Employment
Traveling Players Ensemble offers robust summer programs for dedicated students (in grades 3-12) to perform classical plays in outdoor amphitheaters. Selected as a “Summer School in the Arts” by the NEA, Traveling Players’ summer programs provide intensive theatre training to small troupes of actors. Programs include outdoor rehearsals, classes, & outdoor public performances.
Our most advanced program, Shakespeare Troupe, culminates in backpacking trips to perform their show, giving teens and pre-teens the experience of wandering entertainers who carry dinner, a tent, and props all in their trusty pack. Traveling Players has performed at The Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage, Wolf Trap’s International Children’s Festival, and Colonial Williamsburg.
Our staff is our most valuable asset. They have the privileged position and responsibility to play a significant role in a child’s life. Former staff have said it was the hardest job they ever had – and the best job they ever had.
Employment Information
- Dates for Residential: June 19 – August 10.
- Students are with us from June 28 – August 7 (6 weeks).
- Staff orientation (June 19–28) and strike (August 8–10) are mandatory and paid.
- Staff without First Aid & CPR should arrive on June 16 to receive free training on June 17-18.
- International staff arrive on June 13 -14 and leave on August 10 -11.
- Some staff can have their contracts extended to include June 13/14 to June 19. Ask during interviews.
Location for Residential: In residence at Christchurch Boarding School in Saluda, VA.
- Food and lodging are included in all contracts for residential staff. There is a staff dormitory, yet many staff (including all Resident Assistants) will have rooms in the student dorm. Staff do not share rooms with campers.
- Our staff will live together in community for all 7 or 8 weeks. Days off can be spent off-campus.
- Day Camp: Our Studio in Tysons Corner Center. Staff for Day Camps is full.
- Location for Day Camp: Our Studio in Tysons Corner Center.
- Safety: You are required to have the COVID-19 vaccine (including a booster), the Measles vaccine, and a background check.
- You will get a COVID test before arriving for orientation.
- We are following recommendations from the American Camp Association and the Virginia Department of Health to determine our safety practices for the summer.
- Staff training: Community First Aid, Safe Boundaries for students and staff (taught by a LSW – including appropriate language and touch, comprehensive mandated reporter laws, risk management, and social media), Leave No Trace outdoor ethics, and teaching strategies. Plus, we’ll cover pitching tents, fire building, learning styles, low ropes, and ensemble building/training.
- Internships: Artistic Director Jeanne E. Harrison, MA, MFA, has worked at universities and can supervise or liaise with your university for college credit.
- Traveling Players Ensemble, Inc. does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, or disability in admissions to programs or in the administration of its employment policies. We comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and make all reasonable accommodations.
To apply for any position, please:
- Email personalized cover letter for this position and resume to jeharrison@travelingplayers.org
- Fill out this form.
- If applying for a Costume Shop or Scene/Props Shop position, please include your portfolio with your cover letter.
Summer Positions
Assistant Director
Functions as assistant director/acting coach for an ensemble, and teaches classes (to all grades) in the area of specialty (text, acting, movement/stage combat, improv, voice, etc). Is a role model to campers and staff in attitude and behavior. Salary: $350-$550/week plus room and board for 7 or 8 weeks.
Assists one of the following:
- Mythology Ensemble (performers in grades 4-6): Perseus and Bellaphrone by Judith Walsh White – performed twice (2 2-week sessions), and the same staff teaches Act: FIVE (performers in grades 3-5), potentially performing Winnie the Pooh & Friends, also by White (2 5-day sessions).
- Thespian Ensemble (performers in grades 6-8): The Blue Monster by Carlo Gozzi – performed twice (2 3-week sessions).
- Comedy Ensemble (performers in grades 6-8 & 8-12) – performs multiple times (2 3-week sessions).
- Shakespeare Ensemble (performers in grades 8-12): Much Ado about Nothing – performed twice (2 3-week sessions).
- Shakespeare Troupe (performers in grades 9-12): Winter’s Tale – goes on a week-long performance tour (1 6-week session).
An ideal candidate will have the following skills and characteristics:
- Have or be pursuing a BA, BFA, or MFA
- Will work hard as a member of a supportive and collaborative team, both during rehearsals and throughout the camp, creating joy and supporting our students.
- Training in improv, acting technique, Shakespeare, and/or Commedia dell’Arte
- Experience teaching acting to students (grades 3-12)
- A strong belief in the power of the ensemble
- Relish working outdoors – will happily pitch and sleep in a tent, help with a campout, and enjoy playing camp games with students while remaining a responsible role model
- Experience with ensemble-building, low ropes, or Leave No Trace camping skills is a plus.
Head of Scene & Props Shop
Works with professional designers to create props & painted backdrops for our 4 summer productions, while training a small crew of high school students to assist you as part of our Technical Theatre Apprenticeship program. The Shop Head may also apply to design one or more plays. Salary: $450-$650/week plus room and board for 8 weeks.
