The Illinois Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts have awarded Timber Lake Playhouse a grant to create a paid apprentice program for area teens interested in pursuing careers in the theatre arts.
TLP is accepting applications for the apprenticeship program through Friday, June 17, 2016.
Timber Lake Playhouse, operating in its 55th Season, hires performers, directors, and designers from around the Country each year. The new apprentice program is designed to immerse pre-college teens from Northwest Illinois in all aspects of professional theatre production. Rather than volunteering time, the grant provides an hourly pay rate comparable to other summer work.
“It’s a remarkable investment in the cultural life of the region,” said Artistic Director James Beaudry. “To go into a university program with existing professional credits gives these artists a huge advantage. Combine that with a salary, says that we believe in the value of the theatre arts and in you, as the next generation of artists from Northwest Illinois.”
Teens will be chosen based on an artistic statement, letter of recommendation, and interview. Priority is given to upperclassmen, those already accepted to university programs, and those who have demonstrated a clear commitment to pursuing a career in theatre. The program lasts ten weeks and provides immersion in many aspects of theatre. Areas of immersion include design, costuming, sound, lighting, directing, management, and marketing. The final three weeks are spent in a single area of focus of the artist’s choosing.
“It is important for TLP to offer programming to area teens.” said TLP Executive Director Dan Danielowski. “We expect some very talented high school students to apply for these positions.”
Interested youth should send a letter of application with an artistic statement, a resume, and a letter of recommendation from someone familiar with their work to admin@timberlakeplayhouse.org.
Timber Lake Playhouse will open “Having Our Say: The Delaney Sisters’ First Hundred Years” on Thursday, June 16. For tickets, visit www.timberlakeplayhouse.org. You may also call the box office at 815-244-2035 or visit them at 8215 Black Oak Road, Mount Carroll, IL, during business hours. All performance dates and times are available online.
This project is partially funded by the Illinois Arts Council and The National Endowment for the Arts.