ABOUT THE INTERN TRAINING PROGRAM

Our theater began as a company of young people performing children's theater. None of the actors or technicians in that first company were professionals. But those young performers were the artistic foundation for what has become Tri-State Actors Theater. It was from this base of enthusiastic, largely untrained actors and technicians that we have developed into a professional and training theater for the pleasure and enlightenment of all the people of the northwest NJ, south central NY, and northeast PA tri-state region. Over the years, our Intern Program has developed into an active, comprehensive, and practical study of theater art with the purpose of performing and producing plays on the highest professional level.

The Intern Training Program, a high falutin' name for our Youth Acting Company, is the foundation of our theater. Every summer, we audition young people throughout the tri-state region who want to  become professionals, or just perform in a good show, or want to be involved in a great summer activity and meet lots of new friends and acquaintances--all good reasons for joining Tri-State in the summer. First we audition every young person who wants to audition, then we select our company from those auditions--usually 15 - 20 participants ages 13-18. The audition process starts when a prospective actor comes to the audition, often accompanied by parents at a designated place--this year at Sussex County Community College Student Center. At the audition, the actor will meet the director and be interviewed about his or her reasons for auditioning and things related to theater. The audition usually lasts about a half an hour, reading dialogue from the chosen play--this season, WINNIE the POOH-- followed by a brief singing session.  The actor and the director will end the audition with a conversation, often including the parents, about commitment to the Intern program.  The Actor will be notified within about two weeks if he or she is accepted into the summer program.

The entire program involves three weeks of rehearsals and training and three weeks of performances. All participants must be available for all rehearsals and performances. During the rehearsal/training period our acting company will be called for 5 hours a day, 5 days a week (Mon-Fri.)  During this period the company will learn all about theater and ensemble performance by DOING IT. All will work and train with a professional director, choreographer, and music director. By the end of the first 3 weeks, the company will be ready to perform for large audiences for the next two weeks of 10 performances. Our performance schedule is Wednesday through Saturday, usually at 11AM, except for Fridays, when we add a 7pm performance and Saturday when we perform at 2PM only. The summer's program runs from July 9 through August 11.  Actors' weekends during the rehearsal period are free and there are no Sunday performances during the performance period.

Any one seeking to know more about our Intern Program is invited to examine the  frequently asked questions below.

2.  How can I become an intern at TAT?

3.  What is required of me during an intern audition?

4.  How can I learn about the times and places of TAT intern auditions?

5.  If I am offered a position as an intern with Tri-State Actors Theater, may I accept it without my parents' permission?

6.  As an intern, what is my obligation to TAT?

7.  Will I know what roles I will be playing when I accept my internship?

8.  Is the Intern Company open to everyone?

9.  Is there a registration fee for interns?

10.Could I ever become a full-fledged member of the Professional Company at TAT?
 

As a member of the Intern Company, you will be expected to:

• Train and perform as an actor-singer-dancer--
• Select, train and work in one or more of these areas--

• Box Office management
• Public Relations
• Company Management
• Costume design
• Lighting design
• Sound design
• Set design
• Properties design

• Learn to successfully execute "Front-of House" duties and responsibilities--
• Publicize and promote all aspects of Tri-State Actors Theater--
• Learn how to collaborate and practice collaboration with all the theater staff and artists--
• Learn the importance of and foster audience development--

 

Actors Theater holds annual auditions, usually in May, for new members of our Intern Company. Any young person between the ages of 13-18 may take part in these auditions. It is also possible to be considered for the company through recommendations; however, all prospective interns must go through the audition process.

• Be interviewed by the artistic director or another member of the Professional Staff--
• Perform either a prepared song or a song selected by the TAT staff--
• (Musical accompaniment will be furnished.)
• Learn and perform several movements or dance steps prepared by the TAT choreographer--
• Prepare and act a monologue or dialogue scene selected by the director or artistic staff--
• Improvise characters, situations, and scenes selected by the director or artistic staff--

Auditons for the Intern Company will be held at specific locations throughout Sussex County on Saturdays in May and June.  Locations & times of auditions are posted on our web site and are announced in newspapers and on Facebook ("Tri-State Actors".)  Auditions for the Intern Company are also announced in the tri-state area newspapers & on Facebook; for example, The New Jersey Herald, The Times-Union Herald, and The Pike County Dispatch. Flyers are sent to many area schools, and posters are placed in neighborhood stores and public areas to inform the public of auditions. In addition, radio and TV cable public service announcements are made at the time of auditions. Failing everything else, a prospective intern may check our web page and/or    Tri-State for the latest info.  Our regular mailing address is:  Tri-State Youth Acting Company
                                              P.O. Box 7225
                                              Sussex, NJ 07461-7225

If you are offered an internship with TAT, and you are 18 years of age or older, you do not need your parents' permission. If you are younger than 18; however, it is absolutely essential that your parents give you written permission to join the Intern Company.

