Festival Creative Assistantship

For Emerging Leaders in Musical Theatre

Program Overview:

Now in its eighth year, the National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) Festival Creative Assistantship offers a distinctive learning opportunity for early-career professionals to participate as assistants in the development of new musicals. This educational program is dedicated to supporting the next generation of leaders in musical theatre by offering early-career theatre-makers the opportunity to be part of the NAMT Festival process from start to finish.

This year, the program will focus exclusively on Directing and Music departments. Each Festival musical will be matched with a Creative Assistant working in one of these two areas. The Creative Assistantship is facilitated by NAMT’s New Works Associate, and one assistant will be assigned to each of the participating projects in an educational assistance capacity. Assistants will support their department’s creative team and will be included in creative conversations, as well as observe and learn from all elements of the new musical development process including casting, rehearsals and other preparations for the staged reading presentation.

Creative Assistants are expected to be present for all rehearsals, sound check and presentations for their assigned Festival musical in October in New York City. They will also conduct onstage interviews with their Festival Writers during the Fall Conference’s Meet the Writers Preview Event. The Creative Assistantship begins in late August, with rehearsals running October 12–22 and the Festival taking place October 23–24.

Key Dates:

- Applications Due: July 30
- Rehearsals (20 hours, schedule varies): October 12–22
- Sound Check: October 20
- Fall Conference: October 21–22
- Festival: October 23–24

Creative Assistants are invited to virtual pre-production meetings beginning in August. However, Creative Assistants must be in person for rehearsals and Festival performances. Those dates vary per show assignment.

Program Goals:

This program aims to strengthen inclusive development pathways in the musical theatre industry with in-the-room learning opportunities for early-career theatre-makers that foster professional growth, with a focus on historically underserved groups in the areas of Directing and Music.

- Each of the eight Festival shows will be matched with one Creative Assistant in either Directing or Music.

- Creative Assistants will gain first-hand educational exposure to the process of developing new musicals.

- Participants will learn from and assist experienced directors and music directors.

- Creative Assistants will be invited to attend select NAMT Fall Conference professional & educational panels, offering networking opportunities with industry leaders.

- All Creative Assistants must attend all rehearsals, sound check and Festival presentations in NYC.

- Creative Assistants will receive a $400 stipend and are responsible for their own travel and lodging in New York.

Process:

Creative Assistants begin with virtual pre-production meetings in late August, followed by in-person rehearsals and Festival activities in October. Rehearsals take place in Midtown Manhattan; Festival presentations are at New World Stages. This is a live, in-person, educational event and attendance is required.

The NAMT Festival Creative Assistantship Program is committed to nurturing talent, promoting inclusion, and supporting equity in musical theatre by empowering emerging professionals through immersive and meaningful departmental experiences.

FAQ:

What makes a good applicant? The NAMT Festival Creative Assistantship Program aims to create supportive opportunities for underserved early-career theatre-makers, especially artists who identify as BIPOC, a person with disabilities, a woman, and/or LGBTQIA+, with a focus on directing or music directing in the theatre. Applications are open to all. We encourage applicants with a unique point of view inclusive of race, ethnicity, gender, disability and sexual orientation. Non-US citizens are welcome to apply.

What is expected of the Creative Assistants once they have been selected?
Creative Assistants are expected to work in an intern learning-meets-assistance capacity and to support the relevant department of that creative team. Once a Creative Assistant has been selected, they will be added to all creative conversations including casting and the other needs for a staged reading presentation. The majority of pre-Festival work is done via email and Zoom and there is a great deal to glean from observing these communications.

How will the final Creative Assistants be selected?
Once the applications have closed, a small panel of NAMT staff & alumni program participants will review applications and schedule short interviews with semi-finalists. Interviews will be held the week of August 4 and will be conducted by NAMT’s New Works Associate Skye Cone Ivey.

