INTERNSHIP

OPPORTUNITIES
AT ACTOR’S EXPRESS

Interns Jason-Jamal Ligon and Kyle Brumley in the 2013 AE production of Equus.
Photo by BreeAnne Clowdus.
OVERVIEW

Actor’s Express offers yearlong internships in acting, directing, stage

management and technical theatre/design. Each internship is designed
to bridge the gap between the educational and professional phases of
the lives of young theatre artists. The program is highly selective and
extremely rigorous.

The internship lasts for a full calendar year, beginning in August 2019 and
ending in August 2020 (exact dates pending). It is designed for post-
undergraduates to prepare them either to begin their careers or to move
into an MFA program. To be eligible for this program you may not be
enrolled in school during the year you would be interning here.

It is an unpaid internship and there is no housing provided. The internship

is designed so that all interns can have a day job through the week.
Interns’ time commitment to the theatre is typically limited to weeknights
and weekends, preserving the work week for day jobs.

Interns Abby Holland, Kiona Reese and Lucy Gross in the 2017 Actor’s Express production of The
Crucible. Photo by Christopher Bartelski.
ABOUT ACTOR’S EXPRESS
ACTOR’S EXPRESS
MISSION STATEMENT
Actor’s Express is a theatre
that challenges and reflects
contemporary human
experiences in an inclusive
environment.
We seek to jumpstart
individual transformations
through the shared adventure
of our live performances,
which range from daringly
provocative to audaciously
hilarious.
Actor’s Express is a nonprofit
professional theatre located in the
King Plow Arts Center in Atlanta’s
thriving West Midtown neighborhood.
Founded in 1988, the Express is one
of the most daring and acclaimed
theatre companies in the Southeast.
Lauded by local publications,
the Express was named “Best
Theatre in Atlanta” by the Atlanta
Journal-Constitution in 2013, was
Broadwayworld.com’s Atlanta Theatre
of the Year in 2018 and has been
profiled twice in American Theatre
magazine since 2016.
Actor's Express develops new talent
and pushes boundaries. Our work
catalyzes discussion on the complex
issues of the contemporary human
experience.
PRACTICUM OPPORTUNITIES

Acting Interns
Acting interns receive performance opportunities either in casts of mainstage
productions or as understudies. Understudies get a special performance of
the show, guaranteeing a chance to perform. Casting in mainstage roles is
available on a competitive basis, but is not guaranteed. There is also an industry
showcase, which is a new play commissioned expressly for the intern company.
Other opportunities (readings and/or workshops) may become available on
a competitive basis. AE also joins with other area theatres to offer interns an
additional showcase for agents and casting directors in the film and TV industry.

Directing Interns
Directing interns serve as assistant directors on mainstage productions.
Additionally, the directing intern will actually direct the intern showcase at the
end of the season.

Stage Management Interns

Stage management interns will serve as A.S.M. on mainstage productions and
may work as stage manager on additional projects, including our cabaret series
and the intern showcase at the end of the season.

Design/Tech Interns
Design/tech interns will assist the Actor’s Express Production Manager in all
areas of theatre production. Additionally, these interns will assist members of the
creative team of AE productions. Assignments will be made based on intern’s
specific area of specialty.

Interns Kiona Reese, Abby Nicole Holland, Emily Stembridge and Max Mattox in the 2017 AE
production of Little Shop of Horrors. Photo by Casey Gardner.
PRACTICUM OPPORTUNITIES

Above: Intern Kelly Monahan (right) with

Kelly Martin in the 2016 Actor’s Express
production of Sweeney Todd.

Intern John Below: Intern Kristin Butler with Kathleen

Wattis in the 2015 Actor’s Express production
Osorio with Jan of Les Liaisons Dangereueses. Both photos
Wikstrom in the 2016 by BreeAnne Clowdus.
AE production of
Appropriate.
Photo by
BreeAnne Clowdus.

Classes
Interns take up to ten classes, including
but not limited to: Script Analysis,
Clowning, Physical Theatre, On Camera
Acting, Audition Techniques, New
American Plays, Dramaturgy, Fitzmaurice
Voice Technique, Physical Theatre and
various acting classes. Classes are taught
by leading theatre professionals from
the Atlanta theatre community. Course
offerings rotate season-to-season based
on instructor availability. The courses
for next season will be finalized by early
summer.

Crew Assignments
All interns, regardless of specialty, assist
in set building and on run crews.

At right: Interns Ashley Tate (foreground) and

Falashay Pearson (in red plaid) with the cast of the
2015 AE Production of Rent. Photo by BreeAnne
Clowdus.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: I’m concerned I won’t be able to support myself financially during an

unpaid internship. I’m not independently wealthy. How does that work?
A: Our internship is structured so that you may hold down a full time job while
also being an intern. Some internships offer stipends but don’t allow for outside
fulltime employment, so your overall earning potential may be greater than it
might be with a paid internship. Since some interns prefer to work part-time
because of the demanding schedule, we also recommend living with roommates
to mitigate living expenses. We are happy to help matchmake you with other
interns as possible roommates.