Your obligation to TAT is spelled out in a Letter-of-Agreement(CLICK FOR SAMPLE) which you must sign (The LOA must also be signed by your parents, if you are under 18, giving you permission to join the company), thus accepting TAT's terms of internship. LOA's contain references to transportation, meals, daily and weekly schedules, punctuality at rehearsals and performances, duties and responsibilities for productions, crew assignments, and much more. The LOA should be read carefully by you and (when appropriate) your parents, so that you will be fully aware of your commitment to TAT. Individuals who accept an intern position with TAT are expected to remain with the Company from the beginning of the internship to the end of the intern season.(Approximately 5-6 weeks)  The Internship is not contingent upon the performing schedule of the Intern production, but upon the intern's TOTAL commitment to TAT.

You are accepting an internship (a) based on TAT's philosophy of artistic collaboration (working in an "ensemble"with other theater artists) and (b) to learn practical theater art through apprenticeship. Thus, when you join the Intern Company, you may or may not know the roles you will be assigned during the season. Many of the intern roles are cast only after the artistic director and other professional staff have had an opportunity to work with the interns.

The TAT Youth Intern Company is generally open to anyone 13 - 18 years of age, who demonstrates potential talent, is willing to learn and work hard to achieve the highest possible artistic standards in theater. We absolutely deplore racial, religious, sexual or other forms of discrimination.

The fee for joining the Intern Training Program is currently $185.00 (subject to change without notice). We offer a limited amount of financial aid to intern candidates who are unable to pay this fee when joining the Intern Company. If you need help or an extension, please tell us rather than withdrawing because of lack of funds.

         INTERN TRAINING PROGRAM (Performing WINNIE the POOH)        
     CALL 973-875-2950 OR tristateactorstheater@centurylink.net
                                                   for more information.
                               (Please include contact information)
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YOUNGSTERS, TEEN ACTING CLASSES,
ADVANCED ACTING WORKSHOP  FOR Fall
Winter 2012 classes forming--See Below
Class registration NOW - January 25, 2012
for THE FOLLOWING GROUPS:     

TEENAGED PERFORMERS, ages 13-17 Maximum enrollment: 10 Students. Winter class will begin Monday, January 30, 2012 with one 2 hour session per week, 5PM-7PM. Total of 10 sessions. Final class, Monday, April 2. Taught by Artistic Director and teacher Paul Meacham. Class will learn  skills of acting, work on monologues and 2-character scenes, with individual instruction for every student. Register Now - Jan. 25, 2012. Fee: 230.00  
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                      Register now via phone(973-875-2950) or in person.

ADVANCED ACTING WORKSHOP ages 18 and up  Maximum enrollment: 10 Students. Under  the direction of Tara Bowles,  professional actor and teacher, for adults with  or without acting experience. Stella Adler Technique. Scene study. 7-9PM. Workshops will be held once a week, 7PM-9PM, on Monday* for a total of ten sessions, January 30-April 2, 2012. Register Now - Jan. 25, 2012.   Fee: $260.00. 
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                       Register now via phone(973-875-2950) or in person.

CHILDREN'S CLASSES, ages 6-12 Maximum enrollment: 10 Students. Under the instruction of Patricia Meacham, theatre professional and teacher. Individual attention to each student; creative dramatics, games, Parents Participation Day. Winter classes  run Jan. 28-Mar.3, 2012. Total of six  sessions. Registration  NOW, - Jan. 21, 2012.    Fee: $190.00. 
  
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                  Register now via phone(973-875-2950) or in person.  

Interested parents, teens, and adults may contact Tri-State Actors Theater via E-mail at tristateactorstheater@centurylink.net (Please include contact information) or  call  973-875-2950. [Home]