Internship Opportunities

Signature Theatre operates year-round and has full and part-time internships available throughout the year. Interns should be recent college graduates who are actively pursuing careers in theater or qualified junior or senior college students.
Interns are treated as a vital part of Signature’s staff and gain valuable real-life work experience at a professional, award-winning, nationally-renowned theater.
Internships are available in the following departments (please read full description below):

• Artistic
• Secondary Arts Education and Outreach
• Fundraising
• Finance
• Production

How To Apply

To apply, please send a cover letter stating your goals and expectations for an internship position with Signature, the department of interest, and the time period for which you would like to be considered (fall, spring, or summer). Also include a résumé listing your educational background, work history, and theater/arts experience with references and an official college transcript. Applications with staples in will be automatically rejected.

Send application materials to:

Signature Theatre
ATTN: Internships
4200 Campbell Ave.
Arlington, VA 22206

Internship Descriptions:

Our internship program is flexible and aims to utilize the strengths of each intern at Signature Theatre while providing opportunities for skill-growth and improvement.

Secondary Arts Education and Outreach:
Duties: Assist Signature in the Schools program both in rehearsal, in-class workshops, and in preparation of resource materials studied by over 1,200 students annually. Help coordinate free community events and summer programming, oversee registration for classes offered through The Signature Academy, work extensively on administrative needs for the Education Department, and assist in supervising The Apprentice at Signature program.
Qualifications: Teaching, dramaturgical, and office experience preferred but not required.

Finance:
Duties: Assist with accounts payable and receivable, make change for banks, keep data organized, assist with administrative projects such as budgeting and board reporting.
Qualifications: Accounting or theatre management candidates preferred.

Fundraising:
Duties: Fundraising interns actively participate in all fundraising activities, including the Friends of Signature campaign, Opening nights and special events, and research.
Qualifications: Detail-oriented, self-motivated, collaborative; excellent writing and communication skills; basic familiarity with computers.

Marketing:
Duties: Marketing interns will work on a myriad of marketing projects, including public relations, social media, box office, project management, advertising and other duties as assigned.
Qualifications: Detail-oriented, self-motivated, collaborative; excellent writing and communication skills; familiarity with computers.

Production:
Duties:Assist Director of Production and Associate Production Manager with regular administrative duties as well as assisting various shops throughout production, gaining valuable experience in every area of a professional theatre’s operating production department.
Qualifications: College student or recent graduate. Detail-oriented, self-motivated, collaborative.

FAQ:

How will I know my application materials have been received? Once your application has been received, a copy of it will be distributed to the department you wish to work with. A member of Signature’s Education department will contact you to let you know your materials have been received.

How long will it take to know if a decision has been made regarding my application? It can take several weeks to hear back on the status of an application. We appreciate your patience.

Who should I use as reference? We recommend professionals or educators who know you personally and who have worked with you. Look at the intern descriptions and qualifications. Are there people who have worked with you in similar capacities? Those are the people to ask.

Are interns paid? Full-time interns receive a modest travel stipend. Part-time internships are unpaid.

Does Signature provide housing for interns? Unfortunately, we cannot provide housing for interns. There are several websites and organizations in the DC area that can aid in finding housing for internships including The Washington Intern Housing Network. We will be happy to put you in contact with other interns who may be in need of roommates.

Is Signature Metro accessible? Signature Theatre is located in The Village at Shirlington, which is not Metro accessible. However, several buses leave from the nearby Pentagon City, Crystal City, and Pentagon stations to Shirlington on a regular basis. Additionally, there is a substantial amount of free parking near the theatre.

Is it possible to receive school credit for my internship? It is! If your school offers credit for internships, and you are interested in receiving credit for your internship at Signature, please make sure we know what’s required of you and, just as importantly, what’s required of us!

What are the hours for internships? The hours vary depending on the internship but generally interns will be expected to work Monday through Friday from 10 to 6 PM. Occasional evenings or weekends may be expected.

Is it possible to be a full-time intern at Signature and hold an outside job? While some have done it in the past, we wouldn’t recommend it. Interning at Signature is a full-time job and depending on the internship, the schedule can fluctuate from week to week, making it difficult to pursue outside work.

Do you offer internships for high school students? We offer a very limited amount of part-time internships for high school students. Preference is given to those who are receiving credit for school.

Do you offer acting internships? No acting internships are offered. If you’re interested in acting training with Signature, we encourage you to register for classes at The Signature Academy.

For more information about our internship opportunities, please contact Signature’s Education Department at 571 527 1854 or education@signature-theatre.org.