CSC Apprentice Program

Summer 2023

Program Dates: June 11-August 6, 2023

Thank you for your interest in our Apprentice Program. Enrollment for our summer 2023 program is now complete. Please check back in January for information about our summer 2024 program or reach out to us anytime with questions at apprentice@commshakes.org

The CSC Apprentice Program offers a robust Shakespearean performance focus through professionally directed productions held in Boston. CSC faculty support the work in the rehearsal room through classes in Shakespeare’s Text and Linklater Voice. This is a joy-based program with an ethos of care; students’ skills and progress are measured with constructive feedback for optimal growth. Apprentices may also bring their skills and enthusiasm to audience engagement and front-of-house work on the Boston Common through the Audience Ambassador Workstudy. Here, they are an integral part of Free Shakespeare on the Common’s success and can be eligible for understudy opportunities for the smaller roles on the Boston Common should they choose.

The CSC Apprentice Program is designed as an 8-week summer intensive that gives students a rigorous tour of Shakespeare’s language in professional practice and performance. Upon completion of the program, students will have 250+ hours of work on Shakespeare’s text, voice, movement, professionalism, networking, audience engagement, actor self-care, rehearsal and performance. The program is a bit like a classics-focused grad school primer, equivalent in hours and content to a seven-credit, 400- to 600-level class.

At the end of the summer, Apprentices will receive a Certificate of Achievement upon completion of the program. 

If your college or university offers professional theatre internship credits for summer work experience or instruction, please feel free to reach out to us (or have your professor reach out to us) about signing off on internship evaluations or the like. While we do not offer credit ourselves, we do often assist in this area! 

CSC’s Official Apprentice Program Partner:

FAQ’s:

Where will the Apprentice Program take place?

Our classes, rehearsals, and performances will take place at Suffolk University (CSC’s Official Apprentice Program Partner) close to our company’s outdoor performance space on Boston Common. Additionally, dormitory housing will be available for rental from Suffolk for the duration of the program (more info on Housing tab). Participating students are NOT required to live on campus for the program but will be responsible for their own timely transportation and/or parking should they choose to commute. We anticipate all program locations and necessary amenities to be within a reasonable walking distance and an MBTA pass would not be required.

What about COVID?

CSC, in coordination with Actors’ Equity and the City of Boston, continues to diligently monitor the public health situation. Health decisions are made with the safety of our audiences, artists, and staff as our top priority. Please note:

• CSC will require all Apprentice Program participants and staff to provide proof of a completed FDA-approved vaccine regimen and boosters for COVID-19. 
• CSC will follow both AEA and city-mandated health and safety guidelines for COVID-19 or any other public health concerns at the time of the Apprentice Program. 
• CSC also reserves the right to add additional protective guidelines where deemed necessary for the safety of all, which will be communicated to all students and staff directly, if implemented. 

Should you have an individual concern or question about our safety protocols, please reach out to us at apprentice@commshakes.org.

Alumni Testimonials

Dani Grace Nissen

2022 Apprentice Alum

Dani Grace Nissen (Tybalt) in Romeo & Juliet, Apprentice Program, 2022. Photo by Nile Hawver/Nile Scott Shots

“My time with CSC this summer will always hold a very dear place in my heart. I met some incredibly talented and genuinely good people who I know will be in my life for a very long time, and who I honestly can’t wait to work with again. In addition to growing as an artist and in my experience with Shakespeare, I feel like the deep relationships I cultivated with other apprentices and with CSC staff are what has made this summer truly special. It is rare to find the kind of caring, supportive, and passionate community that I was immersed in here, and I am grateful for that.”

Carmia Imani

2022 Apprentice Alum and Spark Scholarship Recipient

Carmia Imani (Marina) in Pericles. Apprentice Program, 2022. Photo by Nile Hawver/Nile Scott Shots

“This summer I was a part of Commonwealth Shakespeare Company’s Apprentice Program as a Spark Scholar… From the program, I learned that there was no longer a need to sacrifice a part of myself in order to fit into Shakespeare’s plays. I began to reclaim the characters as authentically my own: developing them by using the technique I was taught, blended with the nuances of being a black woman speaking and bringing life to the language and work.”

