Apprentice program
WHAT IS IT?
The Portland Playhouse Apprentice Company is a paid, customizable, immersive training program that prepares emerging artists for the professional theatre industry for a full theatre season.
THE PROGRAM
Portland Playhouse Apprentice Company is a customizable professional training program that provides emerging artists with opportunities both on and off the stage for a full theatre season.
QUICK FACTS
- August 14, 2023 – June 14, 2024
- A company of 2-3 Apprentices
- Customized classes and individualized mentorship
- Integration into the Portland theatre/film community
- Free application/enrollment
- Complimentary housing with a host family upon request
- Will be PAID $15/hr | 30 hours/week
- Access to Additional Opportunities:
- Theatre administration training and experience
- Mainstage show auditions and understudy roles
- Production crew responsibilities
- Assistant directing and design positions
- Assisting in our education programs
- EMC Program and production credit eligibility

GROW WITH US
Apprentices benefit from the small-group, select nature of the program, and work closely with our staff members, professional artists, and fellow ensemble members to enrich their ten months of training.
Our apprentices choose a primary creative focus for their ten months with us. These focuses include: acting, directing, design, or stage management. Acting and directing apprentices receive conservatory-style training in specialized classes cultivated and led by professional artists. Apprentices focused in design and stage management engage in a personalized mentorship with various levels of involvement in each of our season productions.
Apprentices may volunteer in our offices assisting and learning from our core company members and staff at Portland Playhouse in various arts administration fields. These fields may include (but are not limited to) marketing, audience services, development, artistic administration, production management, and education programming.
Apprentices also have opportunities to engage with professional artists and the larger Portland community: they may choose to share front of house/crew responsibilities, audition for other productions in the area, submit for production/creative team roles, submit for local agencies, etc.
The Apprentice Company will culminate in the company either: creating and producing their own solo show production or an original stage production. The decision will be made by the select company members.
PAST TEACHING ARTISTS
With past Apprentice Cohots we worked together to program classes per their requests and built new and lasting relationships with professional artists in and beyond Portland. As a result, this list is not exhaustive.
Thyra Hartshorn, Technical Theatre
Nikki Weaver, Yoga and Solo Shows
Brian Weaver, Acting and Shakespeare
La’Tevin Alexander, Acting and Film
Charles Grant, Choreography
Daniel Meeker, Scenic and Lighting Design
Gretchen Corbett, Acting and Scene Study
Oluyinka Akinjiola, Choreography and Movement
Jason Rouse, Sketch Comedy, Improv, and Stand-up
Corinne Gaucher, Creative Resilience and Solo Shows
Alia Farah, Singing and Vocal Technique
Chris Gonzalez, Devising Theatre
Cycerli Ash, Acting and Film
Stephen Robinson, Writing
Karl Hanover, Dialects and Monologues
Cristi Miles, Viewpoints and Suzuki
Jessica Wallenfels, Movement and Devising Theatre
Samantha Van Der Merwe, Movement and Devising Theatre
Chris Harder, Meisner
Val Landrum, Viewpoints and Character Work
Orion Bradshaw, Hip-hop and Choreography
The newly reimagined paid apprenticeship is made possible by these courageous funders:
