Observerships

• Current undergraduates OR graduate students at two-year or four-year colleges and universities;
• People who have graduated from a two-year or four-year college or university with an undergraduate degree within the last 12 months (cannot be masters or PhD graduates);
• OR people who have pursued an alternate path to formal education (examples: military veterans, students at technical or trade schools, people who went directly into the workforce after high school, people who pursued a career outside of theatre after graduating from an undergraduate theatre program).

All applicants must be curious about pursuing a career in live theatre, must have some demonstrated interest in the area in which they are applying (inside or outside of a school setting), and must have strong availability for the duration of the Observership period*.

People who hold a master's and/or doctoral degree, people with extensive professional and/or paid experience in live theatre, people who no longer identify as early-career, and people who do not demonstrate adequate availability to meet the requirements of the program will not be considered, nor will students who do not address the Diversity Requirement. We encourage students with nontraditional career and educational paths to apply, and all applicants can contact the Program Manager at Observerships@CTGLA.org with eligibility questions.

*Observership Program Dates are subject to change and reliant on the production schedule. All applicants should have strong general availability between the hours of 9am-6pm Tues-Fri during the Observership period.

There are many different “good fits” for this program. Use your application to tell us why a specific Observership would help you at this point in your career or education and how you connect with the show being observed. 

No, Observers do not actively participate in the rehearsal room. Participants’ experience in the rehearsal room is purely observational. Group and personal reflection and discussion will happen before and after rehearsals led by a CTG Teaching Artist. Interaction with the cast, creative team, and stage management will be extremely limited.

Yes! All Observerships are paid. Observers receive a stipend plus paid parking or a Metro pass. Stipends range from $500-$700 depending on the schedule and hours required. 

Observerships are offered throughout the year in conjunction with selected Center Theatre Group productions and take place during a show’s rehearsal process. They last anywhere from two to six weeks, and typically total 30-40 hours throughout the program. Applicants should have strong availability during the Observership timeframe.

Please see the specific details for each Observership above.

No, you do not need your own car. However, Observer need to have reliable transportation to all of Center Theatre Group’s locations, including our Costume & Prop Shop in Boyle Heights, our theatres and administrative office in Downtown L.A., and the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. Observer planning on taking public transit should be aware that the schedule will include nighttime rehearsals, and they may be traveling home after dark.

A resume is a one- to two-page document that shows why you might be a good fit for a program or job. Your resume needs to include:

• Your contact information.
• Information about any previous experience that might help us understand why you would be a good fit for this program. Examples: theatre classes you have taken; assistant directing experience on campus
• Hard skills that might be important for this Observership. Examples: script analysis; theatre criticism

If you don’t already have a resume, you can find free templates online to make one, or you can just type the information above into a Word document.

No. Please submit only the documents we have asked for.

Alumni of our Observership Program are ineligible for this program. Alumni of any of our teen initiatives, including the Student Ambassador Program, Teen Theatregoers Program, or, are encouraged to apply; please review the age requirements below. Former Observers cannot repeat the program.

This is a post high school program, meaning you must be over the age of 18 to apply. We do not offer Observerships for high school students and/or people under the age of 18. We encourage young people under age 18 to sign up for our and explore our student events. Our program has no upper age limit. If you fit all eligibility requirements and believe you would benefit from our program, we encourage you to apply.

You do not need to be currently enrolled in school to apply for the Observership Program, and you do not need to have any college or post-high school training to apply.

If you have been out of school for more than one year (undergraduates), or if you are in or have graduated from a master’s or PhD program in theatre, you are not eligible for our Observership Program. Please take a look at our employment opportunities page instead.

All applicants are asked to articulate why they need this program, whether it is self-identifying as a member of a group currently underrepresented in theatre production and artistic careers, inaccessibility to participate in training programs or the like because they were not paid, etc. Some examples of underrepresented groups in this industry include but are not limited to, people of color, people with disabilities, immigrants, women pursuing careers in production or other traditionally male-dominated areas, first-generation college students, people from low-income backgrounds, and military veterans. We seek to provide emerging professionals with hands-on and observational experience in an effort to promote accessibility in the arts. Note that all applicants must answer the Diversity Requirement question to receive consideration.

This educational program is designed to support people who are members of a group that is underrepresented in careers in theatre in Los Angeles—meaning there are fewer people in those jobs than in the general Los Angeles County population. The examples we give are not meant to be comprehensive. We rely on you to tell us why you believe this is a program you need in this moment as you start your career in theatre or live entertainment. 

Please note that we are not asking why you think diversity is important, or how you plan to support diversity in your career.

We would love to connect with you. Please contact Observerships@CTGLA.org.