Alcides Costa

2019 Apprentice Alum

Alcides Costa (Bertram) in All’s Well That Ends Well. Apprentice Program, 2019. Photo by Evgenia Eliseeva

“From day one I aimed to push the boundaries of what I knew to be true in the work, and learn something new about it. In turn I ended up learning so much about myself. Working in All’s Well That Ends Well as Bertram was a mountain to climb, because the language was so difficult and he’s a really tricky character in general. The CSC team, from teachers, coaches, and even the actors on the main stage were always there to lend an attentive hand to help me along the way. The family bond here is so strong that it is impossible to fall through the cracks, and instead, you may feel the village elevate you as a whole!  The best aspect of course, is all the amazing people you meet. It was invigorating to be surrounded by industry professionals, but even more so to be in a creative space of apprentices who are so talented and dedicated. It really infuses the joy of the profession into you, and leaves you walking away instilling the belief that you and everyone around you deserves to be doing this!”

Alexandra Lin

2018 Apprentice Alum

Alexandra Lin (Margaret) in Henry VI, Part III, Apprentice Program, 2018. Photo by Nile Hawver/Nile Scott Studios

“My time at CSC as an apprentice has completely transformed how I view myself as an artist and a human being. I am forever grateful for the opportunities that everyone at CSC gave me. For the first time in my early career as an actress, I felt like I was not only capable, but worthy of tackling challenges head on, no matter how difficult they seemed. Truth be told, I was worried that I would discover I’d been pushed to my limits as a performer, but the people at CSC are so compassionate, supportive, and inspiring that I couldn’t help but feel compelled to rise to the occasion. I am indebted to folks that keep CSC running; they revived my dedication to this craft. Plus, it’s a whole summer of Shakespeare! Please, everyone, give CSC a shot. It will change your life.”

Sharmarke Yusuf

2017 Apprentice Alum

Sharmarke (Ferdinand) in The Tempest. Apprentice Program, 2017. Photo by Nile Hawver/Nile Scott Studios

“I am so grateful to have been able to spend my summer in CSC’s Apprentice Program. My experience as an apprentice was truly life changing. I grew so much as an actor and as a person during my time in the program. It was seriously refreshing to be in such a supportive environment and surrounded by people who care immensely about art and collaboration. I learned so much in the classes we took, got to understudy a role in Romeo and Juliet on Boston Common and performed in our touring production of The Tempest. I gained such a love and appreciation for Shakespeare and his texts while I was here and formed friendships with an amazing group of people who I know will go on to accomplish great things! I am so happy to be a part of this wonderful family. Thank you CSC for the best summer of my life so far!”

Eliott Purcell

2013 Apprentice Alum , 2015 CSC2 Company Member, Free Shakespeare on the Common 2013, Two Gentlemen of Verona (Ensemble), Free Shakespeare on the Common 2015, King Lear  (Soldier), Old Money (Ovid & Tobias)

Core classes for Apprentices include Shakespeare’s Text and Voice Class, with additional training happening alongside these two core classes. Instructors will independently teach fundamentals crucial to unlocking Shakespeare’s language throughout the summer.

Shakespeare’s Text

The class will focus on textual conventions used in Shakespeare’s plays, including rhythm & meter, punctuation, and rhetoric, with a strong focus on speaking Shakespeare’s language for maximum clarity and connection within the body. This work (drawn from Cicely Berry, Giles Block, Laban, and others) will help students to see these conventions not as rules that dictate how Shakespeare should be performed, but rather as opportunities for experimentation and play.

Voice Class

Updated 2023 class description coming soon. Following Kristin Linklater’s method of  “Freeing the Natural Voice,” students are guided through a progression of exercises designed to free, strengthen, and develop their whole vocal range. The majority of classroom focus explores physical awareness, breathing, resonance, and the connection of voice to emotional and imaginative impulse. Additional coursework addresses vocal health, building a reliable and personal warm-up, Alexander Technique, and applications of voice work to Shakespeare’s text.

Additional Training

Apprentices will also receive individual monologue coaching from members of CSC2 (CSC’s emerging artist program) and other CSC professional acting alumni as part of a cross-mentorship program, and scene coaching from the program’s directing and teaching staff, to sharpen scene study, self-staging, and text analysis skills.

In addition, Apprentices will engage in the Company Conversation series, meeting with members of the Free Shakespeare on the Common company to discuss their artistic process for the summer’s production as well as larger career questions.

Interspersed during the program, guest teachers and artists will share their work and expertise in short workshop opportunities. These offerings are unique each year, but past topics have included: clowning, actor self-care, improvisation, musical theater, auditioning for the camera, stage combat, voice over, and yoga for the actor.

