Weathervane’s INTERN EXPERIENCE
Instituted in 1991, the Weathervane Theatre’s Program is a formalized, accredited, tuition-based internship designed to immerse participants in practical theatre arts training. The program is incomparable as a package of experience and training in a professional environment.
Each intern receives a general, hands-on survey of the various aspects of professional theatre. Focus is on the technique and crafts practiced by the Weathervane in their more than forty-year development and honing of alternating repertory scheduling and open staging. (The Weathervane has no proscenium arch, stage curtains, or fixed staging: a two-story with balcony fixture, levels, insets, and removable raked central pie offer challenging and imaginative staging for each and every performance.)
Seminars and Workshops designed specifically for the Program are scheduled and conducted by Weathervane Company professionals and departments heads, as well as guest artists and directors. Shop assignments continue throughout the summer, and Interns may work in the costume, lighting, scenic, box office or prop shops in addition to Mainstage appearances.
Members of the Intern Program are exclusively responsible for developing and performing as the PATCHWORK PLAYERS — the children’s theatre wing of the Weathervane. Four 55-minute shows are produced, including and concluding with a completely original collaborative work that is scripted, staged and composed by the Interns under the direction of the Program staff. The Patchwork Players perform twice-weekly, both on the Weathervane stage and on the road to area communities, including open air performances.
THE SCHEDULE
The Weathervane Theatre Intern Program is a six-day-a-week training and work program running consecutive to our summer performance Season (Sundays off). Housing for the entire Season, two (sometimes three) to a room; and meals six days a week, are included.
Orientation is quickly followed by rehearsals and introductions made to the technical departments and working space.
A daily schedule for group and individuals is developed to include workshops, seminars and department assignments. The first Patchwork show opens by the end of the second week; while, simultaneously, rehearsals have begun for the Season’s Mainstage opening. Each performance intern is guaranteed onstage performance roles in select Mainstage productions throughout the summer: casting based on on-site auditions for slotted chorus, ensemble, and/or supporting roles.
In the following weeks a daily schedule is pursued by each intern, which may include workshops, work assignments, Patchwork and Mainstage rehearsals, as well as individual coaching sessions in music, voice and/or acting.
A late Season Showcase Cabaret on our Mainstages offers the entire Intern Company a chance to share some of their personal favorite numbers and scenes.
College Credit
Interns may be able to receive credit through their own institution as an independent study: it is the responsibility of the intern to negotiate the terms of study and coordinate oversight with the Intern Director.
ACTORS’ EQUITY (AEA) EMC Points
Equity Member Candidacy (EMC) in the Actors’ Equity Association (AEA) is available to all interns. If they have not yet registered with AEA, they may pay a one-time registration fee to AEA if they choose to acquire Equity points. The rate of accrual is one point per performance week: please inquire at enrollment.
TUITION
In 2010, tuition of $1800 for the Season covers eleven weeks from June 21 through Sept. 4; and includes:
- Room and Board
- Seminars, workshops, technical training
- Principle roles, Patchwork children’s theatre
- Mainstage chorus, ensemble, supporting roles
- Options for EMC points, as separately enrolled
Payment Schedule:
Non-refundable deposit of $200 with acceptance
Payment of $700 due by May 1
Payment of $900 balance due by June 1
Add’l or other fees, EMC or college credit in accordance with their deadlines.
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NEW THIS SUMMER: TWO REDUCED-TUITION SCHOLARSHIPS
A scholarship award program of tuition assistance for enrolled members of the Weathervane Intern Program. The William B. Chase and Lucy Chase Sparks awards will offer two half-tuition
scholarships in 2010.
The Chase Barn (Whitefield’s first summer theatre) opened in 1934 when founder Will Chase - retired critic for the New York Times — began bringing singers and actors from New York to perform in his Whitefield barn. That modest stage rang out until 1964 with the voices of established Broadway and Metropolitan Opera stars, as well as any number of young people eager to begin performance careers of their own. Chase family members, neighbors and friends worked hard to keep summer theatre a vital part of North Country life, and it was Lucy Chase Sparks who would welcome and encourage the young Tom Haas and Gibbs Murray when they founded the Weathervane Theatre in 1966.
It is appropriate that as the Weathervane celebrates a 45th summer in Whitefield - and 75 years since the founding of the Chase Barn - that this scholarship program in support of young, talented performers has been founded.
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INTERN PROGRAM APPLICATIONS
The Weathervane interviews and auditions candidates for the Intern Program at regional STRAW HATand NETC sessions in the spring, as well as at the NHPTA/Plymouth Sta te day session: applications/inquiries for 2011 may also be directed to:
Weathervane Theatre INTERNS, PO Box 127, Whitefield, NH 03598
or weathervaneinterns@gmail.com
About our Intern Program Staff
- Guil Fisher, Director and Coordinator; stage and film actor and director
- Gibbs Murray, Weathervane co-founder; retired Professor & Dept. Chair, Fashion Institute of Technology, NYC
- Richard Portner; Professor television studies and Fine & Performing Arts, Lyndon State College, VT
- Jacques Stewart, Weathervane Artistic Director, independent producer; AEA and SDC
- plus professional supervisors/managers/actors from the Season’s resident Company and visiting guest artists Weathervane’s INTERN EXPERIENCE
