Watch the rehearsal process at a TONY Award winning Theatre!!!

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Whether you’re an aspiring Director, Choreographer or Music Director, Goodspeed’s Observership Program provides professionals and students a once-in-a-lifetime experience that can’t be taught in the classroom. This tuition-based program pairs theatre artists with world-class theatre professionals, allowing them to observe and possibly assist a Goodspeed Director, Choreographer, or Music Director during the rehearsal process of a production.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The process of preparing a show begins when the cast, creative team, and staff converge on the Goodspeed Opera House green room for a welcome dinner. The next morning, there is a bagel breakfast for everyone and the rehearsal process begins. Observers will be invited to the welcome dinner and bagel breakfast, and they will be expected to observe and possibly assist a member of the creative team throughout the rehearsal process.

As part of the program, participants will be invited to monthly seminars with Goodspeed senior staff members. Observers’ performance will be critiqued and they will receive feedback at the completion of the program. Observers will gain invaluable contacts, the opportunity to attend all rehearsals, best-at-curtain tickets to Goodspeed shows, and housing. Our goal is that Observers will become part of the Goodspeed family and leave with the skills, experience, and contacts necessary to succeed in the musical theatre industry.

Typically, we offer three Goodspeed Opera House shows and three Norma Terris Theatre shows a season. We do revitalizations of existing musicals at the Goodspeed Opera House and new works at The Norma Terris Theatre. For those working on a Goodspeed Opera House production, the Observership Program will end the Sunday after the show opens. For Observers working on a Norma Terris Theatre production, the program will finish one week after the show opens. All applicants will need to indicate on their application when they would like to participate in the program.

This program will be highly selective; it will involve a phone interview process and reference checks. Only one Observer will be accepted for each show in each of the three areas mentioned above, so apply now!

To register, please fill out and submit an application with a $400 deposit. Please make checks payable to “The Goodspeed Opera House Foundation.” This program will be highly selective; it will involve a phone interview process and reference checks. Only one Observer will be accepted for each show in each of the three areas mentioned above. Applicants must be 18 years or older.

MPORTANT DATES

Application Deadline: Applications are accepted up to two months before each program begins. (i.e. applications for a Summer Opera House Observership will be due March 25). Program dates are listed below.
Final Tuition Payment Deadline: One week after acceptance

If you would like to apply for this program after the deadline, please contact Josh Ritter at .860.873.8664 x745 or [e-mail] to inquire if space is available.

REGISTRATION FEE:
$2,500 for Fall & Spring Productions
$3,000 for Summer Productions

Please make checks payable to The Goodspeed Opera House Foundation.

Send application to: Goodspeed Musical Theatre Institute, Attn: Education Dept, PO Box A, East Haddam, CT 06423

We also welcome digital applications via email.

Disclaimers:

If you are not accepted, your deposit will be refunded in full. If you are accepted, your deposit will be deducted from your total tuition. In all other cases (except for #4 below), the tuition payment is non-refundable.
The application process may involve multiple phone interviews.
The show schedules at both theatres are subject to change. If you are accepted as an observer for a show and the dates need to change, we will inform you as early as possible. If you are unavailable during the new dates, you will not be required to remain on the Goodspeed campus.
Goodspeed reserves the right to terminate an observership position at any time for any reason. If Goodspeed deems that an observership position needs to be terminated, the observer will receive a prorated refund and will be expected to leave the Goodspeed campus within 72 hours.

If you have any questions, please contact Joshua Ritter at [e-mail] or 860.873.8664, ext. 745.
PROGRAM DATES

Goodspeed Opera House
Observers should expect to be on the Goodspeed campus for about 33 days, from the Welcome Dinner through the Sunday after the first performance.

Guys and Dolls March 9 to April 12, 2015
La Cage aux Folles May 25 to June 28, 2015
The Honeymooners August 17 to September 20, 2015

The Norma Terris Theatre
Observers should expect to be on the Goodspeed campus for about 30 days, from the Welcome Dinner through the Thursday after the first performance.

The Theory of Relativity April 20 to May 14, 2015
My Paris June 29 to July 30, 2015
Indian Joe September 28 to October 29, 2015

- See more at: http://www.goodspeed.org/pages/observership