Internships

A screen capture of interns on Zoom.
Summer 2021 Interns

Internships at Wheelock Family Theatre at Boston University (WFT@BU) are exciting opportunities for the next generation of artists, educators, administrators to learn and work in a professional midsize theatre dedicated to improving the lives of children and families.

Through hands-on projects, networking opportunities, and professional development, interns will develop the tools necessary to be successful in their chosen field.

Join our family and apply for an internship today!

Time Commitment

Currently WFT@BU offers summer internships. Applications for Summer 2023 Internships are now closed.

Interns typically work 5 to 25 hours per week but are flexible based on your availability and those required of the specific internship program. Start and end dates are also determined by program needs and individual availability. Please note, Education Interns will work closer to 32 – 40 hours a week during summer programming weeks. Internships will be held in-person this summer.

If you are looking for a short-term volunteer opportunity, click here.

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Qualifications

WFT@BU offers internships to college and graduate level students and early career professionals with a range of experiences and backgrounds. Please see the individual internship descriptions for specific qualifications. Applicants must be at least 18 years old to be eligible for an internship. 

For teen opportunities, click here.

Compensation

WFT@BU internships are paid (starting at $15/hour) or interns can receive college credit, when applicable. Additional compensation includes complimentary tickets, professional development and networking opportunities.

Internship Areas

WFT@BU offers the following opportunities for internships for summer internships. Click the title to view projects and responsibilities of the specific internship.

Audience Services Intern, Accessibility & Equity
  • Assist in the development and execution of WFT’s Access programs (ASL, open captioning, audio description, tactitle tours, sensory friendly performances, social stories, etc)
  • Research audience development and community-based initiatives around accessibility and inclusion best practices.
  • Research audience development, and community-based initiatives around equity and inclusion best practices.
  • Applicants should have an interest in equity, diversity, inclusion, and/or accessibility in the arts. Previous experience with this type of work is encouraged but not required.

This is a part-time internship, 5 to 15 hours a week.

Audience Services Intern, School Outreach & Partnerships
  • Support the Audience Services Manager in the day-to-day operations of the box office and professional theatre (answer phones/emails, serve as front of house staff, etc).
  • Asist in the research and development of programs related to audiences services (membership/subscription models, discount ticket initiatives, community promotions)
  • Assist in maintaining & updating patron and school contact databases (Updating contact information, merging duplicate profiles, researching new school contacts, etc) 
  • Applicants should have some basic knowledge of Microsoft Suite, G-Suite. Previous experience with OvationTix is desirable but not required.

This is a part-time internship, 5 to 15 hours a week.

Administrative Intern, General Management & Fundraising
  • Supporting all areas of Wheelock Family Theatre’s fundraising efforts, with emphasis on corporate giving.
  • Assisting in coordinating direct mail/e-mail campaigns for individual donors.
  • Researching prospective individual and institutional funders.
  • Carrying out other special projects and cultivation events as needed.
  • Applicants should have good computer and research skills, be organized, personable, self-motivated, and have an interest in fundraising/development at a non-profit arts organization. 

This is a part-time internship, 5 to 15 hours a week.

Education Intern, Administrative Operations
  • Support the day-to-day operations of WFT@BU’s summer program, with three areas of focus, administrative operations, student & family relations, teaching & learning resource management.
  • Administrative operations duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to: managing  online & in-person registration; supporting COVID-19 health & safety guidelines and policies; participate in the planning and execution of all areas of running a 9-week theatre arts summer program. 
  • Student & family relations duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to: Phone/email/in-person communication with families around student support, accessibility needs and learning plans; supervising lunch, breaks and pick-up & drop-off; possible assisting in the classroom.
  • Teaching & learning resource management duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to: developing and implementing a teaching resources site; researching and including resources (visuals, worksheets, documents, plays, books, etc); collaborate with teaching artists to support their day-today materials and supplies
  • Applicants should have  strong communication skills, experience in administrative work  and an interest in arts education.

This is a full-time internship, 36 to 40 hours a week.

