Apprentice Programs

THE KINGSMEN SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL APPRENTICE COMPANY
2008

The Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival Apprentice Company is an excellent opportunity for young actors and technicians to train with and gain valuable experience from working with an established Equity Acting Company. The Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival was established in 1997 and has received high regional theatre acclaim from the Los Angeles area theatre critics. Performing on the beautiful grounds of Kingsmen Park on the campus of California Lutheran University, the Festival draws crowds from all over Southern California Last year an estimated 10,000 people attended the Festival. Audiences come not only for the exceptional theatre experience but to enjoy a picnic during a pre-show of music, dance, comedy and scenes.

This season, the acting apprentice company will be made up 13 acting apprentices. The apprentice actors will train in the art of performing Shakespeare and understudy major roles within the company. Furthermore they will be the sole performers in the Greenshow performed each performance night and are guaranteed at least one role in each of the equity company's productions. Additional duties include teaching and/or assisting in Camp Shakespeare, (an acting camp for 9-16 year-olds running simultaneously with the Festival), teaching or assisting the Junior Apprentice Company (high school students) and providing technical support during the setup and takedown of the Festival site. The acting apprentice company works six days a week. A typical day starts at 9 a.m. with the actors rehearsing for the Greenshow. After an hour break for lunch, the apprentices will rehearse or teach in Camp Shakespeare from 1:00-5:00 p.m. on the technical production of the Festival, work with Camp Shakespeare or rehearse. After a dinner break, they will rehearse and understudy roles from 6:30 - 10:30 p.m..

Technical Theatre apprentices will be assigned duties in set construction, lighting, sound or costumes. Technical Theatre apprentices will work under the direction of the company technical director and will have hours and duties assigned to them based upon their skills and interests. Additional duties include assignments on wardrobe, sound or light board operation, prop running crew, or assistant stage management. Kingsmen hires working professional designers from the L. A. area. Technical apprentices will work 5-6 days each week.

The Festival will provide all apprentices with apartment dormitory rooms on the Campus of California Lutheran University during the duration of the Festival. In addition, the acting apprentices will receive a $125 per week food stipend. Since they will be performing with an Actor’s Equity Association Company, they will be eligible to apply for the AEA Candidates Program and will receive points towards their union card. The technical apprentices will receive a $150 per week food stipend. Various Master classes will be offered by senior company members who are working professionals in the L.A. area. Responsibilities for apprentices begin Tuesday, June 3, 2008 at 12 noon and they will be released on Friday, August 8, 2006 at 3 p.m.

Artistic Director: Michael J. Arndt