Internships

All applicants must submit a separate cover letter, resume, and PDF Center Theatre Group Internship Application for each position during the application window. We do not keep resumes on file. Choose one position that greatly interests you and submit a thoughtful, well-researched cover letter that expresses what you would bring to the position, what you hope to learn, and why the internship would support you in your career development. If two positions appeal to you, you can submit two separate cover letters and we will see to it that each is considered separately.

No, you do not need your own car. However, Interns need to have reliable transportation to all of Center Theatre Group’s locations, including our Costume & Prop Shop in Boyle Heights, our theatres and administrative office in Downtown L.A., and the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. Interns planning on taking public transit should be aware that the schedule will include nighttime rehearsals, and they may be traveling home after dark.

At this time, we are offering internship opportunities in the summer with applications opening in April. Graduate fellowships usually begin in late May and end mid-August while undergraduate internships usually begin in early June and end early August.

Most undergraduate internships are 10 weeks long and range from 16-24 hours/week. Graduate-level internships are 13 weeks long and range from 20-40 hours/week. Interns must attend professional development sessions. Most internships take place during our regular office hours: Mon–Fri, 10am–6pm. See individual internship descriptions for details.

Please do not apply if you are not available for the full-time commitment.

All of our interns are compensated, either through college/university credit or via a stipend. When you apply, please indicate which you would prefer to receive. Once the internship is secured, it is the responsibility of the intern to register for an internship course and inform his/her supervisor of any requirements or paperwork necessary to receive credit. If you indicate you are able to take the internship for credit, you will be expected to do so if selected.

We are unable to host any unpaid interns.

Positions vary by term. In the past two years, undergraduate internships have been offered in Development, Education, Executive Office, Institutional Advancement, Finance, Graphics, Human Resources, Information Technology, Marketing, Media & Content, Theatre Management, and Ticket Operations. Graduate-level positions have been offered in the Executive Office, Theatre Management, Marketing, and Theatre Archival.

We do not currently offer internships in acting, directing, scenic design, or stage management. We recommend learning more about our Observership and Apprenticeship programs for training opportunities in artistic and technical production pathways. 

We strongly suggest you only apply for a position that will support you in your career path. Our supervisors receive up to 40 applications each term. They're looking for a person with genuine interest in the specific internship position, and whose career would be supported and enhanced by this internship opportunity. For example, the strongest candidate for the Community Partnerships internship is someone who has a demonstrated interest in working in the community, some experience, and is curious about pursuing community-based work as a career. If you are looking for a broader experience or aren’t sure what area of arts management appeals to you, you may be better suited to an internship at a smaller theatre company, where you’ll have opportunities to work with multiple departments. For summer positions, we suggest you look at the range of local theatre companies participating in the Los Angeles County Arts Internship Program.

Our internship program may not be a good fit for aspiring actors, designers, and directors' career development. We recommend learning more about our Observership and Apprenticeship program for training opportunities in artistic and technical production pathways and visit our casting pages to learn more about auditioning for Center Theatre Group.

A strong cover letter for usually addresses:

• Why you want to work in a particular department and/or with the internship supervisor.
• What you hope to learn or gain from the internship, and how this will support your career path.
• Why you are interested in learning these skills at Center Theatre Group (instead of a smaller theatre, a for-profit theatre, a movie studio, etc.).
• What you bring to the position that makes you uniquely suited to the internship.

Your work resume should be a 1–2 page document that outlines your education, work history and what each position entailed, and hard skills (computer programs, languages spoken, etc.). Some resumes also include information about volunteer positions, awards received, and professional reference contact information. Please do not include a photo, acting credits, a list of courses taken, or fun facts.

Yes. International students have interned for us while on a three-month student Visa. However, we do not sponsor international applicants. A J1 Visa is likely not a viable option for our program, as the J1 is designed for a longer work opportunity than our 10-week program. In order to participate, international students must have a United States Social Security number OR register for school credit through their college or university.

We do not offer internships for high school students and/or people under the age of 18. We encourage young people under age 18 to learn more about our Student Ambassador program and our student events. Our program has no age limit for older college undergraduate and graduate students. If you fit the eligibility requirements and believe you would benefit from our program, we encourage you to apply.

If you have been out of school for more than one year, you are not eligible for our Internship Program. Please take a look at our employment opportunities page instead [link to Employment/Job Listings page].

We consider some applications from young people not currently enrolled in higher education. Please contact us at [email protected] to discuss.

Supervisors only receive the first page of the Center Theatre Group Internship Application along with the applicant's resume and cover letter. The Internship Program Manager, who does not make selection decisions, is the only person who sees the additional pages. Center Theatre Group collects candidate data for tracking and human resources purposes only. Demographic data is optional, but helps us report on our program. Information about past felonies is required.

We would love to connect with you. Please contact [email protected].