Education Intern, Teaching Assistant
  • Serve as a Teaching Assistant in in-person theatre arts classes/programs for students grades K to 12.
  • Support the day-to-day programming  operations of WFT@BU’s summer program including but not limited to: Phone/email/in-person communication with families around student support accessibility needs and learning plans; supporting pick-up & drop-off; supervising lunch and breaks; serving as a model student; possible lead teaching opportunities; additional in-class & administrative duties as assigned.
  • Participate in and support professional development and learning opportunities throughout the summer.
  • Applicants should have an interest in theatre arts education and working with young people and families. Specific expertise (technical theatre/production, acting, musical theatre, stage combat, etc) may be required to support in various classes. Previous experience teaching and developing curriculum is encouraged but not required.

This is a full-time internship, 36 to 40 hours a week.

Marketing Intern, Social Media & Graphic Design
  • Strategic research and planning for future productions
  • Designing and creating content for posting (IG stories, graphics, etc.) and assisting with content creation assignments (blog posts, newsletters, etc.)
  • Support the ongoing work of the Marketing Specialist in the development and execution of Wheelock Family Theatre’s marketing and communications plan.
  • Avid social media user – up on the latest trends for each social platform (IG, TikTok, FB, etc.)
  • Applicants should be interested in exploring all areas of marketing, from social media to email strategy and more. Strong applicants will have a passion for experience based marketing and knowledge of new and creative ways to reach WFT audiences. Knowledge of and skills in using Illustrator, InDesign and other Adobe programs is encouraged but not required.  

This is a part-time internship 5 to 15 hours a week.

Marketing Intern, Photography & Video Production
  • Assist with coverage of current programming, including shooting Education classes, productions, and final demonstrations.
  • Support the planning of future marketing shoots, aligned with organizational goals.
  • Edit, caption, keyword, and properly archive and organize all images and files
  • Assist Marketing Specialist with photo & video shoots and other daily needs as assigned.
  • Applicants should have an interest and previous 2 to 3 years video production and/or photography experience. Knowledge of and skills in using Illustrator, InDesign and other Adobe programs is encouraged but not required. Ability to work in a fast paced environment.

This is a part-time internship, 10 to 20 hours a week.

Productions Intern, Artistic Operations
  • Completing dramaturgical research for upcoming productions with the opportunity to write for WFT’s blog and social media.
  • Reading plays; researching new plays, playwrights, and stories to adapt for the stage; and writing reviews in order to support WFT’s season planning processes. 
  • Assisting in the maintenance of WFT’s literary database.
  • Completing administrative tasks that support the day-to-day operations of the Artistic Department.
  • Seasonal:
    • Supporting the Casting Director in the process of casting shows across the season: organizing headshots, selecting and printing sides, scheduling auditions, monitoring auditions, and overall supporting the Casting Director in ensuring that the artist feels welcome and has all the tools for success at every stage of the audition process.
  • Applicants should have a strong interest in playwriting, new play development and writing. Previous experience with plays for youth and families is encouraged but not required.

This is a part-time internship, 5 to 10 hours a week.

Productions Intern, Technical Theatre
  • Work alongside the Production Manager & Technical Director  to support the summer education programs for grades K to 12, with the opportunity for specialized focus in an area of design based on applicant’s previous experience and interest. 
  • Support education programs as possible teaching assistant and/or crew support for the various performance based programs.
  • Collaborate with the Production Manager & Technical Director on theatre maintenance projects, inventory, and organization of theatre spaces.
  • Participate in early design conversations for upcoming main stage productions and serve as a support to the Production Manager & Technical Director as needed.
  • Applicants should have previous experience in technical theatre, theatre design, and/or production management and an interest in working with young people.

This is a part-time internship, 20 to 30 hours a week.

How to Apply

Applications for Internships for Summer 2023 are now closed. Thank you to everyone who applied for this summer’s internship!

Applications for Internships for Summer 2023 are now open with a priority deadline of applications received by February 26, 2023 . To apply, please complete the form below. You’ll be asked to upload a resume or list of applicable experiences and share a short written or video statement about your interest in interning with WFT@BU. Creativity and personal interpretation are encouraged.

All applicants will be contacted, either way, by March 31, 2023.