2026 Glimmerglass Apprentice Positions- Summer Seasonal - The Glimmerglass Festival

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

The Glimmerglass Festival Apprenticeship Program reinforces the company’s decades-long history of mentoring and educating theatre professionals. The company offers hourly-paid summer Apprenticeships in Artistic, Company Administration, and Production disciplines across the Company. Our Apprenticeship Program provides a unique combination of practical work, mentorship, and educational programs, each designed to further professional growth.



Our Apprenticeship Program is geared toward participants, ages 18 and over, who would like to continue to grow and pursue professional opportunities in their chosen field. Our Apprentices join the program after gaining interest and knowledge through either practical experience or through their academic studies. Apprentices work directly with noted professionals under the guidance of supervisors and staff from many of the nation's top theaters, opera companies, and institutions. Apprentices are engaged for 8-16 weeks, with some positions beginning in early May and others extending through the end of August.



Program Mission

To provide experience and knowledge to early career professionals and students who seek to further their professional growth through practical training, one-on-one mentorship, and a range of workshops and seminars across multiple disciplines.



Program Goals

Goal 1: Train competent and creative professionals.

Apprentices receive training in industry best practices and current technologies in areas of their interest within the performing arts.



Goal 2: Provide mentorship and evaluate growth.

Apprentices work alongside professional staff and artists from around the world, as well as work with supervisors to establish goals and review progress throughout the season.



Goal 3: Deliver a broad range of educational programs.

Apprentices participate in seminars, workshops, and resume & portfolio reviews with industry professionals.



Goal 4: Foster equity and access to the Apprenticeship Program

Recruitment and outreach connections are expanded each year to maximize participation in the program, while also reviewing the company’s hiring process and policies to ensure that each candidate is evaluated equitably and compensated fairly upon hire.



PROGRAM METHODOLOGY AND CURRICULUM

The Glimmerglass Festival Apprenticeship Program provides a unique combination of practical work experience with industry-focused educational programming, each designed to further professional and personal growth. Each apprenticeship offers a well-rounded experience, including structured training sessions, curated seminars, and frequent opportunities to learn and work alongside seasoned professionals in formal and informal settings.



Apprentice Compensation and Offerings

The Glimmerglass Apprenticeship Program is annually compared with other industry educational offerings, and we do our best not only to make progress each year but also to stay at the forefront of the industry. Thanks to the collaborative work of every department at Glimmerglass and through the generous support of the program by Denise Sobel, we can offer our apprentices the following:



Apprentices are compensated at a rate of $16.00/hr and are eligible for overtime after 40 hours worked. Hourly Non-Exempt Employees accrue one hour of sick leave for every 30 hours worked.

Apprentices are provided company housing at no charge. Apprentices will share a room with one other Apprentice. Additionally, Apprentices have a shared bathroom, kitchen, and common spaces. (There is no smoking and no pets allowed in any company housing. A Security Deposit of $150 for Apprentices will be removed from your second paycheck and returned by November 1, provided housing was properly maintained.) Local transportation is provided at no charge, including rides for personal necessities, daily commuting to and from work, and travel to and from airports and train stations, ensuring a smooth and accessible transition into the apprenticeship experience.

Apprentices receive periodic evaluations with their mentor and/or supervisor to discuss goals, growth, and actionable next steps to take their work to the next level.

Apprentices are paid to attend a wide range of industry-specific educational programming geared toward professional and personal growth. A mixture of panel discussions, lectures, and hands-on practical sessions is provided over the course of the summer.

Apprentices during the Festival Season have access to the Glimmerglass Festival Wellness Program, which includes a partnership with a local private medical provider, Glimmerglass Medical & Wellness LLC. During the Festival Season, this Wellness Program consists of priority reduced-cost convenient care with Glimmerglass Medical & Wellness LLC, no-cost weekly fitness classes, and no-cost weekly general wellness newsletters.







Training & Seminars



Training Sessions may include, but are not limited to: (required by department/role)

Safety: Company policies; sexual harassment prevention; emergency procedures and active shooter awareness; personal protective equipment; hazardous communication; CPR/first aid; slips, trips, and falls; back safety; respirator fit testing; standard and oversized vehicle trainings; fire extinguisher training; tool checkout; lifts and ladders; lockout/tagout; spray booth training; secondary containers;

Technology: Adobe Suite, AutoCAD, Google Workspace, Lightwright, MailChimp, MS Office Suite, PatronManager, QLab, and Vectorworks.

Creative Skills: Lighting, scenic, and costume design sessions

Applied Skills: Resume building, health and wellness, and communication skills.



2025 Seminar offerings (Seminar topics vary year to year):



A Holistic Approach to Working in the Arts

Opera History 101

Intro to CNC Routers and Lasers

Apprentice Mixer

TOS Production Seminar

SUN Production Seminar

RAK Production Seminar

MAN Production Seminar

Getting Hired and Taking the Job

Hacking the Nervous System

Finance in the Industry

Leadership in the Performing Arts

Beyond the Booth: Careers in Theater Management

Firearms - Historical Reality & Modern Imitation

Color Theory: The Power of Limited Palettes

The Digital Stage: Social Media in the Arts

What the Heck Happens in the Music Library





Program Administration

The Program is advertised at vocational institutions, academic institutions, in industry publications, and at professional and collegiate conferences attended by interested parties. The application process consists of an online application, in which candidates choose up to three apprenticeships in order of preference and submit required materials, such as a cover letter, resume (with references), and portfolios. Applications are reviewed directly by the apprentices’ would-be mentors/supervisors, and evaluated for interview invitation.



