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Career Development Program

What is the Career Development Program?

Asolo Repertory Theatre’s Career Development Program is an opportunity for early career and emerging artists and arts administrators to gain practical experience in a professional non-profit theatre organization.

What does this program look like?

Training and mentorship in a supportive environment.
Full integration into the team, collaborating with Asolo Rep staff members for hands-on work experience within their disciplines.
Opportunities to observe and connect with professional theatre makers.
Sessions where program participants have the opportunity to learn about other areas in the organization, giving a broader exposure to the many different facets of a professional theatre.
Meet and connect with other early career or emerging artists and arts administrators.

Opportunities:

Arts Administration Apprenticeships

Experience Level Designed for: early career arts administrators who are looking for real-world experience in an arts organization. Many/most of our apprentices are recent post-undergraduates (or similar experience-level) who want to gain practical knowledge and connections as they move into the next step in their career.

Apprenticeships are full-time experiences that include a stipend.

Stipend: $525 per week.

Shared company housing inclusive of private bedroom, internet and basic utilities within 6 miles of the theatre is available to rent for $200 per week.
Roundtrip travel expenses reimbursed up to $250

Average timespan of typical Arts Administration Apprenticeship: September-May

2023-24 Apprenticeships Include: Company Management, Dramaturgy/Casting (now accepting applications!)

More Info

Stage Management Apprenticeships

Experience Level Designed for: early career stage managers who are looking for real-world experience in a professional union theatre with repertory. Many/most of our apprentices have been post-undergraduates (or similar experience-level) who are looking to gain practical knowledge and connections as they move into the next step in their career. EMC points are available.

Apprenticeships are full-time experiences that include a stipend.

Stipend: $525 per week.

Shared company housing inclusive of private bedroom, internet and basic utilities within 6 miles of the theatre is available to rent for $200 per week.
Roundtrip travel expenses reimbursed up to $250

Apprentice Schedule: While hours will vary from week to week, an average of 50 hrs/week is anticipated for this training position.

Average length of typical Stage Management Apprenticeship: 10-40 weeks

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Directing Fellowships

Experience Level Designed for: Early to mid-career directors who are looking to deepen their practical experience of working within a professional theatre organization. Directing Fellows serve as Assistant Directors for assigned mainstage productions, and have opportunities to collaborate with other directors, theatre artists, and educators.

Fellowships are full-time experiences that include a stipend, essential local transportation, and travel.

Stipend: $550/week

Shared company housing inclusive of private bedroom, internet and basic utilities within 6 miles of the theatre is available to rent for $200 per week.

Average length of typical Directing Fellowship: 4-6 weeks given our current rep schedule

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What is the Application Process?

Please note: These steps are a guideline for the process, but may vary depending on the apprenticeship and number of applicants. If you have any questions regarding the process, please contact education@asolo.org.

Step 1: To apply for the Career Development Program, Candidates must fill out an online form. Submission Materials Include:

Contact information
Cover Letter (pdf format)
Resume (pdf format)
3 References

Please note: Candidates may apply for more than one CDP Apprenticeship.

Step 2: Members of the Asolo Rep Career Development Team look at submitted materials and will choose candidates to interview.

Emails will be sent out to candidates who are not chosen to be interviewed.

Step 3: Initial conversations will be scheduled with candidates. These conversations are with the immediate potential supervisor and another member of the Career Development Team.

Some positions may require further materials to be turned in, like a portfolio or writing sample. Candidates will be notified of this when contacted about their interview.
References will be checked after this conversation for candidates that are moving forward in the process.
Emails will be sent to candidates who are not moving forward in the process.

Step 4: If needed, Zoom conversation with candidates will be scheduled with immediate potential supervisor, department team member(s), and a member of the Career Development Team.

Step 5: Offers will be sent out to 21-22 Apprentices.

Equitable Practices

Asolo Repertory Theatre is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Applicants from populations underrepresented in the theatre field are strongly encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, familial status, sexual orientation, national origin, ability, age, or veteran status.

Please be sure to read about Asolo Rep's Commitment to Anti-Racism, Inclusion, Diversity, Equity by clicking below.

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Health & Safety

The HVAC system has been optimized to include MERV13 final filtration in all spaces.
The Mertz Theatre’s outside air intake has been increased to 40% fresh air with 13 air changes per hour.
The theatre and lobby are frequently sanitized.
Touchless ticketing is available for all performances.
Digital programs are available for all performances.

Who is the Asolo Rep Career Development Team?

Associate Artistic Director: Celine Rosenthal: Name: Celine Rosenthal, she/they

Title: Associate Artistic Director

Apprentice/Fellow Cohort (Year): 2016/17

# of Seasons at Asolo Rep: 21-22 will be 5

What has been your favorite experience/production at Asolo Rep? Being in rehearsal during the workshop of Knoxville.

What does a day in the life of your job look like? One of the things that I love about my job is that I can't easily answer this question. Depending upon the phase of production that we're in, or if we're in the middle of casting or if we're in the middle of season planning or announcement my job is always full of variety. The one common denominator is that I do a lot of collaborating with smart, talented people that I like very much, and I'm always getting to meet new folks along the way.

