Hopa Tropa: Kukerica! 

Conceived and Directed by Lilia Slavova
Choreography by Ivan Dimitrov

2nd Part Directed and choreographed by Desi Jordanoff
Set Design by Antonio Petrov
Puppet Design: Julia Tasheva
Music Arrangement Petko Kolev

Cast

Amie Cazel
Daria Kondova
Gwendolyn Torrence
Daniel Rovin
Konstantin Hadjipanzov
FEATURING

ORFEA, Vocal Ensemble: Eastern European Harmonies

SVITANYA, Vocal Ensemble: Music of Eastern Europe from Philadelphia PA

ZHARAVA, The Bulgarian folk-dance ensemble 

ST. KLIMENT OKHRIDSKI BULGARIAN SCHOOL

Memorial Theater in Old Town Alexandria, VA
at the George Washington Masonic Memorial
101 Callahan Drive, Alexandria, VA 22301
April 1, 2012 at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Special Workshops at 12:30 and 3 p.m. Play with the Kukerica and have fun with the actors, puppets and more

Lilia Slavova

ATICC Board Member, Resident Director

Lilia Slavova is Audience Choice Award winner for directing “The Snow Queen” and the recipient of the St. Cyril and St. Methodius Award for the artistic achievements and promoting the Bulgarian culture. She received her MFA Degree in Dramatic arts from the renowned Higher Institute of Dramatic arts in Sofia, Bulgaria. She has over 30 years of acting, directing, choreography and teaching experience in Europe and the United States. She has been directing puppet shows for the last 12 years with Classika, now Synetic theatre and has also been Director of the studio and Director of education. Among many of the successful shows she directed are: The Nutcracker, Wondrous White Winter, Three Little Pigs and Little Red Riding Hood, The Story of a Lost Sock and others. A Member of all the unions she has been acting but mostly enjoying what she loves the MOST-Teaching. A well-recognized acting coach and talent scout Mrs. Slavova is happy to see her students on the screen, Broadway and theaters through the Washington Metro area. Previous directorial contributions with Ambassador Theater include the Little Prince and the original Hopa Tropa, which gained national attention and was featured on Fox News and in the Kids Euro Festival 2009.

Amie Cazel

Amie Cazel is thrilled to be making her Ambassador Theater debut with the amazing Hopa Tropa Kukerica cast and crew.
Local theatre credits include Olive in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee with Workhouse Arts Center (running March 9 - May 6) and Sanyasi at last summer's Capital Fringe Festival. She is a company member in Educational Theatre Company's Shakespeare in the Schools program and with Young Playwrights' Theater. She also travels with the one woman play The Yellow Dress, a dating violence prevention program, through Deana's Educational Theater. Amie received her B.A. in vocal performance at Northeastern University. She's a proud member of SAG & AFTRA and is an Equity Membership Candidate. www.amiecazel.com

Daria Kondova

Daria Kondova was born and raised in Sofia, Bulgaria. Trained as a
classical actress, she is excited about venturing into the
magical world of puppets. She welcomes everyone to experience the power
of Bulgarian songs and dances. Enjoy the show.

Gwendolyn Torrence

Gwen, 13, has appeared in Synetic Theater’s student production of The Snow Queen, Kai, and Synetic’s teen productions of Midsummer Night’s Dream, Puck, and Romeo and Juliet, ensemble. She has six years of modern dance and one year of voice.

Daniel Rovin

Assistant to the Artistic Director

Daniel Rovin is a graduate of the National Conservatory for the Dramatic Arts. He first appeared with Ambassador Theater in Summer at Nohant (Rousseau). In addition to acting for stage and film, he performs original poetry throughout the DC region.

Konstantin Hadjipanzov

Konstantin Hadjipanzov was born in Sofia, Bulgaria. He graduated from the University for Theater and Film Art “Krastyu Saravof”. Prior to achieving his acting degree, he worked as an assistance producer at “Boyana” Production Studios. He’s performed in more than 30 theater plays, many musicals and movies as part of Bulgarian, American, Spanish and German casts. He also worked as a radio program host at Express Radio and co-host of a morning TV show.
During the democratic changes in Bulgaria, Konstantin gets actively involved with politics and takes on a position as a deputy to the chief secretary of the State Ministry Assembly. Later he’s appointed to a diplomatic position with the State Department.
Up until he moved to the United State, Konstantin was a movie and TV show producer.

Ivan Dimitrov

Ivan Dimitrov, Choreographer,
Graduated from the Bulgarian Music and Dance Academy Plovdiv
Founder of the International Folk Dance Festival –Plovdiv
Ivan brought a new vision of word music and dance with his experience
Well known in the world of Dance he produced and performed around the world .

Petko Kolev

Petko Kolev (Author, Music Composer and Musical Director): A professional musician and composer performing in Europe and the U.S. for the last 30 years. Prior to moving to the U.S. in 1997, Mr. Kolev spent many years touring and performing live with well-known Bulgarian bands. He also has extensive experience in composing original classical, rock and contemporary songs for adults and children, providing choral arrangements, studio recording, and scoring for live theater, documentary films, cartoons and videos. Since 2005, he has collaborated with Classika Theater, providing original music, sound effects and musical direction for works such as “The Nutcracker,” "Wondrous White Winter," "Three Little Pigs" and “Little Red Ridinghood.” In 2008, Mr. Kolev made his writing debut at Classika Theater as Author of the children's story "The Lost Sock", which was adapted into a puppet show by Lillia Slavova. Mr. Kolev composed the original music and lyrics for the play, "The Lost Sock", and provided musical direction.

JuliaTasheva

Julia Tasheva, Master Puppeteer, Puppet Designer, Mime and Puppet Coach. Julia Tasheva holds a master’s degree in puppetry from the National Academy of Film and Theater Art in Sofia, Bulgaria. She is an award-winning puppeteer, having won best actress in the Bulgarian National Puppetry Awards for her role as Pinocchio. Ms, Tasheva is also an accomplished mime, having toured Europe with the “Theatre for New Forms” and “Balagan Mime Theatre”. She is also an award-winning visual artist. Julia has extensive experience with a wide variety of puppet systems as well as acting, pantomime, teaching ,coaching and designing throughout the Washington metro area. We’ve seen her in the puppet shows as: “The Princess and the Pea”, “The Moonflower”, “Sleeping Beauty”, “Ugly Duckling”, “Cinderella”, “A Wondrous White Winter”, “The Three Little Pigs”, “The Nutcracker”, “The Snow Child” and “Mother Goose”-at Classika Theatre as puppeteer/leading roles/, puppet coach, puppet designer and live actor. She has designed puppets and sets for “Kashtanka” and “Beauty and the Beast” at Northern Virginia Community College and for“Alice in Wonderland,” “Matsukaze,” “The Snow Child”, “The Story of the Lost Sock”, “The Penguin Story” and “ Mother Goose” at Classika Theater, and for "Hopa Tropa" at Ambassador Theater. She is the resident puppet coach for Classika Family Shows.In addition, she has designed and starred in several one-person touring puppet and mime shows including “The Snow Child,”“Spooky Boo House,” and the soon to open “ The Forgotten Birthday.”"I am excited to work with American actors and to introduce to them Bulgarian folk art. I am proud as a Bulgarian actress and puppeteer to continue working on this show
and represent the Bulgarian soul of folk art."

Antonio Petrov

Antonio Petrov (Set Designer) is a contemporary artist who was born in Bulgaria in 1969. He began painting, drawing and sculpting at a very early age. He graduated from The National High School of Fine Arts in Sofia, Bulgaria and got his MA degree from the Bulgarian Academy of Fine Arts in 1997.
Antonio has worked as a sculptor for the Bulgarian National Television and Bulgarian Film Studios, as well as for the American movie company Nu Image Bulgaria Ltd.
Since 2005 Antonio has been living and working in Springfield, VA, focusing primarily on painting and interior decoration. He’s been a member of Lorton Workhouse Artists Association since 2010.

For contacts: www.ArtAntonioPetrov.com

Orfeia, Vocal Ensemble: Eastern European Harmonies

Photo credit: Edwin Remsberg

Founded in late 2006 by internationally-acclaimed Bulgarian singer, director, and composer Tatiana Sarbinska, Orfeia Vocal Ensemble celebrates the rich and varied folk music traditions of Bulgaria and the Balkans. Orfeia presents an authentic Balkan sound in its cultural context through performances and workshops for adults and children.