 

Performing in Downtown Boston: ARC Performances

Training in the Apprentice Program culminates with the exciting Apprentice Rep Company (ARC) performances. Our Company will form three casts who each perform a professionally-directed 90-minute Shakespeare play. These three productions are offered in reparatory as free public performances at Suffolk University’s Modern Theatre in downtown Boston in the last weeks of the program. Auditions/casting for specific roles in these productions will occur shortly after the program begins. 

The ensembles of Pericles and As You Like It, at the Modern Theatre. Apprentice Program, 2022  Photos by Nile Hawver/Nile Scott Studios.

Working on Boston Common: Audience Ambassador Workstudy

A major piece of training with CSC means being a part of the Company’s core values of audience access and engagement. Every member of our team, from Artistic Director to our volunteers, becomes an important part of this mission during the summer.

Our annual performance on Boston Common hosts upwards of 30,000 audience members in only three and a half weeks. These audiences come from all backgrounds and abilities with one thing in common, a desire to participate in the arts. The show is free, and for many it is the only piece of theatre they can afford to see during the year.

Our audiences tend to arrive between two and three hours before the curtain goes up, offering us a wonderful opportunity to engage with them on a deeper level than most theater companies can. Every apprentice will have the option to participate in the Audience Ambassador Workstudy should they choose (simply check the Audience Ambassador Workstudy box on your application and you’re in!). Apprentices will assist with typical front-of-house duties for one-third (approximately six) of our summer performances. These duties will include ushering, concession/merchandise sales and site setup/breakdown. You’ll also be trained in best inclusion practices to help keep our show accessible to audience members of all abilities.

However, audience engagement on Boston Common is about more than customer service. As part of our cross-education with our professional company, Apprentices will have the opportunity to meet with different members of the production team and staff (actors, designers, marketing and development teams, etc.) to gain better insight into the professional theatre making process. Armed with this information and your unique perspective as an artist and performer, you’ll be able to engage with the audience to answer questions and begin conversations, helping to deepen their understanding and experience of the play.

This workstudy requires approximately 40 total additional hours of work and training during your summer and fits directly within your existing Apprentice schedule. The workstudy comes with a $600 tuition credit. We strongly encourage ALL Apprentices, regardless of financial need, to consider participating in this workstudy to get the fullest experience during your summer.

Understudy Opportunities

Some apprentices will be assigned an understudy role* for the 2023 Free Shakespeare on the Common performance. Understudy duties include: attending specific main stage rehearsals, possibly standing in during select rehearsals, and being prepared to perform should an actor be unable for any reason.

*Due to the logistics of our company, only students who participate in the Audience Ambassador Workstudy will be able to be considered for understudy opportunities in Free Shakespeare on the Common. Understudy assignments are not guaranteed for all Audience Ambassador participants due to the number of slots available.

Tuition Costs:

There are two price points for our 2023 Apprentice Program.* Every Apprentice will be given the option to participate in our Audience Ambassador Workstudy for the lower of the two price points (simply check the Audience Ambassador Workstudy box on your application and you’re in!). Please note that these prices do NOT include housing costs or other incidental expenses (meals/transportation/etc.):

• 2023 Tuition WITHOUT Audience Ambassador Workstudy: $3,800
• 2023 Tuition WITH Audience Ambassador Workstudy: $3,200

*Early Bird Discount: Apply by March 3rd, 2023 for an ADDITIONAL $200 discount off both the above prices. 

The Audience Ambassador Workstudy requires approximately 40 total additional hours of work and training during your summer and fits directly within your existing Apprentice schedule. The workstudy comes with a $600 tuition credit. Due to the logistics of our company, only students who participate in this Audience Ambassador Workstudy will be eligible for understudy consideration in Free Shakespeare on the Common should they choose. Understudy assignments are NOT guaranteed for all Audience Ambassador participants due to the number of slots available. We strongly encourage ALL Apprentices, regardless of financial need, to consider participating in this workstudy to get the fullest experience during your summer. 

Housing:

Participating students are NOT required to live on campus for the program but will be responsible for their own timely transportation and/or parking should they choose to commute.

Dormitory style housing will be available for rental from Suffolk University for the duration of the program at their 10 West Street Resident Hall (10 West St, Boston, MA 02111). The style of dormitory is a Private Bedroom in a Shared Suite for $4,047. Suites consist of two bedrooms that will house one actor each and all of the students within a suite share a bathroom. There is no shared living room and no kitchen but all suites do open into a furnished common area. Mini fridges and microwaves are available to rent for a small additional fee (these supplemental items and their costs can be shared between roommates for the duration of your stay). 

Dormitory style housing rental through Suffolk University does not include silverware, plates, pots, pans, bedding, towels, paper products, cleaning supplies, etc. Residents are responsible for maintaining their own bathrooms and kitchens (if applicable), including providing supplies and cleaning regularly. Please note that Suffolk University housing is a DRY space, meaning no alcohol or drug substances of any kind are allowed in the building, regardless of resident age. 

Accessibility accommodations are available for dormitory housing. Please reach out to us at apprentice@commshakes.org to discuss a specific need. 

If you intend to apply for dormitory housing, please apply for the Apprentice Program no later than April 21, 2023. 

Tuition Assistance:

Need-based Financial Aid:

This year, we are able to offer a limited amount of need-based financial assistance. If you are interested in requesting aid, please submit the below application at the same time as your other materials. Final deadline to request aid is April 7th but decisions will be made on a rolling basis while supplies last:

The window to apply for 2023 Financial Aid has closed.

Workstudy Opportunities:

In addition to the Audience Ambassador Workstudy opportunity open to ALL Apprentices with no additional application needed (simply check the Audience Ambassador Workstudy box on your application and you’re in!), we are offering five other workstudy positions that do require a supplemental application. If you are interested in applying for one of these workstudy position, use the links below to submit an application:

Social Media Workstudy (1 position available)

Using short-form video and graphic design content this position will be a personality; taking our followers on the Apprentice’s journey, introducing them through regular, daily content, and promoting the ARC performances. They will also work with the Marketing Dept. on the lobby display at the Modern Theatre. Works directly with CSC’s Marketing and Communication Manager.

This position will require a few pre-program meetings, which may be by phone/Zoom for a non-local candidate, and between 2-4 hours of work per week outside of the program’s regular schedule. Interested candidates should have strong social media skills. Familiarity with video creation and editing is required.

Total hours= 22-25 

This position receives a $400 tuition credit. 

If you are interested in applying for the Social Media Workstudy, please submit the below application at the same time as your other materials. Final deadline to apply for this work study is April 7th.

The window to apply for the 2023 Social Media Workstudy has closed.

Apprentice Experience Workstudy (1 position available)

Document through photos and videos each stage of the Apprentice Program, from coursework to auditions to production and beyond. This should include interviews with Apprentices and staff. In the final weeks of the program, this position will compile and create a 2-5 minute documentary video for our wrap-up day, and for posting on our website and social media. Responsible for archiving all content. Works directly with CSC’s Marketing and Communication Manager.

This position will require a few pre-program meetings, which may be by phone/Zoom for a non-local candidate, and between 2-4 hours of work per week outside of the program’s regular schedule. Interested candidates should have strong social media skills. Familiarity with video creation and editing is required.

Total hours: 22-25 

This position receives a $400 tuition credit. 

If you are interested in applying for the Apprentice Experience Workstudy, please submit the below application at the same time as your other materials. Final deadline to apply for this work study is April 7th.

The window to apply for the 2023 Apprentice Experience Workstudy has closed.

Production Workstudy (3 positions available)

Assist our Apprentice Program Production Manager with load-in and load-out of ARC performances at Suffolk’s Modern Theatre. 

Load-in: must be able to lift platforms, work together to provide assistance moving these pieces into the truck from our storage space and into the theatre, assist with putting platform system together with direction from PM other CSC staff. 

Load-out: must be able to assist with taking platform system apart with direction from PM, lift platforms, work together to provide assistance moving these pieces into the truck from the theatre and back into its place in our storage space, and other load-in duties as needed with direction from PM and CSC staff. 

Please indicate if you have a valid drivers license and are comfortable driving an 18’ U-haul type truck. 

Total hours: 5+5=10

The two non-driver positions receive a $200 tuition credit. 

The one driving position receives a $300 tuition credit.

If you are interested in applying for the Production Workstudy, please submit the below application at the same time as your other materials. Final deadline to apply for this work study is April 7th.

The window to apply for the 2023 Production Workstudy has closed.

Spark Scholarships for BIPOC Actors:

Commonwealth Shakespeare Company is actively seeking nominations for CSC’s Spark Scholarships for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) actors. Receipt of a Spark Scholarship includes full tuition to the 2023 Apprentice Program and participation in the Audience Ambassador Workstudy. This year we have four (4) full-tuition scholarships available for actors with an aptitude for, interest in, or angst for Shakespeare and performance.

We are seeking nominations for CSC’s Spark Scholarships from Professors, mentors, coaches, and other professionals in the field so that we might meet fantastic BIPOC Apprentice candidates from all across the country.

