Interning FAQ
1. I am a(n) [actor/director/producer/stage manager/designer/tech person] who wants to work on a NYMF show, can I intern in that way?
Although NYMF is involved in many production aspects during the Festival, NYMF internships are NOT production internships. Interns get a larger overall picture of not-for-profit theatre and arts administration.
Show internships can be arranged with individual shows, which are not selected until June (a listing will be available then on the NYMF website) and go into production in the late summer in preparation for the fall Festival. Most shows start rehearsals in late August or September.
If you are interested in working on a NYMF show in the fall, the best thing to do is to sign up for the NYMF newsletter to get the latest NYMF updates including casting notices and mixers for potential production staff members. You can also go to http://www.nymf.org/Survey-4.html to fill out a short survey and become a part of our production resource database. The information from this database is then made available to the shows when they are looking for staff.
2. Do I have to apply for a specific kind of internship?
Indicating an area of focus will help NYMF make sure that interns get the most out of their time. Please note that literary internships are only available during the fall.
3. Who will I work with?
NYMF will interact with all other interns, staff members, producers of NYMF shows, NYMF associate staff, board members, and talent, but will have one specific supervisor who will oversee their progress throughout the internship.
4. What kind of time commitment is NYMF looking for?
Internships align with academic semesters (winter/spring, summer, fall) and generally run for around three to four months. Shorter or longer time frames can be accommodated on a case by case basis. Preference is given to applicants who can make a full-time commitment (40 hours/week), although there are also opportunities for part-time interns (16 hours/week). Part-time interns must have a consistent week-to-week schedule. Interns are occasionally asked to help with events in the evenings or weekends, but are given advance notice of these dates.
As noted above, literary internships are only available during the fall. Literary interns must commit to working from September through December at a minimum of 20 hours/week.
5. Will I be given a lot of responsibility as an intern?
The level of responsibility provided to each intern is directly related to the skills and commitment of the intern.
Interns form a critical part of the Festival staff, and are given tasks that range from general office responsibilities such as filing, copying, faxing, database entry and cleanup, and answering phones to key Festival responsibilities which in the past have included aiding in the design of marketing materials, updating and maintaining the website, investigating small-scale partnerships, researching and aiding the execution of major mailings, tracking and acknowledging members and patrons, coordinating aspects of our annual benefit gala, creating online ads, and participating in the reading of potential shows (depending on area of focus).
6. Will I be paid?
Stipends are available for qualified full time interns.
7. Can I receive college credit?
NYMF is happy to help interns meet any credit requirements of individual schools but all arrangements for credit must be made by the intern. Interns may not receive both course credit and a stipend.
8. Do you have an application deadline?
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
9. Does NYMF accept high school interns?
NYMF has accepted high school students in the past, but they are held to the same standards as all of our other interns and should have working knowledge of Excel and Word.
10. I’m an international applicant, can I still intern?
We have had international interns in the past. International applicants must secure a B1/B2 Visitor visa to work at NYMF, unless they are already in the U.S. under a different visa. Inquire with the U.S. Embassy or the consulate with jurisdiction over your place of permanent residence about visa application procedures. NYMF is unable to sponsor visa applications for international interns and international applicants must take full responsibility for arranging their travel, travel documents, and housing accommodations. Please note that under the visitor visa, international applicants are ineligible for intern stipends.
11. Can NYMF provide me housing?
Housing in New York is difficult, and unfortunately, NYMF does not provide housing for interns. For help in finding intern housing in New York, check out www.studenthousing.org and www.nycintern.org
12. Is there a chance that I will be hired after interning?
Although NYMF does not currently have any job positions available, former interns have continued to be associated with the Festival as production assistants, assistant stage managers, producers, and general managers for Festival shows, as well as produce events for the Festival such as NYMF's Next Broadway Sensation. Former interns are some of the first people the staff turns to when looking for additional help in the office, and have been hired as staff members.
13. What else have former interns gone on to?
Former NYMF interns have gone on to work in commercial theatre at such organizations as Frankel Green Theatrical Management and The Producing Office, in non-profit theatre with The Public Theater and Roundabout Theatre Company, at arts institutions outside of New York City such as Goodspeed Opera House and the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, at non-theatrical not-for-profit arts organizations, and companies outside of the arts. We also have several interns who go on to pursue advance degrees.
14. What if my question wasn’t covered in this list?
Feel free to email any additional questions to the Director of Operations at info@nymf.org.
