Education and Community Engagement Trainee

Manhattan Theatre Club (MTC), a Tony Award-winning nonprofit theatre dedicated to producing innovative theatre of the highest quality by American and international playwrights, with a focus on presenting New York, American, and world premieres, invites applications for the Paul A. Kaplan Theatre Management Program’s 2024-25 Early Career Professional Training Track Education and Community Engagement position. For over 50 years, MTC has been the creative and artistic home for America’s most gifted theatrical artists, producing works of the highest quality by contemporary American and international playwrights. MTC is an anti-racist organization that respects and honors all voices, and upholds the values of community and equity.

The Paul A. Kaplan Theatre Management Program provides a unique opportunity to learn about producing not-for-profit theatre both on and off-Broadway through intensive on-the-job training. Program participants are assigned projects and responsibilities that contribute to the day-to-day running of the company. Additionally, support from supervisors and mentors ensure that participants are not only gaining valuable skills, but also receiving continuous advice and feedback.

The experience is further enhanced by an educational seminar series led by the industry experts on MTC’s staff as well as career development coaching with our human resources team. Program alumni go on to work in the industry at theatre companies producing on Broadway, off Broadway, and regionally; in casting offices, production companies, and theatrical advertising agencies; and, in allied arts and cultural organizations across the country.

MTC Education prepares students to see our plays and inspire them to write their own; as a result, minds awaken, imaginations ignite, hearts open, and lives change. We work with over 2,000 young people a year in high schools and juvenile detention facilities throughout New York City, in northern New Jersey, and across the country. We promote creative collaboration and thoughtful dialogue in our classrooms and introduce young people to theatre’s miraculous power to transform an audience of diverse individuals into one harmonious whole.

The Education and Community Engagement Trainee is a key member of a small team dedicated to turning our values and vision into practice. You’ll gain further project management experience as you coordinate the day-to-day operations of TheatreLink, our distance learning theatre-making project connecting high school students across the country, in Europe, in Asia, and in South Africa. You’ll hone your customer service and event management skills through the implementation of programs such as the Family Matinee, Teacher Workshops, and career development offerings. You’ll have access to an expert faculty of teaching artists with experience working in a diverse array of environments; observation opportunities that can be customized based upon your unique interests will be encouraged. You’ll have the opportunity to form and cultivate relationships through our community engagement work with individuals employed at other not-for-profit organizations as well as our expanding community partners. You’ll complete research projects on a variety of topics, including background information on our plays, trends in the arts-education field, and expansion of our programs and partnerships within NYC’s many communities. By the end of the traineeship, you’ll have learned the ins and outs of how an education program at a large arts non-profit organization is managed and you’ll be equipped with a skill set that can lead to a variety of careers in the arts.

We are seeking naturally curious individuals who find joy in coordinating and managing complex, constantly shifting details. Successful candidates are highly organized, attentive, and proactive early career administrators. They believe in the positive impact educational experiences centered on productions of exciting new plays can have on young people. The Education Trainee communicates regularly with people from many different backgrounds, so individuals with customer service experience and/or multi-lingual skills should definitely consider this traineeship.

All Early Career Professional Training positions are full-time and in-person, 35 hours per week. MTC’s office hours are Monday through Friday from 10am-6pm. Currently, our office is remote-optional dependent upon work priorities on Fridays. There will be some evening or weekend commitments during the season. The standard schedule for most Trainees will be Monday-Thursday from 10am-6pm (with 30-minute unpaid lunch break) and Friday from 10am-3:30pm (with 30-minute unpaid lunch).

These are full-time, non-exempt positions paid at $577.50 per week (35 hours per week at $16.50 per hour). The 2024-25 program will begin on Wednesday, September 4, 2024 and end on or around May 23, 2025.

Trainees are eligible for a benefits package which includes: choice between two group health plans with options for spousal, family, and/or domestic partner coverage; basic life and long term disability insurance; paid time off (sick and personal), voluntary dental, vision, and flex savings plans for healthcare, dependent care, and commuting expenses. Additionally, trainees will have access to MTC’s affinity spaces and receive complimentary tickets to productions at MTC and at other arts organizations.

The application deadline for the 2024-25 Early Career Professional Training track is Monday, May 27 at 11:59pm EDT. All components of the application must be received by this deadline in order for it to be considered complete.

A complete application consists of:

-Select the one or two departments to which you are applying.

-Share general interview availability for weekdays between June 17-July 18.

-Respond to four personal statement questions directly into the application form (no more than 225 words per response):

—What specifically about MTC’s mission, history, or place in the theatre landscape drives you to apply for this program and why?

—How have your educational and/or work experiences led you to be interested in the department(s) you selected?

—What specific knowledge and/or skills do you hope to develop further as a result of on-the-job training in the department(s) you selected? How might this professional development experience benefit your career?

—How do your personal values and life experiences energize your aspirations as an arts administrator?

-Submit a PDF of your résumé.

-Share the names and contact information for two references.

Please visit https://www.manhattantheatreclub.com/education/internships/ to learn more about the program and each available trainee position, to register for an open house, and to submit an application.

Manhattan Theatre Club believes that equity, diversity and inclusion should be essential elements of all activity within the organization.  We have made it a priority to create and maintain an environment that is attractive to and supportive of all individuals regardless of their ethnicity, race, gender identity, age, national origin, religion, disability, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, education, marital status, language, military or veteran status, etc. MTC is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.