Q: If I’m a member of your intern company, may I also audition for

productions at other theatres?
A: No. While in residence at AE, your schedule would not likely allow for outside
theatre gigs. In some instances, we have been able to approve short term
projects for interns, such as readings, industrials or film shoots. These requests
are handled on a case-by-case basis.

Q: Why would I limit myself to one theatre for an entire season and not
keep all my options open for auditions?
A: The yearlong commitment creates an artistic home for an entire season and
allows for each intern to enter the theatre community with a built-in network of
colleagues, collaborators and mentors.

Q: What does a typical day look like for an intern?

A: It varies based on what project you’re working on at any given moment. If
assigned to understudy a production, you would attend evening and weekend
rehearsals, and then work backstage on the crew once the show opens.
Additionally, you would be attending intern-specific rehearsals. Classes are
typically held Tuesday nights when productions are running (no classes are
conducted during the rehearsal period). If assigned to a pre-production crew, you
would spend evenings working in the shop or in another production capacity as
assigned. Typically, interns are expected to begin work around 6:30 pm through
the week; weekend hours vary.

Q: What is the hardest thing about the internship?

A: The workload is significant and it makes for a strenuous, sometimes
demanding experience for interns. Managing the stress of the workload during
busier periods is likely the biggest challenge.

Q: What is the biggest benefit to the internship?

A: The benefits are many. You will become immersed in all areas of professional
theatre and develop the kind of discipline required of a professional career
in this industry. You will emerge from your experience with connections and
relationships that otherwise might take years to cultivate. Your hard skills will also
grow from classes and practicum experience. And you will become a member of
the artistic family of a theatre that is deeply respected both locally and nationally
in the theatre industry.
RECENT SUCCESS STORIES

Kyle Brumley (Acting Intern 2012-13) recently returned to Atlanta

after three years as a company member with Cincinnati Shakespeare
and has had a starring role in AE’s An Octoroon.

Gil Eplan-Frankel (Acting/Directing Intern 2017-18) came back to AE

following his internship to star in the World Premiere of Reykjavik by
Steve Yockey.

Eric Graise (Acting Intern 2015-16) stars as King in the YouTube Red
series Step Up: High Water.

Abby Nicole Holland (Acting Intern 2016-17) played the lead role in
Horizon Theatre’s 2018 production of Freaky Friday the Musical and
has also appeared with Out of Box Theatre.

Ebony Jerry (Acting Intern 2017-18) recently starred in the 2019

Horizon Theatre production of The Wolves.

Justin Kalin (Directing Intern 2016-17) is currently Casting Associate

with AE and is Literary Manager and Casting Director for Out Front
Theatre.

Ibi Owolabi (Directing Intern 2016-17) recently directed Electric Baby

with The Weird Sisters Theatre Poject and Lysistrata with Impulse
Repertory and was the Alliance Theatre’s Kenny Leon Fellow in the
2017-18 season.
Falashay Pearson (Acting Intern 2014-15) received a Suzi Bass Award
nomination for Best Featured Actress for the 2017 AE production of
The Crucible. She was also recently named by the Atlanta Journal-
Constitution as one of eight young actors to watch in Atlanta theatre.
Kevin Qian (Acting Intern 2017-18) recently starred in Horizon
Theatre’s 2018 production of Nomad Motel.

Rachel Shuey (Acting Intern 2012-13) graduated from the Yale School
of Drama with an MFA in Theatre Management and was recently
named Executive Director of Labyrinth Theatre in New York.

Ryan Vo (Acting Intern 2016-17) was in Theatrical Outfit’s 2018

production of The Book of Will and returned to AE for the 2019
production of An Octoroon.
HOW TO APPLY

All applicants should submit a resume and cover letter. Actors must
also submit a headshot. All applicants should also include the name
and contact information of a faculty member from your undergraduate
department whom you would like to list as a reference. If a faculty
member is not available, another reference may be used.

If you would like to be considered for more than one area of specialty,
please indicate this in your cover letter and be sure your resume reflects
your varied experience and interest. If you prefer, you may submit
multiple resumes from the various disciplines in which you have interest
and experience.

Email materials to freddie@actorsexpress.com with INTERNSHIPS in

the subject line. No phone calls, please.

TO ENSURE CONSIDERATION FOR THE 2019-20 SEASON, PLEASE

SUBMIT ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS BY
APRIL 12, 2019.

For more information, please visit www.actors-express.com.

Intern Precious West (far right) with Michael Champion and Jeannette Illidge
in the 2018 Actor’s Express production of The Color Purple. Photo by Casey
Gardner.