Education Internships

Paid college internships for school year and summer opportunities. For students looking to grow in their practice as theatre educators, administrators, and artists.

Learn about out approach to teaching on our Teaching Philosophy page. And see how you can join the team below.

School Year Internships

We believe that ALL children have a right to grow through quality arts experiences. That’s why we partner with organizations across Middle Tennessee to bring transformative theatre to kids right in their schools and communities.

Throughout the year, Nashville Children’s Theatre has limited paid opportunities for students and professionals to work in the Education Department by tailoring internships to the specific goals of the applicant.

This internship provides experience in the daily operations of a professional theatre’s education department. Previous interns have learned, created, and participated in curriculum creation, programming planning, mainstage show support and corresponding materials, and arts administration.

During the week, Interns will work in-office on projects. These projects can be tailored to an applicant’s interests. Past projects have included: social story creation, website maintenance, educational guides and lobby activities for NCT’s mainstage shows, TN academic standard connections, community work, grant support, script research, and other various administrative duties.

Upon completion of this internship, interns will have concrete work examples to present or add to their portfolios.

On Saturdays, Interns will serve as teaching assistants to NCT’s professional Teaching Artists for NCT’s drama school and work varying positions on NCT’s company classes. Classes serve ages 3-18, giving interns the opportunity to work with a variety of ages.

These internships are available each semester of the school year and are filled on a rolling basis.

To learn more about School Year Internships with NCT, please contact Colin Peterson, Director of Education.

Summer 2023 Internships

Nashville Children's Theatre is seeking dedicated college students to serve as interns for in-person summer camps of 2023.

Scroll down to our alumni section to see what past interns have gone on to do after their internships at Nashville Children’s Theatre.

Available Internships: Teaching Artistry Internship, Stage Management Internship

To Apply:
Please send the following to Matthew Hayes Hunter, Drama School Coordinator via email at mhunter@nashvillect.org.

Cover letter (listing the internship you are applying for and detailing your reasons for your interest/qualifications in that internship)
Resume
Two letters of recommendation (these can be included in your packet, or sent directly to Matthew)

The application process for all Internships will open on February 1st and close on March 21st. Please submit by that date if you would like to be considered.

Teaching Artistry Internship

This internship provides college students with experience in theatre education, creative drama, and artistic administration. Interns will serve as teaching assistants to NCT’s professional Teaching Artists.

Camps serve ages 4-18, and interns participate in the breadth of the curriculum. Interns will learn a variety of theatre games and activities and facilitate those with campers. In addition, interns will help design, direct and implement campers’ shows as well as assist with administrative duties and safety protocol involved in running a full-scale summer camp.

Teaching Artistry interns receive in-depth training prior to summer camps, and participate in weekly training and reflection sessions throughout the summer. Interns learn not only how to work with youth but also how to work as a collaborative team. Interns receive support from lead educators and one another as they engage in learning how to become Teaching Artists.

NCT will offer in-person week-long drama camps all summer long. Interns are required to be present for full days for the duration of the summer.

Teaching Artistry Intern training will take place Friday and Saturday May 19th & 20th and May 22nd-26th, 2023. The internship then runs May 30 – August 8, 2023. For all training dates, attendance is required.

Teaching Artistry Interns will be scheduled to work in one of the following two shifts each week:
Early Group: 7:00am-4:00pm; Late Group: 8:30am-5:30pm.
Each group will have a 30-minute break during the day.

We are seeking eight Teaching Artistry interns for 2023.

Teaching Artistry interns will be granted one week of un-paid leave during the summer.

*Teaching Artistry interns will be paid an honorarium of $350/week.

Stage Management Opportunities for Teaching Artistry Interns

*One Teaching Artistry intern will be assigned to Stage Manage the Junior Artists production of “James and The Giant Peach, Jr.”. This intern will receive an additional $50 for the three weeks of production work (for extra duties, design meetings, and tech rehearsals).

Please check the schedule for the Junior Artists SM at the button below.

Prior stage managing experience is not specifically required for this aspect of the internship. However, if you have stage management experience, please notate that in your materials.

Assistant Stage Management Opportunities for Teaching Artistry Interns

One Teaching Artistry intern will be assigned to Assistant Stage Manage the Kids Company production of “Willow Wood.”

Another Teaching Artistry intern will be assigned to Assistant Stage Manage the Junior Artists production of “James and the Giant Peach, Jr.”

These interns will not be asked to work outside of the typical Teaching Artistry Intern schedule during rehearsals. However, they will be paid an additional $50 for the week of tech and performances.

Please check the schedule for the Kids/Junior Artists Company ASM at the button below.

Prior stage managing experience is not required for this aspect of the internship. However, if you have stage management experience, please notate that in your materials.

For Teaching Artistry interns, each week brings something new: a new Teaching Artist with a new teaching style, a new age group, a new story to tell onstage or creative drama play to engage in.
NCT is a safe space to learn the important skill of facilitation.

— Denee Stewart Freeman (Media Intern 2019), Excerpt from “An NCT Intern’s Experience”

Stage Management Internship

This internship provides students with hands-on stage management experience. This intern will serve as stage manager for the Kids Company and Emerging Artists Productions.

Stage Management interns will continue their learning in stage management, working in a professionally run environment while managing the different responsibilities of working with young artists (ages 8-18).