Orfeia takes its name and inspiration from the ancient Thracian myth of Orpheus, a symbol musical journeys and musical storytelling. From the timeless motifs of village life to the sacred and spiritual, from the medieval to modern-day adaptations, the musical traditions of the Balkans come to life for audiences through Orfeia’s exciting and unique musical repertoire.

Orfeia made its debut in October of 2007 in Bulgaria as part of Music Without Borders, a concert of traditional music featuring Tatiana Sarbinska and a roster of all-star traditional musicians. Orfeia also performed in Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria with the Pirin Ensemble, one of Bulgaria’s premiere national folk companies, and performed by invitation at the first national competition for traditional Bulgarian compositions in Chepelare, Bulgaria. Orfeia has been featured on the Slavi Show, Bulgaria’s popular late-night television program. In 2010, Orfeia performed at the 10th National Festival of Bulgarian Folklore in Koprivshtitsa, followed by a two week tour and performances throughout Bulgaria. Orfeia returned to Bulgaria in 2011 for performances in Sofia and Chepelare. Since its inception, Orfeia has performed and conducted workshops throughout the D.C. and Maryland area. Based in Montgomery County, Maryland, Orfeia has been the recipient of grants from the Maryland State Arts Council and the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County (AHCMC). Orfeia is currently recording a CD of songs in the Sephardic/Ladino tradition at Airshow recording studio in Takoma Park, made possible through support from AHCMC.

Members of Orfeia are Sarah Allard, Natalia Blinkova, Courtney Deines-Jones, Carlendra Frank, Lily Hamburger, Heather Livingston, Diane Weinroth, and Elin Zurbrigg. Tatiana Sarbinska is the Artistic Director.

Orfeia is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Visit Orfeia on Facebook and at www.orfeia.org.

SVITANYA

SVITANYA is a women's vocal ensemble whose lively performance of Eastern European folk music has captivated audiences across the northeast. Our mission is to bring this beautiful music to a wide range of audiences – from those who are familiar with it through their ancestral roots to those who are encountering it for the first time.
Svitanya's repertoire is drawn from the entire region of Eastern Europe. Some songs are modern
arrangements of traditional folk tunes, some are original compositions in the folk tradition, and others are sung as they have been for generations. They range from strong and strident field-working songs to traditional dance tunes to lush and emotive arrangements, all evoking the timbres, rhythms, and harmonies indigenous to the region.
All songs are sung in their original languages—fifteen or so, including Bulgarian, Ukrainian,
Macedonian, and many others––so Svitanya's performances include entertaining stories and
translations that make the music accessible and relevant to English-speaking audiences. Many pieces are sung a cappella, but a variety of ethnic instruments may accompany others. Eye-catching costumes include brightly colored, hand-embroidered blouses from different Eastern European countries, some made by the singers’ own relatives. Two of our singers are a mother-daughter pair, appropriate in a genre where songs have been passed through generations from mother to daughter. Svitanya offers several workshops in addition to its performances. These include singing, of course, but we can enhance the experience with traditional dances to accompany the songs, and can include instrumentalists as well singers. We can tailor workshops to many ages and abilities. Svitanya has been presented in many venues including Philadelphia’s Kimmel Center, the Philadelphia Folk Festival, Musikfest in Bethlehem, PA, the Philadelphia Art Museum. We have performed in collaboration with the dancers of ContempraDance Theatre, with famed Ukrainian singer Mariana Sadovska, repeatedly for Southern Tier Celebrates in Binghamton, NY, and also with Yara Arts Group of La MaMa Experimental Theater in New York, NY. We are honored to be included in the juried artist roster of Pennsylvania Performing Arts on Tour (PennPAT), whose mission is to support the ability of their Pennsylvania-based artists to tour in about ten surrounding states. PennPAT does this through a multi-layered approach that includes grants to presenters, grants to artists, and tour-readiness or technical training for artists. Information on grants for concert presenters can be found at www.pennpat.org. In 2005, we released our first full-length CD, First Light, which has been a popular item in person and online. Our music has been played on radio stations in at least twelve countries to date. We have begun recording for our second CD.
www.svitanya.org info@svitanya.org
6845 Anderson St, Philadelphia, PA 19119

Zharava

The Bulgarian folk-dance ensemble Zharava was established in January, 2007. Within its first six months the group gathered more than 20 enthusiastic members, including natives of Bulgaria, Russia and the U.S. Since its inception the group has expanded and accumulated a roster of more than 75 active members and alumni. Currently there are close to 30 active members and 3 tiers of groups: advanced performing group, intermediate and beginners groups. The fire in each performer's heart, as the name Zharava - 'burning embers' - implies, is transmitted to the audience by the addictive energy the group brings onto a stage.

The vision of Zharava's founder, Desi Jordanoff, is two-fold: to establish a strong ensemble that preserves the rich Bulgarian folk-dance tradition and to enhance the awareness of all the Bulgarian folk arts - dance, music, song and rhythm - throughout the U.S. and the world. Affiliate and educational programs have been launched to realize Zharava’s mission.
Already in its sixth year of existence Zharava has delivered over 50 performances at festivals in Washington DC and Maryland. In addition the group has participated in multiple concerts and artistic projects on behalf of organizations, such as the World Bank Group at its Annual Celebration of Cultures, celebrations of the Bulgarian Community Center of greater Washington, DC and the events organized by the Embassy of Bulgaria, local schools and universities.
Zharava has acquired great support in the arts communities in Washington, DC and Maryland, and has established and developed an affiliate group in Richmond, Virginia as a pilot project for Zharava’s affiliate programs. Founded in the fall of 2007 Zharava's affiliate dance group in Richmond has attracted more than 30 members, who retained their interest in the group and successfully transited into 2012 with a strong passion and love for the Bulgarian folk dance. The group in Richmond already has performed at local venues, festivals and events at the University of Richmond.
One of Zharava’s strong partners is the singing group Zunitza, which participates with Zharava at concerts and celebrations, most recent of which was at the Organization of the American States at a formal reception organized by the Embassy of Bulgaria for the Bulgarian National day. Zunitza’s three talented singers represent the colorful and richly ornate authentic Bulgarian song.
Website: www.zharava.com

Tatiana Sarbinska

With more than forty years of musical experience as a performer, director, teacher, and composer in both the United States and in her native country of Bulgaria, Tatiana Sarbinska is a Bulgarian national treasure. Ms. Sarbinska has dedicated herself to sharing her extraordinary talent and her deep love and encyclopedic knowledge of Bulgarian traditional music and culture in both her native Bulgaria and throughout the United States. Ms. Sarbinska has developed her own artistic interpretations of the traditional musical heritage from her native Pirin region as well as the styles from each of Bulgaria’s distinct folkloric regions. In addition to her unmatched expertise in Bulgaria traditional music and vocal technique, Ms. Sarbinska has studied and performed traditional music from throughout Eastern Europe, including Byzantine chant, Slavonic liturgical music, Ladino, Arabic, Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian, Russian, and Ukrainian music. Her extraordinary vocal range, technique and flexibility are joined with a magnetic stage presence that moves with ease from playful to passionate.

Ms. Sarbinska grew up singing traditional Bulgarian music in the Macedonian village of Rila, near the Pirin Mountains in southwestern Bulgaria. She received her degree in Traditional Folk Music at Academy of Music and Choreographic Art in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. For many years she was the featured soloist, as well as a conductor, of the internationally-acclaimed Pirin Ensemble, touring extensively throughout Europe and the Middle East, Northern Africa, Asia and the United States. She was Assistant Professor of Music at the Conservatory for the Academy of Music and Choreographic Art in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, and Professor of Music for Western University in Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria. She was also the Director of Education for the School of Art in Blagoevgrad, developing and directing curriculum for 2500 students.

In the United States, Ms. Sarbinska has been an Artist-In-Residence for the Mayor’s Office of Art and Humanities, Boston, Massachusetts, teaching in the Boston Public Schools. She has taught at, among other venues, the Boston Conservatory, Boston University, Northeastern University-Boston, the New England Conservatory of Music, the Mendecino Balkan Music and Dance Camp, and the Augusta Heritage Center, and she has been a consultant for Revels, the renowned international music company. Ms. Sarbinska has performed throughout the United States, including at the Kennedy Center and the Library of Congress. She performed in the American Conservatory Theatre’s production of Hecuba with Olympia Dukakis. In 2004, Ms. Sarbinska was the music director for the University of Maryland production of Euripides’ The Trojan Women. In 2004, she received a WAMMY (Washington Area Music Award) for best world vocalist and has received individual and master artist awards from the Maryland State Arts Council. In 2006, Ms. Sarbinska was awarded the Ivan Vasov Medal by the government of Bulgaria for her contributions to Bulgarian culture. In 2010, she was awarded first prize in the International Competition for Composition in 7/8 in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Her most recent CDs are Makedonsko Devojče and Katerino Mome.

