Technical Internship Training Program

Shaminda Amarakoon, Chair

Jennifer McClure, Associate Chair

Within the TD&P program, David Geffen School of Drama offers a one-year technical internship training certificate for those seeking to become professional scenic carpenters, sound engineers, projection engineers, properties supervisors, scenic artists, costumers, or production electricians. This certificate combines six graduate-level courses with closely guided and monitored practical production work. Interns receive individual attention, training, and supervision from their program advisers and work side-by-side with the School’s and Yale Repertory Theatre’s professional staff.

Interns are required to successfully complete two terms of the practicum course in their chosen area of concentration, as well as one term of anti-racism training offered by the program or School. An assigned faculty or staff adviser guides each intern in selecting five additional courses throughout the year. Interns may also audit one additional course as well as participate in the TD&P Seminar course both terms. Most courses offered as part of the program’s three-year M.F.A./Certificate program of study are open to technical interns. The courses cover a wide range of topics, including: shop technology, electricity, drafting, properties construction, projection engineering, sound technology, scene painting, costume construction, patternmaking, rigging, and theater safety. Interns are encouraged to consider courses from the Design program as well. In addition to practicum and course work, interns may be assigned one or two professional work assignments (PWAs) in their area, giving them some technical design, production planning, and management experience.

Those who successfully complete the program of study receive an Internship Certificate during the School’s May commencement ceremonies. Some interns decide to apply and then, if accepted, subsequently enroll in one of the three-year M.F.A./Certificate programs of study—typically Technical Design and Production or Design—sometimes receiving credit toward the degree for requirements already completed. Other interns choose to apply for a second one-year internship in the same or different discipline. Those who choose to enter the job market receive assistance from the program chair and faculty supervisors. Our alumni provide many job opportunities for professionally trained theater technicians.

Plan of Study: Technical Internship

Class of 2024

Required Sequence

2023–2024

*Second-year interns do not need to repeat DRAM 559b and can take a third elective in the spring.

Additional Requirements for the Degree

Anti-Racist Theater Practice Requirement

Technical Interns are required to enroll in DRAM 559b, Imagining an Anti-Racist Production Practice, in their first year in order to fulfill the School’s anti-racist theater practice requirement. Combined with the prerequisite workshop, Everyday Justice: Anti-Racism as Daily Practice, this course offers vital strategies for the lifelong development of individual and communal anti-racist practice.

Elective Sequence

Electives are determined in consultation with a faculty adviser and allow each student reasonable flexibility in selecting courses in the student’s chosen area of concentration.

Yale Cabaret

Technical interns are encouraged to work in all capacities at the Yale Cabaret; however, this participation is understood to be in addition to and in no way a substitution for required program work. No intern with an Incomplete and no intern on academic warning may participate in the Yale Cabaret in any capacity.

Courses of Instruction

See course listings and descriptions under Technical Design and Production (M.F.A. and Certificate). Additional courses in the Design program are also available. