioners via this work. Responsibilities include: managing records in our GIFTS grant application software; assisting with the coordination of the national peer panel selection processes, orientations, and special convenings (such as the TCG National Conference and Audience (R)Evolution Convening); facilitating communication among grantee alumni; assisting with grantee blog posts and the IM Wire Newsletter’s Going Global section; and coordinating of special topic teleconferences. An ideal candidate is an organized self-starter with office experience; copy editing skills; and fluency in MS Word, Excel, and Outlook. International theatre experience and proficiency in other languages is desired but not required.

Hear what a former Artistic and International Programs intern has to say about the experience.

Conferences and Fieldwide Learning Intern

The range of responsibilities of interns on this team vary by season and term. During the Spring Term (Jan/Feb through June) interns will work as an integral part of the producing process for the annual National Conference in June, hosted in a different U.S. city each year. This intern will support the Conference team’s programming process; correspond with partners across the theatre field; manage producing logistics as assigned; write and/or support in keeping our Conference microsite, blog, and online community up to date, and will work closely with many TCG departments. This intern must be available to work through the Conference (and be on site at the Conference, costs covered by TCG), concluding the internship term in mid-late June. The intern for the Summer Term will have the opportunity to engage in National Conference follow-up, evaluation, debriefing, and analysis as well as research and logistics in preparation for the November Fall Forum on Governance in New York City. The Fall Term intern will support the Fall Forum producing process. This intern will conduct research related to programming curation for this smaller leadership conference, as well as support with producing logistics and communications tools. This intern will also be present for the launch of the National Conference planning season, participating in the beginning of the producing process. Interns are an integral part of the work of this department and participate in high-level meetings and strategy sessions. This internship is best suited for someone who is pragmatic, patient, and curious about many issues in the theatre field. The ideal candidate is organized, detail-oriented, resourceful, and able to work collaboratively and swiftly solve problems. Event/theatre producing or stage management experience on any scale is a plus, but not a requirement. Candidates should be fluent in the MS Office suite and Google drive platform and have excellent communication and writing skills.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives Intern

Intern will support the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Initiatives department at Theatre Communications Group (TCG) with community outreach for the 2019 TCG Conference; internal and external projects as part of TCG’s Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Initiative, as well as overall administrative & logistical support for all ED&I related programs. TCG is committed to advancing a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive theatre field to help transform the inequities and injustices of our broader culture. The intern will work closely with the Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives and other department directors affiliated with ED&I programming as needed. The internship requires a highly organized, creative, and passionate individual with a demonstrated commitment to theatre and/or the arts with an interest in facilitating programs to advance a more inclusive field. Excellent interpersonal and communications skills (both written and spoken), a collaborative working style, and the ability to handle multiple projects and deadlines are a must. Candidates should be fluent in Microsoft Word and Excel.

Graphic Design Intern

Intern will have the opportunity to take part in the creative process of graphic design, turning a concept into reality. Intern will assist TCG’s Creative Director in magazine production from design to production to pre-press to web. This individual will also work closely with the Senior Designer on in-house collateral projects, designing ads, creating web graphics and producing flyers and brochures. Candidates must have strong communication design skills and possess the ability to effectively use Adobe Creative Suite. This is a very hands-on position and ideal for someone interested in building one’s graphic design portfolio. In addition to your résumé and cover letter, please send seven samples of your best work or provide us with your website URL with your application materials. Please submit all materials as PDFs, not Word documents.

Individual Giving and Special Events Intern

Are you an organized, detail-oriented and curious self-starter who loves working with people and wants to change the world? Fundraising might be the perfect internship for you. The Individual Giving/Special Events department at TCG seeks intern candidates who have strong verbal and written communication skills to work in a collegial, mentoring environment. Learn fundraising strategies, prospective donor research skills, and the complete process of cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of donors. You will also have the opportunity to support the implementation of special events including TCG’s annual Gala. Interact directly with TCG leadership, with staff members cross-organizationally and with donors and constituents across the national theater field. Upon completion of your internship, you’ll have marketable skills and strong references to call on for future opportunities in the nonprofit sector.