Ms. Sarbinska’s mastery of Eastern European music and technique is matched by her ability to teach that music and technique to others, from beginner to professional. For many years, Ms Sarbinska has organized and conducted individual and group lessons and workshops in Eastern European vocal technique, classical and traditional vocal technique, and vocal jazz improvisation using Balkan musical themes. She has coached and directed world and classical music ensembles in Eastern European vocal production, repertoire, rhythm, pronunciation, styling, and cultural meaning and context. Ms. Sarbinska has worked with Libana (Boston, Massachusetts), Kitka (Berkeley, California), West Wind, (San Francisco, California), Village Harmony (Montpelier, Vermont), Boston Secession (Boston, Massachusetts), Women in Harmony (Portland, Maine), Planina (Denver, Colorado), Zdravec (Boston, Massachusetts), Born to Drone (San Jose, California), and Slaveya (Washington, DC). She is the founder and director of the vocal groups Divi Zheni, Zornitsa, and Orfeia and under her direction and tutelage, these groups have performed at concerts, folk festivals and workshops throughout the country as well as abroad.

Ms. Sarbinska is a composer of original songs and music based on Bulgarian traditional themes. One of her compositions, Katerino Mome, continues to be one of the most popular and recognized songs in Bulgaria. She has also created countless arrangements of Bulgarian and Eastern European traditional and neo-traditional music.

Desi Jordanoff

was born in a city surrounded by beautiful mountains and situated in a valley under a sleeping volcano in a very unique ethnographic region, where people dance and talk fast and have very fiery personalities. Desi’s extensive choreographic experience and material embodies a vast array of ethnographic regions of Bulgaria, such as Shope, Macedonian, Thracian, Rhodope, Dobrudja, Varna, Vlachija, Northern Bulgaria. She has choreographed Russian and Bulgarian dances for PIFT, Bulgarian dances for MBNECC, Junior Duquesne Tamburitzans, Slavjane, Balkantzi, and other groups in Pittsburgh. She has also conducted multiple Bulgarian folk dance workshops in Pennsylvania. For 8 years, Desi taught Russian dance, song and culture at the University of Pittsburgh, as part of the Russian and East European Studies intensive Russian language and culture training for graduate and undergraduate students. Finally, she has participated as a judge-panelist for Duquesne University Tamburitzan’s auditions 2 years in a row. Since she moved to the Washington, DC area in 2004, Desi continued to add more dance forms to her vast dance portfolio and extended her training in Flamenco, which she started in 2003 in Centro Flamenco de Pittsburgh. In 2005 she also joined a ballroom training group with master instructors to master the Latin Ballroom dances and potentially participate at various dance competitions. Desi believes that "That, which does not kill us, makes us stronger" a concept she learned the hard way from very dear friends in her past. She lives by the principle that "Everything happens for a reason and everything is in a constant state of flux. Embrace the change, learn the lessons sent to you, be grateful for the opportunity to grow, keep positive energy and attitude, give love to all living species and always smile". Life should be fun.

BOXOFFICE

SUMMER PRODUCTION CAMPS:

Exploring International Cultures Through Theater and Art

June 25 – July 6, 2012 at the George Washington Masonic Memorial THEATER 101 Callahan Drive, Alexandria VA 22301: EXPLORING Aesop’s Fables AGES 4-6, 7-9, and 10-13

July 16 – August 3, 2012 SOURCE theater, 1835 14th Street, NW, Washington DC: TEEN PRODUCTION CAMP – The Greek Envoys by Jan Kochanowski AGES 14 – 18

Camps Run Monday to Friday 9AM – 3PM (4-6year old group is 9AM-12PM)

Early Drop Off and Extended Day Available 8-9AM and 3-5PM: Please indicate interest on form.

