Posted by The Musical Stage Company
The Musical Stage Company is currently accepting submissions for our 2024-25 RBC Apprenticeship Program.
The Apprentice Program offers mentorship with The Musical Stage Company to exceptional young-in-craft artists who are under-exposed in the GTA theatre community. Apprentices will learn from our local and visiting artists, receiving opportunities to help build the foundation for their careers. Please note: There is no under-30 age limit.
About the Apprenticeship:
Practical Apprenticeship
- Five phases of apprenticeship
- Career Planning – a rigorous goal setting and artistic strategic planning process designed to help Apprentices gain clarity, direction, and focus for their apprenticeship and future in the performing arts.
- Mentorship – an opportunity to connect one-on-one with mentors/teachers on practical and/or theoretical subject matter.
- Observational – Apprentices will have access to observe Musical Stage Company’s creative processes through a combination of our works in development and works in production and will choose a minimum of one and a maximum of two projects to observe to be confirmed with The Musical Stage Company.
- Leadership – Select apprentices will have the opportunity to put their learning into practice through paid placements in Musical Stage Company’s works in development and/or production, working alongside industry professionals and artists in their area of discipline.
- Reflection – Upon completion of the first four phases, the RBC Apprentices will revisit their Artistic Plan, make adjustments (if needed) and reflect on their experiences and the impact the program has had on them artistically and professionally.
Observational Apprenticeship
- Three phases of apprenticeship:
- Career Planning – a rigorous goal setting and artistic strategic planning process designed to help Apprentices gain clarity, direction, and focus for their apprenticeship and future in the performing arts.
- Observational – Apprentices will have access to observe one of Musical Stage Company’s creative processes through a combination of our works in development and works in production
- Reflection – Upon completion of the first two phases, the RBC Apprentices will revisit their Artistic Plan, make adjustments (if needed) and reflect on their experiences and the impact the program has had on them artistically and professionally.
Who is the apprenticeship for?
The RBC Apprentice Program is made up of two awardees of the Kathleen C. Freeman Leadership Development Fund, and four Apprentice Artists in their chosen discipline (including performers).
The Kathleen C. Freeman Leadership Development Fund supports the investment in and training of two Canadian women in arts leadership roles which currently lack representation (including direction, music direction, production management, sound design, and writing).
Performer Apprenticeships are for performing artists looking to expand their practice with public performance opportunities. These apprentices will be featured as cast members in our annual UnCovered concert (Fall 2025).
Apprentice Artists are selected from across all areas of production (including but not limited to directors, music directors, choreographers, orchestrators, arrangers, copyists, stage managers, writers, all design disciplines, craftspeople, and artisans)
Apprenticeship opportunities are open to both Equity members and non-members who are musical theatre practitioners and under-exposed in Toronto and its surrounding areas. The artists must be within the City of Toronto and/or the Greater Toronto Area for the duration of the apprenticeship in order to experience the full benefits of the program.
We are actively seeking submissions from artists of all backgrounds, abilities, and ethnicities as we are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion within this selection process. We especially encourage folks who identify as Black, Indigenous, People of the Global Majority, 2SLGBTQIA+, d/Deaf, Mad, Disabled/People with Disabilities, and/or Neurodivergent to submit.
Remuneration:
The chosen Apprentices will receive between $1,500 (Observational Apprenticeship), $2,500 (Practical Apprenticeship) or $5,000 as a part of the Kathleen C, Freeman Leadership Fund.
2024-2025 Important dates:
- July 12, 2024; Submissions open
- August 2, 2024; Deadline to submit
- August 19, 2024; Callbacks for Performer-Apprentices, Interviews for Artist Apprentices
- December 9, 2024;
- Apprenticeship Start Date/Career Planning Phase
- January 6-March 3, 2025; Mentorship Phase
- Sessions are:
- January 6 & 7, 2025
- January 20, 2025
- February 3, 2025
- February 17, 2025
- March 3, 2025
- Sessions are:
- March 13-April 30, 2025; Observation/Practical Phase option 1 (A Strange Loop)
- April 15-June 5, 2025; Observation/Practical Phase option 2 (After the Rain)
- Please note: Practical Apprentices choose a minimum of one and a maximum of two projects to observe.Observational Apprentices choose one project to observe.
- June 15-30, 2025; Apprenticeship reflection phase
- October/November 2025; Performance Practical phase (UnCovered)
APPRENTICE PERFORMERS: SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Please submit through this form: https://forms.gle/H7dfZigrsVgSocye6 You will be asked to submit ONE pdf file which contains:
- Updated biography (250 words max)
- Updated resume
- Cover letter* (one page max) which outlines your
- chosen discipline,
- views on the role of musical theatre in the performance arts landscape,
- how you would use this apprenticeship to close gaps in knowledge and support your career aspirations,
- what makes you unique as an aspiring music theatre practitioner, and
- why you are best suited for apprenticeship at this time.
- High resolution headshot
- Links and passwords of your video audition as a part of your submission.
- One 32-bar cut from the contemporary musical theatre canon
- One 32-bar cut of a non-musical theatre song in the genre that most speaks to you and your artistry (eg pop, rock, r&b, folk, country, blues, jazz, and so on).
- Please choose material that shows off your vocal range, acting technique, and storytelling capabilities
* PLEASE NOTE: We hope to learn about you and your unique artistry from your letter. Specifics about you and your art/practice are more helpful to us than generalized statements about a love of theatre.
APPRENTICE ARTISTS: SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Please submit through this form: https://forms.gle/H7dfZigrsVgSocye6. You will be asked to submit ONE pdf file which contains:
- Updated biography (250 words max)
- Updated resume
- Cover letter* (one page max) which outlines your
- chosen discipline,
- views on the role of musical theatre in the performance arts landscape,
- how you would use this apprenticeship to close gaps in knowledge and support your career aspirations,
- what makes you unique as an aspiring music theatre practitioner, and
- why you are best suited for apprenticeship at this time.
- High resolution headshot
You will also have the option to include one item of support material related to your area of discipline. This can be a website, pdf of images (max 3 pages), or video/audio reel or audition material for performers (max 2 mins will be reviewed). NOTE: any video/audio material must be shared as a link with passwords (e.g. YouTube, Vimeo, Soundcloud, etc). We unfortunately cannot accept any media attachments or file downloads.
*Please indicate in your cover letter if you wish to be considered for the Kathleen C Freeman Leadership Fund, a Practical Apprenticeship, and/or an Observational Apprenticeship. PLEASE NOTE: We hope to learn about you and your unique artistry from your letter. Specifics about you and your art/practice are more helpful to us than generalized statements about a love of theatre.
What happens next?
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview and/or callback on August 19, 2024 with the selection committee.
Please ensure that your submission package is received through the application form no later than August 2, 2024. If you are unable to submit using the Google form or require an accommodation to make your submission, please email submissions@musicalstagecompany.com for assistance.