Chicago Shakespeare Theater is dedicated to bringing great theater into peoples' lives, and to creating opportunities for the work on our stage to support education and lifelong learning for students, teachers, and adult audiences. The Education Department creates and coordinates a number of programs, including: dedicated student matinee performances at the Theater and on tour regionally to school; professional development through teacher workshops and seminars; printed and online educational resources to complement the work on our stages, an onsite Teacher Resource Center; and "CPS Shakespeare," an abridged production staged by an ensemble of Chicago Public high school teachers and their students. Through these efforts, CST has created one of the largest and most respected arts-in-education programs in the country, which is further bolstered by diverse audience enrichment programs for playgoers of all ages.

The Education Department has a permanent staff of three, working closely with many of the 100-person staff of the Theater for various inter-departmental efforts. The Education Intern is a volunteer position offering a small stipend; no housing is provided. Applicants should possess strong writing and communication skills, as well as the creative initiative to help us both maintain and grow our learning opportunities. The Education Department accepts applications for internships throughout the calendar year.

Desired Skills and Experience

• Availability at least two days per week throughout internship term
• Strong writing and communication skills
• Detail-oriented, precise work ethic
• Comfort and poise in phone conversations, strong interpersonal skills
• Knowledge of online and print research materials
• Academic background in theater, education
• Ability to work independently

Responsibilities may include:

• Researching and writing essays, teaching activities and other materials for teacher resources
• Internet research for production-related information and education programming updates from variety of sources
• Researching and updating both department and company website content, including multi-media materials
• Working in Tessitura, a comprehensive and internationally used data management system specialized for arts organizations
• Day-of-show preparation (seating, payment, communication, etc.) for student performances
• Greeting school groups and monitoring groups attending student performances
• Transcription and audio editing of artist interviews and post-performance discussions
• Assisting in coordination and hosting of teacher workshops
• Teacher Resource Center material management, accessioning
• Tabulation and qualitative analysis of evaluation and survey data

CST Education interns will gain experience in the following areas:

• Experiencing firsthand the day-to-day operations of a professional theater's renowned arts-in-education program
• Researching and creating production-related preparatory materials, activities and resources for teachers and students, including interdepartmental interactions with the CST artistic and production teams
• Assisting in the management of contacts, communications and special events, including teacher workshops
• Gaining familiarity with the arts-in-education community of Chicago's major cultural institutions through events and partnerships
• Special projects related to theater, education, dramaturgy, teaching, etc. as they arise

Application Process
To be considered for an internship position at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, applicants are asked to submit the following information:

• A cover letter stating your specific interest/s, available dates, level of commitment (i.e. full-time, 15 hours weekly, two days per week, etc.), and availability for occasional evening/weekend work
• Current resume describing relevant experience and detailing computer skills
• A writing sample from related academic coursework
• At least two letters of academic or professional reference

Please send all materials to:

Education Internships
Chicago Shakespeare Theater
800 E. Grand Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611
or edu_intern@chicagoshakes.com
(no phone calls, please)

Materials will be reviewed as they are received, and qualified applicants contacted to schedule an interview.