[e-drive][SHAW FESTIVAL - INTERN DIRECTORS and the DIRECTORS PROJECT]

[Chris Blanchenot]

Please direct all responses and inquiries directly to the theatre or association listed in the e-drive notice below.

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SHAW FESTIVAL - INTERN DIRECTORS and the DIRECTORS PROJECT
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DEADLINE: JULY 31, 2004

A Guide to Applicants:

Each year, the Shaw Festival hires two Intern Directors for a period of about six months.  They look for promising professional directors near the beginning of their careers.  They should have a fair bit of professional experience, but probably not in a company as large as the Shaw Festival.  The contracts run approximately from mid-March to late September, depending on the production schedule for the particular season.  These  positions are salaried at an apprentice level, which at The Shaw is between $500 and $600 per week.

The Intern Directors work under the mentorship of the Directors of the Academy, which is the Shaw Festival's professional development and public education wing.  Each intern is assigned to two or three successive shows as an Assistant Director.  At least one of these shows is in the Festival Theatre (860 seats) and another in a smaller one (330 seats).  For the most part, being an Assistant Director involves observing the senior directors at work in rehearsal, doing research as required, acting as a sounding board as required.  (Getting them coffee is not required.)  The Interns also assist the company in educating audiences about theatre in general and the Shaw's productions and programmes in particular.  The Intern positions usually have free time built into some portions of the season, so that Interns are free to take Academy classes and pursue other theatrical projects that interest them.

The "Directors Project" is the culmination of the Intern Directors' season, and has become a very important event to the Shaw company as a whole.  It consists of a double-bill of two one-acts directed by the two Intern Directors.  In consultation with Neil Munro, the company's Associate Director, each Intern chooses a play from the period of the Shaw Festival's mandate (1856-1950).  These plays are given three performances to invited audiences (artistic directors, sponsors, company members, family and assorted friends of the Festival) in a studio setting.  While production resources are limited as to costumes, sets, props, lighting and sound, there are normally apprentice designers, stage managers and other personnel assigned to the project.  All casting is done in consultation with Neil Munro, but basically you can use any member of the Shaw Festival ensemble whom you can talk into being in the show.  (The project is in excess of the actors' contracted workload, and so they take part in the project on a volunteer basis.)  Each one-act has between 50 and 60 hours of rehearsal over 5-6 weeks, scheduled by our Production Stage Manager.  

Since it's inception in 1988, the Directors Projects has been sponsored annually by Sun life Financial and Theatre Ontario.

Applications for the Intern Director positions are made through Theatre Ontario, usually with a July 31 deadline to begin residency the following March.  There is no application form - just submit a resumé with a covering letter, and you may attach other supporting documents if you wish.  Applicants must be legally resident in Canada.  Hiring decisions are made exclusively by the Shaw Festival.  For further information about the applications process, please contact:
  
Vinetta Strombergs, Professional Theatre Coordinator,
Theatre Ontario,
215 Spadina Ave. Suite 210
Toronto, ON   M5T 2C7

PLEASE - NO email OR fax submissions .

Contact Vinetta at Theatre Ontario 
Phone:  (416) 408-4556  or  email:  vinetta at theatreontario.org
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Canadian Actors' Equity Association
44 Victoria Street, 12th Floor
Toronto, ON M5C 3C4