Technical Theater Internships & Scholarships
The Lensic’s team of talented, experienced technicians are dedicated to sharing their knowledge with the next generation of theater professionals. More than 180 students have completed our internship program since 2002, and many have gone on to professional careers at venues like Carnegie Hall, Popejoy Hall, and The Lensic.
Technical Theater Internships
The Lensic’s Technical Theater Internship program provides young people in our community with basic to intermediate training in all areas of the behind-the-scenes world of live entertainment production. The Lensic provides a full range of opportunities and dedicated support for our interns on stage, in the classroom, and into their futures.
The internship program is open to students in grades 9 through 12 at schools in Santa Fe, Española, Los Alamos, and nearby areas. Up to 12 student interns are selected each year. At the end of the program, some interns may be selected for a two-week paid summer internship, where they work shoulder to shoulder with members of the technical staff.
The program is centered in practical application. After learning the basics of onstage safety, interns work closely with the Lensic staff in simulated and real production settings to learn the fundamentals of
- audio design and engineering
- lighting design and setup
- set design and construction
- basic stage rigging
- professionalism in the theater.
Emphasis on the science, engineering, and mathematical aspects of technical theater will provide context for concepts students learn in school classrooms.
Students who complete the Lensic’s internship program will leave with a strong foundation for a variety of careers, including technical theater, an industry expected to experience 10 percent job growth through 2029, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics.
To Apply
Internship applications are accepted from August 1 through September 30. We will contact each qualified applicant to set up an interview. If equally qualified students apply, preference will be given to high school juniors and seniors. Students are encouraged to apply the following year if they are not selected the first year they apply.
Application for 2023-24 coming soon!
College Internships
Each summer The Lensic offers one paid college internship, open to junior and senior college students with a major in technical theater. The college intern functions as a full crew member on all shows. They are expected to spend 30 to 55 hours a week at The Lensic, where they shadow professional crew and help with maintenance projects. Interns attend weekly production meetings and must have all time off approved. The Lensic does not provide intern housing.
To Apply
To apply for the college-level technical theater internship, please contact Kyra Murzyn, internship program supervisor, at internship@lensic.org.
Melville Hankins Family Foundation Technical Theater Scholarships
The Lensic’s scholarship program, created in 2010, helps current and former Lensic interns fund their theater studies at the college level. Two $2,500 scholarships or one $5,000 scholarship, generously funded by the Melville Hankins Family Foundation, are awarded each year.
The 2022 Melville Hankins Technical Theater Scholarships were awarded to Dakota Rose and Hobi (Hana) O’Brien Ishikawa. Both are seniors at NMSA. Dakota will attend Southern Methodist University this fall, and Hobi will attend the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
To Apply
Scholarship applications are accepted from current and former Lensic interns from January 1 to March 1.
Melville Hankins Family Foundation Tech Theater Scholarship Application for 2023-24 coming soon!
Adopt an Intern
Support the Lensic Technical Theater Internship program by “adopting an intern” today! Your donation can benefit Santa Fe students and bring you closer to the backstage learning experience.
Support an intern today! Contact Melanie Corcoran, Director of Development, at 505-988-7050, ext. 1203, or mcorcoran@lensic.org.