Institutional Advancement and Partnerships Intern

Intern will work as part of a team to forge and maintain programmatic and funding partnerships that are core to the work TCG does for the theatre field. Intern will learn how to conduct prospective partner research, utilize best practices surrounding the cultivation of partners, write a funding proposal from initial contact to submitting reports (including projects associated with advertising, marketing, and public relations), and manage relevant databases (Raiser’s Edge and Personify). As this is a growing department that works with every other department at TCG, an ideal candidate will be a strategy-driven self-starter with theatre experience; copy editing and writing skills; and fluency in MS Word, Excel, and Outlook.

Membership Intern

Intern will assist the Membership team in annual membership recruitment campaigns. This person will be charged with researching prospective members, collecting and organizing information, and helping build a comprehensive database of not-for-profit theatres in the U.S. Intern will also assist with executing member outreach plans, provide general administrative support, participate in departmental meetings, and likely also work closely with other departments at TCG to gather information on prospect theatres. The internship is best suited for someone with a curious nature who is highly organized, detail-oriented, personable, able to work both independently and in collaboration with team members, and has an interest in the not-for-profit theatre field. Candidates should be fluent in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.

Research, Policy & Collective Action Intern

Intern will provide administrative support for the Research, Policy & Collective Action department, which focuses on arts advocacy, arts education, and field-specific research. Working as part of a three-person team, the intern will have responsibilities including collecting and organizing topical information, editing online resources, helping to craft messages to alert the field of legislative developments, and assisting with data compilation and review. The intern will work with staff to stay at the forefront of current issues and trends affecting the field and will attend staff and project meetings, as necessary. The candidate must be organized, personable, and detail-oriented and possess excellent writing and communication skills; fluency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook; and the ability to work well both collaboratively and independently.

TCG Books Program Intern

Intern will provide editorial and administrative support for the Publications department, with particular focus on the TCG Books program. Responsibilities will include proofreading/formatting/editing of theatre-book manuscripts, updating books’ online descriptions, researching plays’ production histories and reviews, compiling metadata for new titles, and assisting with the preparation of TCG’s Books Catalog. The intern will have the opportunity to participate in departmental meetings, become familiar with the plays and writers that TCG publishes, and gain an in-depth familiarity with the publishing field. The ideal candidate is organized; detail-oriented; fluent in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Office; has excellent writing and communication skills; and is interested in both theatre and publishing.

Hear what a former TCG Books Program intern has to say about the experience.

Whether your interests are in arts administration, production, leadership, event planning, public relations, fundraising, or artistic pursuits, you will gain valuable experience and nurture influential relationships when you become a TCG Intern.

Nonprofit Application Guidance

Need some tips on putting together an internship application? Using funding received from a TCG A-ha! grant, TCG Member Theatre Manhattan Theatre Club has produced videos on creating a résumé, writing a cover letter, and interviewing for arts administration positions. While these videos are tailored specifically to applicants for MTC's internship program, the information they provide is broadly applicable.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply please email a résumé, writing sample (two if applying for American Theatre magazine), and cover letter indicating your 1) term availability (spring, summer, fall) and 2) primary area(s) of interest to:

Laurie Baskin
TCG Internship Program
Email: lbaskin@tcg.org

520 Eighth Avenue, 24th floor
New York, NY 10018
Phone: (212) 609-5900
Fax: (212) 609-5901

Writing Samples: For your writing sample please submit a professional, non-fiction piece, ideally with content relating to the department or area of interest. For example, if you are applying for the American Theatre magazine internship, we suggest journalistic pieces; if applying for the Communications internship, we suggest a press release or communications-related piece. Please note that applicants for the American Theatre magazine internship should submit two journalistic writing samples.

Deadlines: Application materials must be submitted by the deadlines below. We may begin to fill internship positions as qualified candidates apply.

Spring Term (January - May 2020) DEADLINE: applications due Friday, November 22, 2019

Summer Term (May - August 2020) DEADLINE: applications due Friday, March 13, 2020

Fall Term (September - December 2020) DEADLINE: Friday, July 17, 2020

If you are interested in joining TCG’s staff, please visit ARTSEARCH, TCG’s comprehensive publication of job listings in the arts, and our Work With Us page.