What is your favorite part of the Career Development Program? Getting to meet emerging artists on the verge of taking their first steps into their professional lives.

CELINE ROSENTHAL (Director, Associate Artistic Director) is a Tony®- nominated producer and a proud “Key” member of The Ring Of Keys. Celine has developed new work with the Musical Theatre Factory, NYMF, The Kidoons, Tamasha, and The National Queer Theatre, as well as creating Asolo Rep’s premiere new work series, Asolo Rep: Ground Floor.

Recent Projects: The Lifespan of a Fact, Camelot, We Need A Little Christmas, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and The Tempest at Asolo Rep, Trayf (New Rep), Drowning in Cairo (N.Q.T), A Doll’s House (The Studio Theatre), The Motherf***er with the Hat (FSU/Asolo Conservatory); and the award-winning Indie short film Wildflower. Celine is a New Georges affiliated artist, member of the 2018/19 MTC Directing Fellowship class, and was awarded an SDC Observership and Asolo Rep Directing Fellowship. Alumnus of the Commercial Theatre Institute, BMI Musical Theatre Workshop, NYU Tisch (BFA), and The New School for Drama (MFA). www.celinerosenthal.nyc
Education & Engagement Director: Sara Brunow: Name: Sara Brunow, she/her/hers

Position: Muriel O'Neil Education & Engagement Director

# of Seasons at Asolo Rep: 21-22 will be 3

What is your favorite part of the Career Development Program? I have been lucky to have some incredible mentors, and I think it's important to have that opportunity available for emerging artists and arts administrators. I love being a sounding-board and talking about how we can make this theatre-world better for everyone.

What is your favorite thing about Sarasota? There are some incredible parks and reserves around here. You can go for a trail walk, dip your toes in the ocean, and see birds that you thought were not even real. It's pretty cool.

Sara Brunow is a theatre artist and educator, originally from the Washington, D.C. area. She has worked as a performer, director, producer, arts administrator, teaching artist, dramaturg, artistic adaptor, sensory storyteller, and arts integration specialist. Sara completed her BFA in Music Theatre from Shenandoah Conservatory and went on to be a professional performer for several years in the DC theatre scene. She received her MFA in Theatre for Young Audiences from the University of Central Florida, where she specialized in creating sensory-aware theatrical experiences with and for students on the autism spectrum.

Sara has worked within the education and community engagement departments of several theatre companies around the country including Orlando Repertory Theatre, Nashville Children’s Theatre, Theatre Under The Stars, and now Asolo Rep. In her former role as Director of Community Engagement at Theatre Under The Stars, she was the program director of the Tommy Tune Awards (Houston’s high school musical theatre awards, part of the Jimmy's program) and Public Works Houston (a year-long program where community members and theatre professionals work together connect as humans and artists). Sara is currently the Muriel O'Neil Education & Engagement Director at Asolo Rep.
General Manager: Corinne Deckard: Name: Corinne G. Deckard (She/Her/Hers)

Position: General Manager

Number of Seasons at Asolo Rep: 20-21 is my 18^th season

What has been your favorite experience/production at Asolo Rep? There are so many wonderful productions and artists. I thought Yentl was a beautiful production that was also very connected to our mission statement. The production featured the Rep company and the FSU/Asolo Conservatory graduate students, introduced us to new artists, and told a traditional story in a new way.

What is your favorite part of the Career Development Program? I love watching apprentices and fellows gain confidence as they go through the experience.

What is your favorite thing about Sarasota? Sarasota is a surprising town. It’s got a lot of personality and a lot of different and fun things to try.

Corinne G. Deckard is in her eighteenth season at Asolo Repertory Theatre. At Asolo Rep, she has served as Artistic Administrator, Assistant Managing Director and as General Manager since 2014. Corinne holds a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Management & Arts Administration from The University of Alabama/Alabama Shakespeare Festival. She completed her undergraduate work at the University of Florida with a BA in Theatre and Minor in Business Administration. Corinne proudly serves on the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee of the League of Resident Theatres and is active on the Mentorship and Governance Sub Committees. She has facilitated roundtable discussions internally at Asolo Rep and also for Theatre Communications Group and recently received the SHRM-SCP certification for human resources.
Production Stage Manager: Nia Sciaretta: Name: Nia Sciarretta, she/her/hers

Position: Production Stage Manager

Former Stage Management Apprentice, 2011-2012 season

# of Seasons at Asolo Rep: 21-22 will be 10 (4 as PSM)

NIA SCIARRETTA* - Nia has been stage managing since high school, has been an AEA Stage Manager since 2013, and is heading into her 10^th season at Asolo Rep (and 4^th season as resident production stage manager). Nia has been working with apprentices and early career stage managers since she was an Asolo Rep stage management apprentice herself back in 2011.

Previous Asolo Rep credits include stage manager for the 2020-21 outdoor season, The Sound of Music, Into the Breeches, The Music Man, Sweeney Todd, Sweat, Shakespeare in Love, Roe, Born Yesterday and more. Nia has worked off-Broadway at the Signature Theatre in NYC and regionally with theatre such as Creede Repertory Theatre, the Hangar Theatre, the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, Theatreworks USA, the Flea Theatre, and Penguin Rep.
Human Resource Manager: Linda LaCaprucia