Professional Development Program 2024-2025: Season Cycle 3 Opportunities

INFORMATION OF NOTE:

• Please see evaluation criteria at the bottom of this page.
• Housing and travel is only included in opportunities where explicitly stated.
• Any applicant currently enrolled in a collegiate level institution must have completed their program by the start date of any opportunity they are applying for.
• Please do not include any links in your written responses in your application. They will not be reviewed and may disqualify you.
• Late applications will not be accepted. As our application portal gets extremely busy in the final hours of the application period, we highly suggest submitting your application before 6pm on December 9th.

Cycle 3 applications are now closed.

Observership – SMASH with Director Susan Stroman in New York City on Broadway

This opportunity lets you be an Observer to Director Susan Stroman on SMASH on Broadway in New York City starting in January 2025.

Production Title: SMASH

Theatre Information (location of the Observership): Rehearsals in Manhattan NYC, tech and previews at the Imperial Theatre

Dates of Observership: January 21, 2025 (first rehearsal) – April 10, 2025 (opening night)

Award: $7,260

Additional information about the production:

SMASH, inspired by the hit TV show, is a hilarious behind the scenes rollercoaster ride about the making of a Marilyn Monroe musical called Bombshell. This Observership opportunity would be ideal for an early career director interested in learning more about all aspects of developing new musicals, especially big musical theatre comedies, and interested in learning more about doing it in the commercial space.

Fellowship – Akira Kurosawa Explains His Movies and Yogurt (With Live and Active Cultures!) by Julia Izumi with Aileen Wen McGroddy at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company

This opportunity lets you to be a Fellow to Director Aileen Wen McGroddy on Akira Kurosawa Explains His Movies and Yogurt (With Live & Active Cultures!) at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company in Washington, DC starting April 2025

Production Title: Akira Kurosawa Explains His Movies and Yogurt (With Live and Active Cultures!) by Julia Izumi

Theatre Information (location of the fellowship): Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company

Dates of Fellowship: April 8, 2025 (first rehearsal) – May 10, 2025 (opening night)

Award: $3,500

Additional information:

This new work is a constantly unfolding interrogation of cultural translation, family relationships, and the practice of grief. It is also a joke about yogurt. This Fellow opportunity is ideal specifically for a director interested in new work as well as interested in the chance to learn about intensive collaboration between director and playwright, ensemble creation, and a rigorous design process. The playwright will also be a performer in the production. If you have any experience with the Japanese language, please reference it in your application. While all are able to apply, local candidates will be prioritized for this opportunity.

Fellowship – Dakar 2000 by Rajiv Joseph with May Adrales at Manhattan Theatre Club

This opportunity lets you to be a Fellow to Director May Adrales on Dakar 2000 at Manhattan Theatre Club in New York City starting January 2025

Production Title: Dakar 2000 by Rajiv Joseph

Theatre Information (location of the fellowship): Manhattan Theatre Clube – New York City Center Stage I

Dates of Fellowship: January 7, 2025 (first rehearsal) – February 27, 2025 (opening night)

Award: $5,250

Additional information:

This Fellow opportunity is ideal specifically for a director interested in and has experience with new plays, observing the relationship between director and playwright, and learning more about creating a new play work production at the Off-Broadway theater level.

Fellowship – SUMO by Lisa Sanaye Dring with Ralph B. Peña at Ma-Yi Theater Company

This opportunity lets you to be a Fellow to Director Ralph B. Peña on SUMO at Ma-Yi Theater Company in New York City starting January 2025

Production Title: SUMO by Lisa Sanaye Dring

Theatre Information (location of the fellowship): The Public Theater

Dates of Fellowship: January 7, 2025 (first rehearsal) – March 5, 2025 (opening night)

Award: $6,000

Additional information:

This Fellow opportunity is ideal specifically for a director interested in new play work, observing the relationship between director and playwright, and learning more about creating a new play work production at the Off-Broadway theater level.

Please note that this opportunity is attached a two week post opening job opportunity to run understudy rehearsals on a separate agreement through Ma-Yi Theatre. Further details will be shared with finalists for this opportunity, but you must be available between March 6, 2024 to March 20, 2024 as well to be competitive for this opportunity.

Evaluation Criteria:

Applications will be evaluated on the following three categories

Clarity: The applicant’s ability to articulate interest, with specificity, in the theatrical art form and in their own work as a director and/or choreographer. Their response has clarity of thought, understanding, and focus.

Timing: The applicant speaks to why this is the specific right moment in their career to participate in the given opportunity.

Access & Impact: The applicant articulates why this production opportunity would give them access to knowledge and/or a type of educational theatrical experience they do not currently have.