An ideal candidate will have the following skills and characteristics:
- Have or be pursuing an MFA – or have experience working professionally in theatre
- Delights in mentoring and teaching teens
- Strong painting, construction, and safety skills
- Experience successfully managing a crew – delegating, expanding skills, and meeting production deadlines
- Maintain a safe, joyful, educational, and stress-free shop environment
- Excited by functioning in a low-tech shop (power tools, hand tools, paint – a makeshift shop for the summer, not a professional space)
- Bonus points for experience designing/building puppets
Assistant Head of Scene & Props Shop
Works with professional designers to create props for our 4 summer productions, while training a small crew of high school students to assist you as part of our Technical Theatre Apprenticeship program. Salary: $350-$450/week plus room and board for 8 weeks.
Ideal candidate will have the following skills and characteristics:
- Have or be pursuing a BA or BFA
- Delights in mentoring and teaching teens
- Strong painting, construction, and safety skills
- Experience successfully managing a crew – delegating, expanding skills, and meeting production deadlines
- Maintain a joyful, educational and stress-free shop environment
- Excited by functioning in a low-tech shop (power tools, hand tools, paint – a makeshift shop for the summer, not a professional space)
- Bonus points for experience designing/building puppets
Residential Advisor
- Have or be pursuing a bachelor’s degree
- Experience working at a summer camp (ages 10-18), and love working with students
- A strong belief in the power of the ensemble
- Relish working outdoors – like sleeping in a tent, building a fire, cooking over a fire, not afraid of heat or rain
- Experience with ensemble-building, low ropes, or Leave No Trace camping skills is a plus
- Lifeguard certification for waterfronts a plus
- Experience with helping students build coping skills and de-escalating issues
- Experience helping students recover from homesickness, disappointments, friendship shifts, and identity issues
- Experience leading groups of students and teaching them new skills through demonstrations, games, and challenges
- Have a passion they can teach/share with students and experience teaching them (creating lesson plans, assembling materials, etc.)
- Experience with and passion for performing arts education a plus
- Bonus points for a CDL license (school bus)
Camp Office Assistant
Works closely with the Camp Director to manage camp logistics and ensure that everything runs smoothly. Salary: $300-$400/week plus room and board for 8 weeks.
Primary duties include:
- Assist the Director of Programs as directed.
- Manage and maintain a database, timetables, and spreadsheets.
- Ensure that camp staff have access to paperwork, equipment, and resources from the office.
- Help supervise the implementation of our Contagious Diseases Protocol (CDP).
- Capture photographs and video footage of camp activities.
- Facilitate communication between the camp office and staff, parents, and the wider Traveling Players community.
Ideal candidate will have the following skills and characteristics:
- Have or be pursuing a bachelor’s degree
- Experience working at summer camp, preferably in an administrative role
- A clean driver’s license and a working vehicle
- Exceptionally well organized and a fast learner
- Able to multi-task, prioritize, initiate, and collaborate
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Relish working outdoors
- Optimistic spirit, energetic, good sense of humor, flexible and creative problem-solver and ability to maintain a level head in crisis situations
- Bonus points for: knowledge of diesel mechanics, facility with databases (we use UltraCamp), experience with PR, experience with Mailchimp and WordPress, experience with backpacking, working with teens, and theatre – especially as a stage manager.
Year-Round Positions
Program Manager
Full-time, year-round with benefits
$40,000 – $50,000 — depending on experience
We would likely hire this position as the Camp Director (see summer positions), then hire to Full Time if it is mutually a good fit.
Works closely with the Founder/Producing Artistic Director to plan, implement, market and manage our vibrant educational programming, including our summer camp and year-round classes. Would ideally act as our Camp Director during the summer. Primary duties include:
- Building and maintaining relationships (with partnering organizations, students, families, performance venues)
- Marketing programs – implementing strategy via print, social media, e-blasts, and grassroots
- Scheduling and coordinating (performance tours, festivals, classes, staff)
- Manage database, website and various lists for registration, fundraising, marketing
- Assist on grant applications
- Bus driving. Candidate must have or be willing to obtain a CDL (commercial driver’s license) for back-up driving responsibilities
- Supervising summer staff (assisting in hiring, training, orientation, communication)
- Assisting with interviewing and processing scholarship applications.
Ideal candidate will have MA in Arts Management, Social Work, or Education plus 1-2 years’ experience in camp management, and the following skills and characteristics:
- Exceptionally organized and a fast learner
- Able to multi-task, prioritize, initiate, and collaborate
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Experience marketing via traditional and social media
- Experience supervising staff
- Experience mentoring teens
- Experience as middle management in a small organization
- Relish working outdoors
- Clean driving record and reliable vehicle
- Optimistic spirit, energetic, good sense of humor, flexible and creative problem-solver and ability to maintain a level head in crisis situations
- Bonus points for: facility with databases (we use UltraCamp), experience with PR, experience with Mailchimp and WordPress, experience with backpacking, teaching, and theatre.
Ready to bring Traveling Players to your community?
Contact us to discuss how we can customize a program for your group’s unique needs and goals.