Gain vital training and mentorship towards a professional career in arts administration
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The Professional Assistant Program is designed for college or graduate students who are interested in theatre administration careers in Development, Education and Community Engagement, Marketing, Design, IT, or Music.
Professional Assistants have the opportunity to enhance their practical knowledge, skills, and professional contacts through close interaction, training, and mentorship with Broadway At Music Circus staff. We are looking for mature, self-reliant, articulate students who are able to work effectively in a fast-paced environment.
MISSION
Broadway Sacramento is committed to the presentation of quality theatrical productions to enrich the cultural life of the greater Sacramento region, the state of California, the United States and the international community. The goals of the organization are to preserve and expand the American musical theatre as an art form by educating new audiences and nurturing aspiring artists.
BENEFITS
- Earn 4 units of College Credit through American River College, paid for by Broadway Sacramento
- Receive a $50/day stipend
- Tickets to Music Circus Monday for all six productions
- Resume building workshops
- Receive insight into the art and operation of professional theatre through weekly Wednesday Talkbacks with members of the Broadway At Music Circus creative teams, staff, actors, and artisans, with dinner provided. Past speakers include:
- Glenn Casale: Director for Broadway, National Tour, TV
- Jared Gertner: Actor on Broadway and TV
- Brittany Hartman: Wig Designer for Broadway, TV, SNL and NBC Studios
- Craig Horness: Stage Manager for Broadway At Music Circus and Ford’s Theatre Society
- David Neville: Lighting Designer for National and International Tours, MET Opera, TV
“This program truly impacted me as a professional through real-world experience for my resume, concrete learning opportunities, and network building.”
– Social Media and Marketing PA, 2022
DEPARTMENTS
DEVELOPMENT (2 POSITIONS): Full-time, seasonal positions. Assist the development department with events, donor lounge, project management and general administrative work. Minimum requirements: be available to work nights and weekends, knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel, organizational skills, and an interest in working with the public. Ideal candidates are interested in fundraising and nonprofit arts management. The positions run from early May (negotiable) through the end of August.
EDUCATION & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: Full-time, seasonal position. Assist the education and community engagement department in the implementation of all summer programs, including Internships, Camp Music Circus, Broadway Summer Dance Class Series, Arts Alive, Broadway Sacramento Community Nights and Accessible Arts performances. Schedule includes some evenings and weekends. Minimum requirements: excellent communication and organization skills, fluency with Microsoft Word and Excel, and an interest in working with people of all ages and abilities. Social media interest and experience is a plus. Ideal candidates can multi-task and are interested in careers in education, outreach, and/or community engagement. The position runs from mid-May (negotiable) through the end of August.
MARKETING & P.R.: Full-time, seasonal position. Assist with the coordination of content for six show playbills, draft press releases, and work directly with the casting/creative/production teams and graphic designers on playbill/publication content. Update archive production database. Ideal candidates should be strong writers and have experience with writing for school or community publications, deadline oriented, possess excellent proofreading, editing, organization and communication skills. The position runs from mid-May through the end of August (negotiable).
SOCIAL MEDIA & MARKETING: Full-time, seasonal position. Assist with social media campaigns on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other platforms. Support grassroots marketing campaigns throughout the midtown and downtown Sacramento region. Coordinate volunteer assignments for photobooth needs. Postproduction information on area event listing websites. Ideal candidates should have a valid driver’s license and vehicle, be available to work nights and weekends, and have some experience with video editing, graphic design, and photography. The position runs from late May through the end of August.
GRAPHIC DESIGN: Full-time, seasonal position. Assist with internal client design needs. Create (at least) two (or more) print publications for educational program offerings. Ideal candidates have an ideation process, strong editing eye, strong communication skills, capable of using Adobe suite (especially InDesign), must be a current design student or recent graduate. This position will work closely with the Graphic Designers, marketing staff and additional marketing professional assistants on all products. The goal of this position is to create an environment like working in the field. Photography or illustration experience a plus. Position runs from late May through the end of August.
IT: Full or part time, seasonal position. Gain experience setting up and deploying computer systems as well as learning about wireless networking, BYOD support, inventory management, and software installations. Ideal candidates are detail-orientated, able to prioritize and troubleshoot, and interested in careers in Information Technology. The position runs from mid-May through the end of August; start and end dates are negotiable.
MUSIC: Full-time, seasonal position. Assist the Music department in preparing, assembling, and restoring parts and books for the orchestra. Schedule includes weekends and some evenings. Ideal candidates can sight read music, possess knowledge of Finale or Sibelius, deadline oriented, excellent proofreading, organization and communication skills, available to work weekends, current music student or recent graduate a plus. This position will work closely with the Music department on all productions. The goal of this position is to create an environment like working in the field. Position runs from late May through late August.
My summer as a Professional Assistant with Broadway Sacramento was one of the most impactful experiences of my life. I gained hands-on experience learning about the inner operations of a non-profit theatre company, met many talented theatre professionals, and saw some incredible performances. The PA program left me feeling very equipped to start out my career, and I highly recommend it for anyone looking to pursue a career in arts administration.
– Education and Community Engagement PA
APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2025 BROADWAY AT MUSIC CIRCUS SEASON ARE NOW CLOSED.
Please check back in January 2026 for more information.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: What is the timeline for applications and enrollment?
A: The application portal will close March 31, 2025. Interviews and offers are ongoing. Offers will be completed by May 9, 2025
Q: What is my schedule going to be like?
A: Schedules vary depending on the department, but often include nights and weekends.
Q: How many hours a week will I be engaged in the program?
A: Professional Assistants are scheduled an average of 40 hours a week.
Q: Is housing or transportation provided?
A: No. You must have local housing and reliable transportation.
Q: Do I need a work permit?
A: Only if you are 18 years old or younger.
Q: Do I have to be a student at American River College to apply?
A: You do not need to be a current student at American River College, but you will be required to register at American River College if you are accepted into the Professional Assistant program. Enrollment and tuition for the Work Experience course is handled by Broadway Sacramento.
