PlayGround Announces Applications for 2021-2022 Producing Fellows

Posted by on February 26, 2021

PlayGround Fellowship August 1, 2021 – July 31, 2022.

PlayGround is excited to announce the next round of applications for their paid Producing Fellowships designed to foster the next generation of leadership for the American Theatre. We are looking for Bay Area individuals passionate about theatre and looking to make an impact on the field while developing the skill set to do so for a living. Particularly, these roles will give weight and priority to BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and disabled individuals in the hopes of employing diverse voices that can continue to hone their producing skills in a collaborative environment. The deadline to apply for the 2021-22 Fellowship is April 15, 2021. Applications must be submitted through this Google Form.

Our matriculating fellows Chris Steele, Lana Richards, and Edna Raia each have impacted PlayGround as an organization, and have already made significant contributions to Bay Area artistry and beyond!

When asked about their experience working as Fellows, they had this to say:

CS: Working with PlayGround has been a massively empowering experience: I’ve been able to hone my producing skills, self-determine my path of opportunity, and all in a collaborative environment that consistently respects and values my identity as a trans person.

LR: This is a fully hands-on experience where you are trusted to play a critical role in PlayGround’s administrative work. Fellows are given true responsibility within the organization; there’s no better way to learn than by doing!

ER: Being a theatre management fellow has given me a well-rounded understanding of the mechanics that run a non-profit organization and I feel very capable of managing my own company. I am so grateful to have worked with such caring, passionate individuals, providing fair opportunities for our greater Bay Area community to participate in theatre arts.

When asked if they had any advice for new applicants, they said:

CS: It’s rare that you get a chance to be fairly compensated for work as a fledgling producer; that’s not advice but definitely a reason to apply. Spending weekly meetings with the Fellowship team is a really potent opportunity to make industry connections, learn from everyone around you, and work closely with a company that cares about its artists. Come to the work with enthusiasm and you’ll get more than what you put into it out of it.

LR: This fellowship is really what you make it. Even within your area of interest there is so much to be learned about producing in general from your peers and the larger PlayGround community. Take initiative, don’t be afraid to make bold choices, and grow from the experience!

ER: Choose your fellowship based on your goals in the arts. What do you want to learn and how can you be the best at it? If you’re lost, ask for support. The fellows are a team. Watch the shows. They’re a wonderful reminder of why PlayGround exists.

Through this continued program, we hope to strengthen the lineage of talented Bay Area theatre administrators, and open up the process of the art of making art to individuals that may have traditionally felt barred from that learning. Candidates will be expected to have strong organizational, writing, and communication skills, to work well in collaboration, and to have an interest in pursuing a career in theatre. Applications will be opened from today (February 26, 2021) through April 15, 2021. Interviews with select candidates will be conducted after April 15, 2021. Announcement of candidates will be made by May 15, 2021. The Fellowships will begin in August 2021, are expected to begin meeting virtually and move to in person meetings when it is safe to do so, but PlayGround will maintain all necessary accessibility for participants. The Fellowship is paid hourly, at $20/hr at approximately 5 hours per week for the duration of the year-long tenure.

While Fellows have distinct areas of responsibility, the program is designed to foster collaboration and peer-learning while providing all Fellows with a strong overview of the operations of a professional regional theatre. Playground is offering fellowships in the following departments;

Artistic (Literary Management/Casting) – In this department, you will be assisting with the selection of scripts and actors. Scheduling and organizing auditions with actors. Update any present and future scripts. This department is supervised by the artistic director, associate artistic director, and casting director.
Development (Fundraising/Grant Writing) – In this department, you will be working with scheduling events and creating fundraising strategy development. This department will be supervised by the artistic director.
Theatre Management (Financial Management/HR/Contracts) – In this department, you will be working on Playground policies, contracts with sponsorships, and tech. This department will be supervised by the artistic director.
Communications (Publicity/Social Media/Marketing) – In this department, you will be working with reaching out to potential sponsors and communities. The goal is to spread awareness of our shows. This department is supervised by the artistic director.

Application Requirements

Please submit all application materials via this google form.

Cover Letter (Max 2 Pgs): Please including the following information;

Which Fellowship are you applying for and why?
What relevant experiences and skills can you bring to the team?
What you hope to learn from the Fellowship and how this integrates with your career goal?
A brief artistic statement, indicating the type of theatre that excites you and why, and how you see your aesthetic values reflected in the mission/work of Playground.
Resume or Curriculum Vitae.
Two Letters of Recommendation.