TNP Training the Next Generation!
June 15, 2021
Officially kicking off in 2015, The Naples Players’ Internship Program is one of the few of its kind in Southwest Florida. Every year, we receive several hundred applications from universities around the world to this highly competitive program.
A majority of theater-goers may not realize how many moving parts exist to get a production to the stage. We all see the incredible actors, costumes, and lighting – but we might not realize the many other behind-the-scenes departments that have to work as a team to bring our shows to life.
TNP has a professional staff of over 30 including: artistic, costume, lighting, education, marketing, development, production, bookkeeping, and front of house departments. All of these professional staff are responsible for coordinating with each other for best results. On top of completing their everyday functions, most departments are in charge of teaching and training their respective interns and volunteers.
Cole Butcher is TNP’s Production Stage Manager and Internship Director. Emphasizing the importance of the technical training and unique opportunities TNP provides to their interns, Cole says, “ Like any business or industry, there’s so much that goes into one product. Students going into theater need to understand how much goes into their product. (For example) The lighting designer can’t just talk about lighting. They need to understand scenic, costumes, and stage management (i.e. how the light hits the costumes). One department interacts with every other department so you need to know all aspects of theater to create that symbiotic relationship.”
Junior Internship
High School and Transition (Ages 14-17+).
During the summer, Junior Interns are expected to dedicate 15 hours per week in addition to participating as backstage crew for a show. This way, the interns get their technical training during the day before heading into the performance space to be backstage crew and see their work in action.
College Internship
Must be enrolled in a theater or applicable program (i.e. business administration major can be an intern for TNP in the administrative offices. Same goes for education majors!).
Paid Internship.
Housing Provided for out of state interns.
Minimum of 30 hours per week but most interns average 42-45 hours of work per week.
Lighthouses of Collier
This year, TNP is delighted to partner with Lighthouses of Collier to include their students in our Junior Intern program. The mission of Lighthouses of Collier, Inc. (LOC) is to foster independence and enhance the quality of life for the blind, visually impaired, and their caregivers. We are so happy to have LOC students join our internship team!
Click Here to Read More About Our Intern Experience!
Q&A with College Intern Amy Tran
How did you find out about the internship program here?
I’ve been a volunteer since my sophomore year of high school and found out about TNP through friends who also worked here. I had always known there were interns around, but I never really crossed paths with them so I would never see what their relationship was to the theater. A friend of mine, Mackenzie Black, had become the stage management intern in 2018 and that’s when I realized how productive and educational the internship program here really was…
Click Here to Read Amy’s Q&A
Community Survey – Please Share
Your Chance to Win a Gift Card to Ocean Prime!
Since 1953, The Naples Players has served as a true theater for the community – offering a whole host of enrichment, education, and entertainment opportunities. We are currently conducting a community survey throughout Collier and Lee Counties, so that we can improve how we inspire passion for the performing arts through unparalleled access to the process, experience, and conversations.
All Collier and Lee County residents are invited to participate in this survey, and all respondents will remain anonymous. The results of this survey will provide key insights regarding community member preferences that will inform branding, marketing and program pricing decisions going forward. And, survey participants will have an opportunity to be entered into a drawing to win one (1) of five (5) $100 Ocean Prime gift cards upon completion of the survey.
Please complete the survey by June 30, 2021
Click Here to Complete Survey