If you are interested in nominating an actor for the Spark Scholarship, please complete the form below to submit your nomination. If you are an actor who would like to be nominated for a Spark Scholarship, please send this form to your nominator to complete. Final deadline to be nominated for a Spark Scholarship is April 7th. 

The window to nominate an applicant for the 2023 Spark Scholarship has closed.

Carmia Imani

2022 Apprentice Alum and Spark Scholarship Recipient

“This summer I was a part of Commonwealth Shakespeare Company’s Apprentice Program as a Spark Scholar… From the program, I learned that there was no longer a need to sacrifice a part of myself in order to fit into Shakespeare’s plays. I began to reclaim the characters as authentically my own: developing them by using the technique I was taught, blended with the nuances of being a black woman speaking and bringing life to the language and work.”

Application Requirements:

Thank you for your interest in our Apprentice Program. Enrollment for our summer 2023 program is now complete and we are no longer accepting applications. Please check back in January for information about our summer 2024 program or reach out to us anytime with questions at apprentice@commshakes.org

Interested applicants MUST submit:

• Application Form
• Recommendation Form 
• $25 non-refundable Application Fee 
• An audition (see below for more information)

In addition, applicants MAY submit the following supplemental applications:

• Financial Aid Application (no longer accepting applications for 2023)
• Social Media Workstudy Application (no longer accepting applications for 2023)
• Apprentice Experience Workstudy Application (no longer accepting applications for 2023)
• Production Workstudy Application (no longer accepting applications for 2023)
• Spark Scholarship Nomination Form (no longer accepting nominations for 2023)

Audition Requirements:

In addition to your other application materials, we require an audition to consider you for the Apprentice Program. We ask interested applicants to submit a video audition (via Vimeo or YouTube as a link viewable to all) to apprentice@commshakes.org that includes the following:

• One Shakespeare monologue (preferably in verse), 2 min or under
• One contemporary monologue, 2 min or under

For both your monologue selections, we encourage you to pick pieces you love that you think showcase your uniqueness best. For your Shakespeare piece especially, we are very open to performers of any gender playing any role and encourage you to free yourself of any limitations regarding your perceived “type” or other things you may have been told. We do encourage you to think about age/life-experience of the character (for example, most Apprentices are not yet ready to play King Lear) and if race is central to the character (Othello, for example), please consider if that role is appropriate for your identity. If you have any questions about the audition requirement, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at apprentice@commshakes.org.

In addition, CSC will be participating in a number of open call auditions this year. If you plan to audition at one of these opportunities, please reach out to us so we can keep an eye out for you. Should you perform a Shakespeare piece at one of these auditions, you do not need to submit an additional audition video to us. If you are performing another piece, we will ask for an additional video audition of your Shakespeare piece only:

• KCACTFs
• New England Theater Conference Auditions
• Strawhats

Deadlines:

Thank you for your interest in our Apprentice Program. Enrollment for our summer 2023 program is now complete and we are no longer accepting applications. Please check back in January for information about our summer 2024 program or reach out to us anytime with questions at apprentice@commshakes.org

Apprentice acceptance decisions are made on a rolling basis. We will close applications as soon as we have filled our company, but no later than April 28th, 2023. If you intend to apply for dormitory housing, financial aid, a Spark Scholarship, or a work study position (except for the Audience Ambassador Workstudy which is open to all without an additional application) please apply no later than April 7, 2023. If you would like to receive an Early Bird Discount of $200 off of your total tuition price, please apply no later than March 3rd, 2023.

You will be notified of our acceptance decision within two to three weeks, after we have received ALL of the above materials. Please be sure to submit all of your materials at the same time.

Please note that we will have fewer slots available for new applicants this year due to returning students from our Virtual programs in 2020 and 2021. We encourage interested applicants to apply ASAP for best consideration, especially those seeking financial assistance, work study positions, scholarships, and those who wish to live in Suffolk University dormitory housing.

Learn More:

We encourage interested applicants to thoroughly review all five tabs listed on this page, specifically the FAQ’s under the “About” tab. You are also invited to join us for a Zoom Info Session at one of the following times.

No more Zoom Info Sessions scheduled for 2023 enrollment period.

Zoom Info Sessions typically last 30-40 minutes with the last ten minutes reserved for interested applicants to ask questions. RSVP to one of the above times by emailing apprentice@commshakes.org to receive the zoom link OR to request a recording of a previous session. Lastly, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at apprentice@commshakes.org for any questions about the 2023 Apprentice Program. Thank you for your interest in our program!