Cutoff for Early Registration is March 16, 2012

AESOP’S FABLES

June 25 – July 6, 2012

group 1: ages 4-6 |  group 2: ages 7-9  |  group 3: ages 10-13

EARLY REGISTRATION: $300 for 4-6 year olds (Regular is $400) other age groups $600 (regular $700)

Picture walking through the door of the Masonic temple in Alexandria, VA and finding yourself in ancient Greece surrounded by masks and talking animals! That will be the experience of every camper as we help them tell some of the most popular and loved stories of western civilization: Aesop’s fables! Children will learn to use their whole body to transform into animals and elements, opening their minds to endless possibility. As they develop these skills within themselves,they will also learn to listen to one another and work as a team during scene work and theater games. Professional instructors will also teach them projection,memorization and other skills necessary to perform in theater. Ultimately the campers will be given the tools to perform several fables for an audience where they will have created everything, from the characters themselves to sound effects and even living set pieces, with their own imaginations.

THE GREEK ENVOYS

July 16 – August 3, 2012

ages 14 – 18

EARLY REGISTRATION: $700 (regular $800)

 The Greek Envoys, by Jan Kochanowski – With poetic verse and tense storytelling, teen actors will have the opportunity to take part in a classic Greek tale as told by one of the most accomplished writers in Polish history. Taking place at the start of the Trojan War, actors will be introduced to Greek mask work and movement as they bring Helen of Troy, Paris, Menelaus, and others to life. At the same time, actors will learn about the Renaissance in Poland and the significance of Kochanowski’s work. Skill sets for theater, such as projection and memorization, will be reinforced by instructors throughout the process. Actors will also make the next leap in development by learning not only how to act, but how to be an actor. Note taking, blocking, and working in full-costume will all be a part of the rehearsal process. Instruction and rehearsal will finally culminate in a full-length production that brings two cultures together in what is sure to be a unique and unforgettable experience!

The District of Columbia is unique among American communities in its great concentration of embassies and international dignitaries. Despite only being a few miles away from these great resources, many students within and around the District of Columbia have little knowledge of the world outside their neighborhoods. Through the Ambassadors of International Culture program, we hope to make these resources more accessible to urban students and enrich the students through interaction with persons of different cultures.

• Outreach program at  DC Metro area schools introducing students to a specific culture through drama and art classes with the partnership of the embassy representing that particular culture
• Workshops with international artists encompassing all aspects of theater
• Theater Production Summer Camps

MORE INFO on what’s happening now and coming soon:

• Summer Camps
• Internships
• You Can Help: Scholarships

ADMINISTRATIVE INTERNSHIPS

Company Management

The company management intern assists in the daily operations of production administration. Major responsibilities of this hands-on internship include coordinating artist needs during rehearsals and productions, representing the general management office by being a point of contact between artists, production staff and the Executives of the organization, serving as a general point of contact for and providing upcoming Ambassador programming information to Embassies, Cultural Centers, community centers, other arts organizations, etc; and assisting with general administrative functions. Successful candidates will have some theatre experience with excellent organizational and people skills, and a flexible schedule. A special project related to artistic promotion will be part of this internship, for qualified and interested parties.

Development

The development intern works in all aspects of donor relations and fundraising. The internship focuses on research, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of individual, corporate, government and foundation donors as well as assistance in planning and execution of special events such as Opening Nights, Meet the Cast events, and more. Interns work closely with the Managing Director and other key senior staff. Responsibilities include: writing, research, meeting planning, event assistance, development of a donor database and daily office tasks. Successful candidates will have excellent writing skills and strong verbal communication ability. Occasional evening and weekend work is required.

Education

The education intern supports the implementation of school, community, training and audience enrichment programs. Duties include: scheduling and facilitating workshops, assisting both in-school and after-school classes and residencies, developing teacher and student curriculum guides, coordinating special events and assisting with the daily administrative needs of the Education Department. Successful candidates will have experience in both theatre and education. Occasional evening and weekend work is required.

Theater Management

Theater management internships are ideal for persons interested in the overall workings of a theatre as management interacts with all departments including artistic, production, education, marketing, development and business. The management intern works on special projects in the areas of organizational management, strategic planning, human resources, accounting and Trustee administration. The Theatre Manager will work very closely with the Founding Artistic Director and key senior staff as needed. Duties include daily business functions, research/analysis, coordinating staff/Board committee meetings and special projects aligned with the candidate’s individual focus.

