June 19 – August 2, 2009

Catch great new theater on its way to the world...

• Challenge your point of view about theater
• Create a community of like-minded artists
• Discover your voice as an actor, director or writer

The Powerhouse Theater Apprentice Training Program will challenge you to look at the art of theater in new and meaningful ways. Explore the boundaries of theater from the traditional to the new, from campus to town, from amphitheater to art center. By living, breathing, and creating theater with peers and professionals alike you will come away with an experience that will inform the rest of your life.

The program is the result of a unique collaboration between Vassar College, a prestigious liberal arts institution, and New York Stage and Film, an established professional theater company. Our 2008 professional season featured the work of the Tony Award - winning team of Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater; playwright and actors, Eric Bogosian and, Dael Orlandersmith; playwright Joe Gilford, whose Finks, featured actors, Jennifer Westfeldt and (former Powerhouse Apprentice) Josh Radnor.

Make your summer one to remember by being a part of our 25th season and help bring great new theater to the world.

Apprentices in the Powerhouse program choose a discipline (acting, writing, or directing) and then work alongside some of the country’s leading and emerging theater practitioners for six weeks, observing and participating in the process through which new works are brought to life.

The Professional (New York Stage and Film) season typically includes two main stage productions, second stage and workshop productions, and play-reading festivals. The Apprentice season typically consists of three outdoor productions, three studio productions, site-specific plays, readings and workshops.

It’s an exhilarating environment. Everyone who is part of the theater company is here to do “the work,” and that is what everyone talks about during meals and late into the night in the residence hall. As one apprentice said, “You can always sleep later.”

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The Vassar Campus

Located in the scenic Hudson Valley, 75 miles north of New York City, in Poughkeepsie, Vassar College is a highly selective, residential, coeducational, liberal arts college. Consistently ranked among the top liberal arts colleges in the country, Vassar is renowned for pioneering achievements in education, for its long history of curricular innovation, and for the beauty of its 1000-acre campus. The resources of the college (including the library, computing facilities, fitness center and the art center) are available for use by apprentices. Vassar’s grounds include a nine-hole golf course, 14 tennis courts, a gym, numerous jogging trails, and athletic facilities. Apprentices have their own rooms in Vassar residence halls, and take their meals at the college dining center.

Visit the virtual tour for more information about the campus.

The goal of the apprentice program is to expose young artists to a wide range of theatrical experiences in order to develop new work and new voices. By fostering meaningful collaboration between young artists we hope to build an apprentice company-actors, directors and playwrights all working together to form their own company within the framework of the larger professional theater company. The training is rigorous and includes three primary components: classes, apprentice company productions, and crew assignments on the professional company productions.

Master Classes for all disciplines are scheduled based upon the availability of visiting artists and professionals who are on campus working on various productions.

For the Actor

Classes are held daily and are taught by leading artists in various theater disciplines. The core classes are: Acting, Voice, Text and Movement. These are supplemented with workshops such as audition technique, improvisation, clowning and stage combat.

Actors will be given opportunities to work alongside the professional company as readers of stage directions for the Readings Festival.

For the Writer

Writers are encouraged to develop discipline. A light class schedule allows them to devote more of their time to writing. Classes are scheduled two times per week and are supplemented by individual consultations with their instructor and weekly informal "table readings." Writers are also assigned to assist in the rehearsal process of the professional company.

As it is the goal of the Powerhouse Professional Season to develop new work, Writing and Directing apprentices are part of that process as observers and assistants to the professional company in rehearsals of workshops and mainstage productions.

For the Director

Directors meet as a class twice a week with one session devoted to the Seminar class where theoretical and practical skills are put into play. Classes in acting, script analysis and a practical lab are amongst others a director could expect to have in addition to individual consultations with their instructor. Directors are also assigned to assist in the rehearsal process of the professional company.

As it is the goal of the Powerhouse Professional Season to develop new work, Writing and Directing apprentices are part of that process as observers and assistants to the professional company in rehearsals of workshops and main-stage productions.

The apprentice company presents three outdoor productions from the classic repertoire and three studio workshops - all under the guidance of professional directors and writers. In addition, wide ranges of new works written and/or directed by members of the apprentice company are presented as readings and workshops.

Crew

Crew hours on the professional productions are required of all apprentices, with participation based on individual schedules, talents, and interests. Crew consists of helping to build and paint sets, hang lights, strikes, etc. Apprentices will also be directly involved in the design and implementation of all elements of their own productions.

As members of the company, apprentices have access to all of the new work that is going up during the season. Being a part of the process of shaping a new play and seeing the result is what makes artists return to Vassar each summer, and it’s also what makes the apprentice experience valuable for fledgling writers, directors, and actors.

In addition to the application DVD, Acting Apprentices audition once during the first weekend (generally on Sunday). They are asked to prepare one classical and one contemporary piece and will present both in the audition. Present at the audition will be the directors of the Outdoor Shows and studio workshops, faculty and staff of the Apprentice Company, apprentice writers and directors, producers and staff of New York Stage and Film. There are a lot of people in the room but we do our best to prepare the actors during the weekend.

Complete the application form

As a supplement to the application, we ask that all applicants provide the following:

• Two (2) thoughtful recommendations attesting to your ability and skills in working as part of a company and managing multiple priorities. (These may be emailed to powerhouse@vassar.edu with the subject line filled in as follows: "Reference for Powerhouse Applicant [your name here].")
• Submit (via US MAIL) a $75 nonrefundable application fee (make sure the Applicant's name is written in on the memo line)
• Actors are asked to submit (via US Mail) a DVD or CD-ROM where they perform two (2) contrasting monologues (preferably one "classical", i.e. Shakespeare). Please email powerhouse@vassar.edu or call 845.437.5902 if there are questions regarding this component.
• Playwrights are asked to submit one (1) writing sample. (This may be emailed to powerhouse@vassar.edu with the subject line filled in as follows: "Writing Sample for Powerhouse Applicant [your name here].")
• Directors are asked to submit a one page analysis detailing their vision of how they would direct one (1) of the following plays: A Midsummer Night's Dream (by William Shakespeare), The Seagull (by Anton Chekhov) or Las Meninas (by Lynn Nottage). (These may be emailed to powerhouse@vassar.edu with the subject line filled in as follows: "Analysis for Powerhouse Applicant [your name here].")

All of the above information may be submitted via US Mail as well as electronically.

Powerhouse Theater
Vassar College Box 225
124 Raymond Ave. Poughkeepsie, NY 12604

A total of 40 applicants may be accepted.

The Cost

Tuition*, Room and Board (daily breakfast and dinner) is $3,500

*Tuition also includes free access to all Powerhouse professional productions.

Financial Aid

The Powerhouse program is severely limited in its ability to meet applicants’ demonstrated financial needs. To apply for limited financial assistance, send a statement of your need and a detailed description of your personal and your family’s current financial situation. A statement of need from your academic institution with tuition fees must be forwarded by April 17.