Who has participated in the NAMT Festival in the past?
Directors such as Stephen Brackett, Stafford Arima, Christopher Ashley, Marcia Milgrom Dodge, Sarna Lapine, Schele Williams, Victoria Bussert, Kent Nicholson, Peter Rothstein, May Adrales, Sherri Barber, Sam Buntrock, Marlo Hunter. Music Directors such as Andrea Grody, Patrick Sulken, Kurt Crowley, Anessa Marie, Lily Ling, Deborah Abramson.

Show Schedule: Turandot: March 17 – May 3, 2026 (6 weeks)

POSITION SUMMARY

The Calling Stage Manager (CSM) is a critical member of the Production team, serving as the primary communication link between The Atlanta Opera (TAO) and all members of a production, including artists, designers, and other stakeholders, during the full production period. The CSM is responsible for collaborating with visiting creative team members and TAO staff to determine all rehearsal and performance needs for the production. The CSM will execute all elements of the production technical cue calling and management of show paperwork to the best of their ability.

GENERAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Position responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following duties, in addition to other duties as assigned.

• Supervise Assistant Stage Managers (ASM) and interns.
• Run all rehearsals and communicate rehearsal schedules.
• Plan and determine needs for technical and dress rehearsals with the Technical Director (TD).
• Coordinate production meetings and manage rehearsal preparations.
• Oversee the creation and distribution of notes and documents.
• Call shows and run technical rehearsals.
• Manage supply inventories and request supplies as needed.

Competencies & Qualifications:

• Confident and calm management skills.
• Ability to read music and knowledge of opera production.
• Experience leading a stage management team and working with union crews.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office.
• Strong administrative and project management skills.
• Ability to work independently and meet deadlines.

Minimum Requirements:

• 5-7 years’ experience as a Lead or Production Stage Manager.
• Excellent communication skills. Written and verbal.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and work collaboratively.
• Ability to lift up to 25 pounds and perform job functions safely.
• Must perform the functions of the position in a safe manner.

HOW TO APPLY

Please email resume with cover letter and references to [email protected].

Include Calling Stage Manager in the subject line.

No phone calls please.

ABOUT US: Directed by Scott Ellis, this revival of ART by Yasmina Reza, translated by Christopher Hampton will play a limited 16.5 weeks engagement this fall on Broadway at the Music Box Theatre. ART stars Bobby Cannavale, James Corden and Neil Patrick Harris.

First rehearsal is Monday, July 28, 2025; first preview is Thursday August 21, 2025; and opening night is Tuesday September 16, 2025.

ART on Broadway is seeking candidates from historically under-represented groups for the position of Stage Management Fellow.

“Under-Represented Group(s)” means people in diverse and under-represented communities including without limitation, people who identify themselves as women, Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), Latine, Asian and/or Pacific Islander (API), Middle Eastern and/or North African and/or South Asian (MENASA), people with disabilities, within the LGBTQIA+ community, genderqueer or non-binary, or those who identify with a religion, culture, age, ethnicity, nationality, or alienage that have been historically under-represented in theatrical productions, or people having a combination of these attributes.

No prior commercial theater experience is required for this fellowship. Relevant theatrical experience as well as experience from other fields, not-for-profits, or from an educational setting, are welcomed – and a love of the theater is encouraged!

Fellows must reside in New York State during the duration of their fellowship.

The Stage Management Fellow will be offered on-boarding, mentoring, training, and networking in the following ways:

· Stage managers facilitate communication and support across all departments of the production. They are involved in the organization of the day-to-day running of a production in the pre-rehearsal, rehearsal and performance phases of the show. They liaise with the producers, general managers, creative team, production team and communicate with the full company. They are involved in the supervision of the backstage running of the show and call all technical cues during performances and the long-term maintenance of the show.

· Stage Management Fellow will be mentored by the production stage manager and stage manager through the week of the official Opening Night.

· They will be on-boarded and trained, while assisting the stage management team in rehearsals and technical rehearsals.

· The aim is to sharpen the Stage Management Fellow’s practical stage management skills and forge ongoing connections and networking.

Application Deadline: Sunday, July 20, 2025

To submit for consideration, please send a resume and cover letter detailing your interest in and qualifications for the program to [email protected]