Center Theatre Group is committed to creating learning opportunities, supporting career pathways, and diversifying the field. The Center Theatre Group Apprenticeship Program is a paid opportunity for people with no background in professional theatre to get hands-on training in Technical Production and Artistic careers. Apprentices will shadow one or more theatre professionals, and will get the opportunity to not only sit in on the production process, but also to learn and practice skills necessary to work in these fields.

Summer 2023 Apprenticeship Applications OPEN

This cycle, all Apprentices will be supporting the production of Our Dear Dead Drug Lord by Alexis Scheer, at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City.

Technical Apprentice applications are due on Friday, June 16 at 5pm PT for the period July 1 and August 27, 2023 (read descriptions carefully for exact date periods). This cycle we are looking for the following Technical Apprenticeships:

  • Costume Apprentice
  • Prop Apprentice – must be currently enrolled in East Los Angeles College 
  • Technical Direction Apprentice

Technical Apprentice descriptions, schedules, and questions are available for download here.

Eligible applicants (see Eligibility and Diversity Requirement below) should have strong availability, with the capacity to commit between 110 hours in 6-hour days during the timeframe of each Apprenticeship. We will be able to work around a class or unavailability on certain days. For exact requirements and schedules, see links below. 

Applications: Applicants are encouraged to submit materials early, but applications are due by 5pm (PST) on Friday, June 16, 2023. We cannot accept late applications. Technical assistance will be available until 6pm (PT) on Thursday, June 15, 2022, at Apprenticeships@CTGLA.org. 

Every applicant must submit:

  • An official Center Theatre Group Apprenticeship Application: Download Here
  • A Word or PDF business resume (not your acting or design resume; you are welcome to contact the Program Director for assistance creating a resume)
  • A Word or PDF document addressing the specific questions for the specific Apprenticeship you are applying to (see above). Note: You can apply for more than one, but you will need to submit separate applications for each apprenticeship.

Please email all three items as separate PDF or Word attachments. Do not link to a Google document, and do not submit any materials as images. You may sign the application electronically. We will acknowledge receipt of all applications. Do not submit multiple copies of the same application.

Submit all materials to us via email at Apprenticeships@CTGLA.org.

Diversity Requirement: Center Theatre Group’s Apprenticeships are intended specifically for people who self-identify as a member of a group currently underrepresented in theatre production and artistic careers. Examples include but are not limited to: people of color, people with disabilities, immigrants, women pursuing careers in production or other traditionally male-dominated areas, first-generation college students, people from low-income backgrounds, and military veterans. We seek to provide diverse emerging professionals with hands-on experience in an effort to promote diversity in the arts. Note that all applicants must answer the Diversity Requirement question to receive consideration. While whether or not a prospective applicant fits that description is a question that can best be answered by the applicant, if you have questions about eligibility, please contact Program Manager Aurora Ilog at Apprenticeships@CTGLA.org.

Eligibility: This program is open to:

  • Current undergraduates at two-year or four-year colleges and universities;
  • People who have graduated from a two-year or four-year college or university with an undergraduate degree within the last 12 months;
  • OR people who have pursued an alternate path to formal education (examples: military veterans, students at technical or trade schools, people who went directly into the workforce after high school).

All applicants must be curious about pursuing a career in live theatre, must have some demonstrated interest in the area in which they are applying (inside or outside of a school setting), and must have strong availability for the duration of the Apprenticeship period. International students may apply as long as they have a social security number. All applicants must be over 18, but there is no upper age limit. Graduate students, people with professional and/or paid experience in live theatre, people who no longer identify as early-career, and people who do not demonstrate adequate availability to meet the requirements of the program will not be considered, nor will students who do not address the Diversity Requirement. We do encourage students with nontraditional career and educational paths to apply, and all applicants can contact the Program Manager at Apprenticeships@CTGLA.org with eligibility questions.

Expandable element Am I a good fit for this program?

There are many different “good fits” for this program. Use your application to tell us why a specific apprenticeship would help you at this point in your career or education.

