Early Career Dramaturg Resources

Guidelines

Based on the survey and discussions with our colleagues, LMDA endorses these internship guidelines. A high-quality internship program should: 

1. Include a detailed discussion prior to beginning the internship of the intern’s goals and the theater’s expectations (including duties, hours, work and training plan, remuneration, mentorship).
2. Include appropriate, meaningful work with specific projects and responsibilities (examples might include script reading, research, attending rehearsal, writing program notes or study guides, assisting production dramaturgs, designing post-show discussions). While some degree of administrative work, both within and outside the department, is expected, it should not regularly replace meaningful educational work. 
3. Provide a thorough evaluation of an intern’s work based on agreed-upon expectations by the theatre and the intern. Evaluation may be informal, but should occur both mid-way through and at the end of the internship.
4. Provide access to people and connections that provide education in the theater and may further interns’ careers. 
5. Provide mentoring and advocacy for interns, both during their internship and beyond.
6. Strive towards a reasonable wage or housing plus a stipend. If this is not financially possible, opportunities to earn additional money through other jobs, either at or outside the theater, must be available.

Early Career Dramaturg Opportunity List

LMDA is excited to partner with Beehive Dramaturgy Studio on a new resource list for emerging dramaturgs who are looking for early career opportunities! This resource list provides an overview of various internships, fellowships, and apprenticeships at professional theaters across the United States. 

Early Career Dramaturg Opportunity List

This resource list was started through the work and research of Ally Varitek.

How to Use the Opportunity List

This resource is best used as a guide and a national directory. Early career dramaturgs are encouraged to filter the list based on their needs (geographic, financial, length) and use this information as a jumping off point for additional research and information gathering. Entries may contain contact information for the organization itself or an individual who has participated in the opportunity. Users are encouraged to reach out to the listed contacts for direct conversations with any additional questions. 

This list is monitored by LMDA’s incredible volunteers, but please note that information included in the database may expire or change at any time and before it’s able to be removed. Please always follow up with additional research to confirm opportunity details.

The following are resources provided by and for members and not endorsements by LMDA.

How to Add an Opportunity

If you work at a theater and would like to add an internship, fellowship, or apprenticeship opportunity to this resource list, please fill out this form.

Questions?

Please email institutions@lmda.org with any questions.

Beehive Dramaturgy Studio was founded to make skilled dramaturgy accessible to any playwright, director, composer, producer, or other theater practitioner who wishes to add a dramaturg to their process.