Upon completion of the internship, the stage management intern will have two completed shows to add to their resume. Additionally, this intern will possess a greater understanding of working with youth and working as a part of a larger education team.

Production Images from NCT Summer Shows – Stage Managed by Interns

Kids Company at Nashville Children's Teathre — The Journey of the Noble Narble - Summer 2022

Avenue Q - High School Edition - Summer 2012

Disney's The Little Mermaid, Jr. - Summer 2022

Intern training will take place Friday and Saturday, May 19th & 20th, and May 22nd-26th, 2023. The internship then runs May 30 – August 8, 2023. For all training dates, attendance is required.

Tech rehearsals and performances occur on evenings and weekends throughout the summer. Click the button below to see a full schedule for the Summer SM internship.

In addition to Stage Management duties, the Stage Management intern will often work with the Teaching Artistry interns during Extended Care, scheduled in the Early Group: 7:00am-4:00pm.

The Stage Management Intern will receive one week of un-paid leave during the summer (check schedule for possible options).

For 2023, we are seeking one Stage Management intern.

The Stage Management intern will be paid an honorarium of $400/week.

Additional Honorarium pay is due to additional hours worked (Design Meetings, Tech, etc.)

It’s such an amazing work environment. With our supervisors, they are all so amazing and supportive… always making sure we are ok and listening to any problems we have. They are so loving and willing to help us.

— Hal Johnson (Teaching Artistry Intern, 2019)
Excerpt from “An NCT Intern’s Experience”

General information for all applicants:

Interns will be subject to a background check and the theatre requires each in-person intern to be certified in CPR and First Aid (training will be provided).

College credit is available for this experience. Interns are responsible for their own housing. However, there may be additional opportunities for supplemental income (i.e. ushering productions, shop work, etc.).

NCT Internship Alumni

Kyle Summers, 2015

M.A., BCBA Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Autism ETC

During my summer at NCT I learned about the importance of play when it comes to childhood development and learning. I’m now a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and create programming for kids with autism to learn socially significant skills through play and reinforcing communication skills while also decreasing behaviors such as aggression, self-injurious behavior, and property destruction. Every day I use the skills I learned from NCT to teach kids to use their bodies, voices, and imaginations to promote learning.

Rhonda Bell, 2013

Education Director, Lexington Children's Theatre

Immediately after finishing my summer at NCT, I jetted off to the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa where I took my newfound love of TYA to the next level while working on my graduate degree. Fast forward to present day me who's the Education Director at Lexington Children's Theatre where I'm fortunate to continue building upon the foundation NCT gave me. Everything I do is for the young people I'm so blessed to serve, and I never would've known TYA was my calling without NCT.

Daisy Rudin, 2019

Amateur Licensing Assistant, Music Theatre International

I currently assist the Amateur Licensing department and help theaters around the country get what they need to put on shows. I sincerely miss my NCT family and enjoyed my time as an intern there very much. NCT helped me grow my confidence and people skills tremendously. I am so grateful for all NCT taught me!

Sarah Edwards, 2011

Registered Drama Therepist, Program Manager, Friends Life Community

I am one of three Registered Drama Therapists representing the state of TN and the creator of the Performing Arts Program at Friends Life Community. I served as the Performing Arts Specialist (2017-2021) and currently manage the Advocacy through the Arts Program at Friends Life Community. I collaborate with the Friends to create original, dignified, and sophisticated performances showcasing their colorful, authentic, and unapologetically unique selves.

Meredith Daniel, 2011

Theatre Teacher, Brentwood Middle

Since interning at NCT, my life has been full of theatre, teaching, and fun! I am the theatre teacher and director at Brentwood Middle School, having held that position for the better part of 9 years. I also am on the roster of teaching artists for NCT and Metro Parks Theatre. During the summer, I love the be involved (as an actor or director) with various theaters in Nashville.

Jhonna King, 2019

Program Coordinator, Girls Inc.

During my internship, I was fortune enough to study under some amazing teaching artists and watch how they interacted with the youth served. I watched how they formed meaningful, mentoring relationships with the youth and the impact they created. I learned how to facilitate large groups and captivate their attention, which is something I do daily in my current role. I lead groups of elementary, middle, and high girls in safe and brave spaces to inspire them to be strong, smart, and bold! Overall, I am very thankful for my experience at NCT, and it is something I will always cherish!

Ginny Shockley, 2014

Theatre Director, Goodpasture Christian School

I served as a teaching intern at NCT during the summer of 2014. A native of Nashville, TN, I graduated from Lipscomb University in 2015 with a BFA in Musical Theatre. Immediately after college, I joined the NCT admin staff in various roles including Development & Education Associate and Grants & Admin Manager. I attended MTSU and received my M.Ed in Curriculum & Instruction. After years of working professionally as a teaching artist, stage manager, and director, I settled down at Goodpasture Christian School where I serve as the Theatre Director. I continue to teach at NCT in the summers.

Alex Drinnen, 2018

Technical Director, Knoxville Children's Theatre

The internship program at NCT shaped my artistic and professional life. Harboring a space of positivity, value-driven work ethic, as well as allowing room for creativity in whatever way they want to express themselves is something that I learned while interning at NCT and carried over in my teaching artistry there. As I reach my last year of graduate school as well, where I'm getting my MFA in Pedagogy with an emphasis in Universal Design Learning and Theatrical Theory, the kind of environment that NCT cultivates is one of true love and affection towards students of all backgrounds and art of all kinds.

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