Technical Theater Internships & Scholarships
The Next Generation of Theater Professionals
The Lensic’s talented, experienced technicians are dedicated to sharing their knowledge with young people. More than 180 students have completed our technical theater internship program since 2002, and many have gone on to professional careers at venues like Carnegie Hall, Popejoy Hall, and The Lensic.
High School Internships
Lensic interns receive hands-on training in every aspect of technical theater, from lighting and sound to basic rigging, welding, and stage management. The program includes both classroom-style sessions led by theater professionals and hands-on experience. Interns assist with the set-up and execution of a variety of shows, including classical ballet, rock concerts, and lectures featuring bestselling authors and speakers. Interns attend two-hour sessions at The Lensic once a week from October through early May, with time off for holidays and school breaks.
The technical theater internship 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.
To Apply
Internship applications are accepted from August 1 until September 30. The internship director 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.
Please complete the application form (see below) and email it to Matt Sanford at internship@lensic.org.
High School Student Internship Application
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 Matt Sanford, internship program director and Lensic stage manager, 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 2020 Melville Hankins Technical Theater Scholarship was awarded to Jayden Chavez. Jayden was valedictorian of her graduating class at New Mexico School for the Arts. She was a Lensic intern during her junior and senior years at NMSA. She will attend the University of Texas at Austin this fall, where she plans to study theater lighting, projection, and audio engineering.
To Apply
Scholarship applications are accepted from current and former Lensic interns from January 1 to March 1. Please complete the application form (see below) and email it to Matt Sanford at internship@lensic.org.
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.