Technical/Production Apprentices do not need to have any experience in live theatre. Apprentices can come from a broad variety of backgrounds. For example, some apprentices are in technical training programs, studying to become electricians or carpenters, while other apprentices are in a traditional two- or four-year college or university. Some are working in fields such as manufacturing, landscape design, painting, sewing, or construction, but are interested in the arts. You need to be curious about a career in theatre production and eager to learn more about it.

Artistic Apprentices need to have a strong demonstrated interest in the exact career focus of the apprenticeship. For example, a Playwriting Apprentice should have completed at least one full-length play, and a Directing Apprentice should have experience directing a full-length play either on-campus or within a setting such as community theatre. They should be strongly interested in going into the focus of the apprenticeship as a career.

Apprentices cannot have any previous paid experience in professional live theatre.

Expandable element When are apprenticeships offered, and what is the time commitment? Are they paid?

Apprenticeships are offered throughout the year in conjunction with selected Center Theatre Group productions and take place during a show’s rehearsal process. They last anywhere from two to six weeks, and anywhere from 80 to 130 hours in total. Applicants should have strong availability during the apprenticeship timeframe.

All apprenticeships are paid. Apprentices receive a stipend plus paid parking or a Metro pass. Stipends range from $880 for an 80-hour apprenticeship to $1,430 for a 130-hour apprenticeship.

Expandable element Do I need to have my own car?

No, you do not need your own car. However, Apprentices need to have reliable transportation to all of Center Theatre Group’s locations, including our Prop Shop/Costume Warehouse in East Los Angeles/Boyle Heights, our theatres and administrative office in Downtown L.A., and the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. Apprentices planning on taking public transit should be aware that the schedule will include nighttime rehearsals, and they may be traveling home after dark.

Expandable element What should I include in my resume? If I don’t have a resume, what should I submit?

A resume is a one- to two-page document that shows why you might be a good fit for a program or job. Your resume needs to include:

  • Your contact information.
  • Information about any previous experience that might help us understand why you would be a good fit for this program. Examples: a food service job that required customer service; theatre classes you have taken; work as an electrician; assistant directing experience on campus.
  • Hard skills that might be important for this apprenticeship. Examples of hard skills: welding, drafting, budgeting, script analysis, or painting.

If you don’t already have a resume, you can find free templates online to make one, or you can just type the information above into a Word document.

Expandable element Should I submit a cover letter or letter of recommendation?

No. Please submit only the documents we have asked for.

Expandable element I’m an alum of another Center Theatre Group program. Am I eligible?

Alumni of our Internship Program are ineligible for this program. Alumni of any of our teen initiatives, including the Student Ambassador Program, Teen Theatregoers Program, or August Wilson Monologue Competition, are encouraged to apply; please review the age requirements below. Former Apprentices cannot repeat the program.

Expandable element I’m an international student. May I apply?

Yes. International students have apprenticed with us while on a three-month student visa. However, we do not sponsor international applicants. A J1 Visa is likely not a viable option for our program, as the J1 is designed for a longer work opportunity than our short-term program. In order to participate, international applicants must have a United States Social Security number.

Expandable element Are there age requirements? Do I need to be in school?

We do not offer apprenticeships for high school students and/or people under the age of 18. We encourage young people under age 18 to sign up for our Education newsletter and explore our student events. Our program has no upper age limit. If you fit all eligibility requirements and believe you would benefit from our program, we encourage you to apply.

You do not need to be currently enrolled in school to apply for any apprenticeship. You do not need to have any college or post-high school training to apply.

If you have been out of school for more than one year (undergraduates), or if you are in or have graduated from a master’s or PhD program, you are not eligible for our Apprenticeship Program. Please take a look at our employment opportunities page instead.

Expandable element Tell me more about the diversity requirement.

This educational program is designed to support people who are members of a group that is underrepresented in careers in theatre in Los Angeles—meaning there are fewer people in those jobs than in the general Los Angeles County population. The examples we give are not meant to be comprehensive. We rely on you to tell us why you believe you fit the diversity requirement.

Please note that we are not asking why you think diversity is important, or how you plan to support diversity in your career. We want to know why you believe you are a member of an underrepresented group in theatre careers.