Apprenticeships are competitive and are awarded based on the candidate’s:

Demonstrated interest and/or applicable experience.

Academic/Experiential achievement, development of technical skills, and/or personal merit.

Potential and desire to pursue a professional career in the chosen field.



Mentor responsibilities:

Work with apprentices to set goals for the length of the apprenticeship. Use the evaluation form and instruction sheet for pre-season, mid-season, and post-season evaluations.

Supervise apprentices in day-to-day work, development, and operations.

Ensure an appropriate mix of practical experience and educational opportunities.

Administer any documentation or program criteria required by the apprentice’s academic institution, if applicable.





APPRENTICESHIP APPLICATION INFORMATION/INSTRUCTIONS

2026 Glimmerglass Apprenticeship Program information will be posted on December 8, 2025.



Application information will be posted at www.glimmerglass.org starting on January 5, 2026.



The application process involves completing an online Employment Application Form (EAF) on the Glimmerglass Website and attaching a single PDF containing a one-page cover letter and a one-page resume with references. Some positions may require an additional portfolio attachment or link (preferred). The PDF file, in combination with your portfolio (as applicable), should be no larger than 10MB.



Cover letter

One (1) page PDF. A single one-page Cover Letter is requested; you do not have to submit multiple cover letters if you are applying for multiple apprentice positions in a single application. Indicate the earliest date available and the latest departure date. Date ranges are included for each apprenticeship. Glimmerglass start dates are often more flexible than end dates- sometimes, a week of flexibility can be given depending on the position. Applications with start and end dates that are significantly outside the dates provided below will not be considered.

Resume

One (1) page PDF. Include telephone number, e-mail address, education (post high school, if applicable), work, and internship experience (with dates). Multiple single-page resumes are recommended when applying for multiple apprentice positions, each detailing your experience for the appropriate desired apprentice position you are applying for. These can be combined into your single PDF submission.

References (Should be included on the same page as either the Cover Letter or Resume)

Provide contact information for three references. Indicate your relationship to each reference, their telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses. Applications listing “References upon request” will not be considered.

Portfolio (Online portfolio link is requested when required)

Some positions (Communications, Costumes, Costume Crafts, Costume Design, Hair & Makeup, Props, Scenic Art, Scenic Carpentry, Scenic Design, or Technical Direction) may require examples of your previous work. Please include either a link to your digital portfolio/webpage or images with descriptions on additional pages at the end of your PDF submission. An online portfolio link is requested when a portfolio is required. The PDF file, in combination with your portfolio (as applicable), should be no larger than 10MB.



For further information, please go to the Apprentice page on the Glimmerglass Festival website. If you still have questions, please email the Hiring Search Department at hiring@glimmerglass.org.

No phone calls, please.

The Apprenticeship Program is highly competitive; some positions are filled as early as the end of January. Early applications are strongly encouraged. All positions in the Apprenticeship Program will be posted for two weeks prior to the start of the offer process, and applications will be accepted until all positions are filled.





2026 GLIMMERGLASS APPRENTICE PROGRAM POSITIONS

TOTAL 56



2026 Artistic Apprentices: Total 5

Artistic Administration (2) May 18 - August 21, 2026

Music Library (1) May 18 - August 21, 2026

Music Operations (2) May 25 - August 21, 2026



2026 Company Administration Apprentices: Total 17

Box Office (2) June 8 - August 17, 2026

Communications (2) June 1 - August 23, 2026

Company Management (5) May 9 - August 26, 2026

Development (4) June 1 - August 21, 2026

Front of House (1) May 25 - August 21, 2026

General Administration (1) May 11 - August 22, 2026

Information Technologies (1) May 4 - August 21, 2026

Operations Management (1) June 1 - August 23, 2026



2026 Production Apprentices: Total 34

Audio/Video Engineering (3) May 18 - August 23, 2026

Costume Admin (1) May 11 - August 23, 2026

Costume Crafts (2) May 18 - July 19 (1 position) or August 2 (1 position), 2026

Costume Design (1) May 18 - August 9, 2026

Costume Stitcher (4) May 18 - July 12 (2 positions) or July 19 (2 positions), 2026

Dramaturgy/Titles (1) June 1 - August 18, 2026

Electrics (3) May 18 - August 23, 2026

Hair & Makeup (2) May 26 - August 17, 2026

Lighting Supervision (1) May 11 - August 18, 2026

Production Administration (1) May 4 - August 23, 2026

Properties (1) May 4 - July 26, 2026

Properties Paints (1) May 4 - August 9, 2026

Safety (1) May 4 - August 23, 2026

Scene Design (1) May 11 - August 9, 2026

Scenic Art (2) May 11 - August 2, 2026

Scenic Carpentry (1) May 4 - August 23, 2026

Stage Management (2) May 18 - August 17, 2026

Stage Operations (5) May 4 - August 23, 2026

Technical Direction (1) May 4 - August 23, 2026

Wardrobe (3) June 8 - August 23, 2026


Salary: $16.00/hr and are eligible for overtime, provided company housing at no charge, paid to attend a wide range of industry-specific educational programming, and access to the Glimmerglass Festival Wellness Program