Public Relations/Marketing/Graphic Design

The public relations/marketing intern (w/special interests in graphics and IT support) helps the daily operations of the Marketing division. The intern may assist in audience development, subscription and single ticket marketing, press, publications, research and special projects depending on the needs of the season. Special requirements include strong written and verbal communication skills as well as strong organizational skills. The graphic design/IT work supports the Associate Artistic Director in various ways, including carrying out full projects ranging from newspaper ads to brochures to full-size posters. Knowledge of various graphic design applications and software highly preferable; a portfolio and/or examples of work that demonstrate understanding of layout, typography, color and design are given stronger consideration.

ARTISTIC INTERNSHIPS

Acting

Ambassador Theater and International Cultural Center provides a unique opportunity for early career actors to perform in our full season of plays. Acting Fellows compose the non-Equity ensemble for most or all of our main stage plays, serve as understudies and receive training in various techniques and methods of acting. Acting fellows are selected from university programs in the area, in their junior and senior years of theatre study, completing BA or BFA degrees in performing/fine arts.

Directing

The directing intern assists the creative teams of main stage productions over the course of the season, which may include serving as Assistant Director. Duties include aiding the director with all aspects of the rehearsal and production process including but not limited to research, text analysis, recording blocking, rehearsing understudies and maintaining a production once it has opened. As a member of the theatre’s resident artistic staff, the Directing Fellow facilitates communication between the theatre staff (Company Management Intern) and the production team and may also have administrative responsibilities related to the operation of the Artistic Department. Candidates should be working towards a BA or BFA degree in theatre, experience as an assistant director on professional productions, a working knowledge of a broad range of text and excellent interpersonal and organizational skills.

PRODUCTION INTERNSHIPS

Costumes

Costume interns assist in costume construction, costume research, finding and borrowing pieces as needed and running of the company’s main stage productions and other projects. Interns work in several areas over the course of an internship. Costume work spans many eras and styles, so basic sewing skills are required; a portfolio or examples of work are desirable. It is preferable that the intern have a car and be willing to drive to find and collect items for productions, etc. or can collect items in a timely fashion utilizing Metro and whatever other modes of transport are available to he/she.

Lighting

Lighting interns assist the Lighting Staff with show preparation, hang, circuiting, focus, and equipment maintenance. The intern will work on Ambassador shows, outreach events, and booked-in rental productions in the DC Metro area. The ideal candidate will have experience trouble-shooting problems, programming light boards, building practicals, repairing lighting fixtures, and have a basic understanding of lighting design.

Production Management

The Production Management intern reports to the Founding Artistic Director and is involved in all aspects of production management including: production planning, supporting production events, completing special research projects and assisting with contracting and financial tracking. Special requirements include strong administrative and organizational skills, experience with spreadsheets and word processing as well as the ability to work with a broad range of people and attend to numerous projects concurrently. Prior experience with technical theatre required, good writing and communication skills a must.

Stage Properties

The stage properties intern assists in all aspects of building and procuring props for the company’s main-stage productions and outreach projects. Basic construction skills are required; it is preferable that the intern have a car and be willing to drive to find and collect items for productions, etc. or can collect items in a timely fashion utilizing Metro and whatever other modes of transport are available to he/she. Previous experience in painting, graphics, upholstering, finish carpentry is preferred; a portfolio including examples of work is desired.

Sound

The sound intern works with the Sound Department staff in providing technical and creative support. Internships are designed around the interests of qualified applicants and can include systems maintenance, installation and engineering; assisting with performance runs and changeovers; assisting designers and composers; and design opportunities with education and internship projects. Previous experience with sound engineering for non-musical theatre and examples of paperwork and recordings of designs and compositions are required for all design-interested applicants.

Stage Management

Stage management interns work closely with Equity and non-Equity stage managers, assisting in all aspects of stage management, from pre-production preparation into rehearsal and through the run of the show as part of the running crew. Interns may have the opportunity to stage manage special events.

Technical Direction

Technical direction interns assist in drafting, budgeting and planning of each main stage production, attending all meetings to see the process from all angles. Interns should be working towards a BA or BFA degree or training in technical theatre, including skills in drafting, carpentry and metal work.

How to apply

CLICK HERE FOR THE SIGN UP FORM