After a two year pause, Shotgun is thrilled to announce the return of the M.A.D. Fellowship program, our exciting opportunity for early career and emerging theater artists to get PAID hands-on experience working alongside established creatives and designers on our mainstage shows!

We will begin accepting applications for the next round of M.A.D. Fellowships & Observerships in the winter of 2022/2023. See below for descriptions of previous M.A.D. opportunities.

2022 Positions

M.A.D. Stage Management Fellowship

M.A.D. Design Fellowship

Fellowship Information

Shotgun Players is an equal opportunity employer. Employment opportunities at Shotgun Players are based upon one's qualifications and capabilities to perform the essential functions of a particular job. All employment opportunities are provided without regard to race, religion, color, sex, national origin, age, military status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, ancestry, medical condition, marital status, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by law.

F.A.Q.

You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers! For questions about Shotgun’s M.A.D. fellowships or the application, please contact M.A.D. program coordinator, Leigh Rondon-Davis at leigh@shotgunplayers.org.

What about gas and burrito money?

All M.A.D. fellows will receive Berkeley minimum wage ($16.32) for their work at Shotgun Players.

Do you have a couch I can crash on?

Shotgun Players cannot cover housing or transportation. So please keep that in consideration if you are thinking about coming from out-of-state. We also cannot sponsor foreign applicants or assist in obtaining travel documents, but we happily welcome applicants who currently have up-to-date visas and work permits!

What makes me a good applicant?

The ideal applicant is a college student or recent graduate who is interested in a career in theatre and can commit to the full time requirements of the fellowship, experienced designing at least one production (either academic or non-academic), and (preferably) familiar with standard software for your field (i.e. Vectorworks, Lightwright, QLab, Microsoft Excel, Adobe Creative Cloud, Google Suite).

What about my side gig?

Our fellowship time commitments vary and often require some evening or weekend work. For administrative fellowships, a full-time job would not work within the time commitment. Shotgun sometimes has opportunities to offer minimum wage employment as part of our front of house staff. Design fellowships have more flexibility, but please be sure to consider your schedule, and make sure this program is a good fit for you.

All the fellowships are so great! Can I apply for more than one?

You are welcome to apply for multiple fellowships, but will likely be selected for only one.

2022 Positions

M.A.D. Stage Management Fellowship

The stage management fellowship is a 3-month program. The purpose of this experience is to give the fellow a comprehensive look at the work and responsibilities of a Stage Manager on a production for a mid-sized, regional theater. The fellow will work an average of 30 hours per week while serving as the Assistant Stage Manager on the production.

Responsibilities:

• Assist production Stage Manager with running rehearsals (ie. prepping the space for rehearsals; taking line notes; tracking and managing costumes, props, and prop table; supporting cast and creative team with production-related tasks; assisting with cleaning and close-out procedures)
• Track backstage logistics
• Serve as Assistant Stage Manager for all performances, planning and managing the backstage components of the production

Prerequisites:

• Experience stage or production managing at least one show (either academic or non-academic)
• Proficiency with Google Suite (Sheets and Docs in particular)
• Enthusiasm for learning how to use new tools and technologies in theater
• Ability to lift up to 40 lbs

Time Commitment

330 hours, primarily evening and weekend daytime commitments.

Compensation

All fellowships will be paid Berkeley Minimum Wage ($16.32 /hour)

Deadline for 2023 Fellowships & Observerships

TBD

M.A.D. Designer Fellowships

The designer fellow will work alongside a mentor designer to gain hands-on experience in a production environment. Skills will be developed through collaborative discussions with an artistic team, research, and problem-solving. This fellowship is a maximum of 50 hours over 5–7 weeks, from the start of the production process until opening night. Available design disciplines: lighting, scenic, sound, costume, props.

Responsibilities:

• Attend design and prep meetings between director and designer and pre-production meetings
• Research materials and sources for preliminary design
• Assist in preparing design presentations for first production meeting
• Assist with paperwork and execution of design (ex: scenic drafting, light/speaker/projector plot, costume renderings, dramaturgical research, programming, fabrication and construction, shopping/sourcing, etc.)
• Attend design run-throughs
• Participate in production meetings
• Attend load in and tech rehearsals, problem-solve, maintain quality control/integrity of design, and other issues during tech
• Be a critical eye and report any notes to designer

Prerequisites:

• Prior experience in theatrical design and construction on at least one production (either academic or non-academic)
• Superior communication and organization skills, attention to detail, ability to manage multiple projects, and proficiency in standard software for your field (ex. Vectorworks, Lightwright, QLab, AutoCAD, Microsoft Excel, Adobe Creative Cloud, Google Suite)
• Comfortable with craftsmanship (ex. sewing and alterations, building, fabrication).

Time Commitment

Up to 50 hours total

Compensation

All fellowships will be paid Berkeley Minimum Wage ($16.32 /hour)

Deadline for 2023 Fellowships & Observerships

TBD