Cleveland Public Theatre (CPT) is hiring a Technical Intern for our nationally recognized Student Theatre Enrichment Program (STEP). This is a temporary full-time position. Position begins July 5, 2023 and no later than August 11, 2023. Salary range is $500-600/week based on experience and range of skills.

JOB DESCRIPTION

CPT is hiring support staff for the STEP Technical Team. This role reports to the Technical Director. The STEP Tech Intern supports the Technical Director and Assistant Technical Director in the supervision of a group of teenagers (STEP Tech Team) implementing the set and sound needs for an outdoor touring show, including a basic sound system and a 16’ x 20’ stage. The STEP Tech Intern supports 6 hours of daily instruction in technical theatre skills and assists in supervising teens while building scenic elements. The position may require some extended hours but will average 35-40 hours a week. CPT summer programming will include up-to-date safety precautions for artists, staff, and patrons.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

CPT’s Student Theatre Enrichment Program (STEP) is an arts-based job training program that engages Cleveland teens in a powerful, 8-week intensive (4 weeks for Tech Team students) that focuses on excellence in performance, play creation, physical theatre, writing, production, and set design/construction. Students ages 14-19 with little or no performance experience, are eligible for participation and earn money while learning and practicing valuable job skills such as timeliness, communication, commitment, and teamwork. Under the guidance of CPT artists, teens develop an original play which will tour parks throughout the city of Cleveland. Since its beginning in 1994, STEP has received multiple awards and recognitions, including those from the City of Cleveland, The President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, and the National Endowment for the Arts. STEP is the longest-running arts-based, job-training program in Cleveland and has been utilized as an international model for engaging youth. STEP ensembles, comprised primarily of Black artists, see themselves as a positive and inspirational force and can witness their work’s invaluable impact on the larger Cleveland community. Youth are onsite approximately 6 hours a day during creation and more while on tour.

THE STEP TECH INTERN RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:

• Supporting the implementation of curriculum and assisting during instruction around the basics of sound and stage setup.
• Supporting the management of a 2-week local tour with teens
• Driving tour truck (small box truck—no special license required)
• Basic set construction
• Collaborating with the full STEP creative team
• Acting as a strong role model for youth

TO APPLY:

Interested candidates should email a cover letter of interest, a , and references to Joshua Smith, CPT Technical Director, jsmith@cptonline.org by April 20, 2023. The subject header should read: [LAST NAME], STEP Tech Intern. No phone calls, please.

CPT STAFF DESCRIPTION

CPT cares passionately about reflecting our community and pursuing equity at all levels of the organization. We value hard work, kindness, generosity, passion, and grace-under-pressure. A majority of plays produced at CPT are by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) artists, and in the past four years, CPT has undertaken work to accelerate and formalize its growth to become a fully anti-racist organization.

CPT is a nationally recognized center for contemporary performance. Its mission is to raise consciousness and nurture compassion through groundbreaking theatre and life-changing education programs. CPT implements this mission through its annual theatrical season, featuring between eight to ten adventurous professional productions and a robust series of new play development programs that support writers and devisers at multiple points in the creative process. CPT’s acclaimed education programs engage communities in devising new works that speak to contemporary issues and empower participants to work for positive change in our community. CPT is home to resident community ensembles Teatro Público de Cleveland and Masrah Cleveland Al-Arabi, and CPT annually presents Station Hope, a large-scale community arts festival. CPT’s annual budget is around $2.5 million a year. CPT has 24 full-time staff members.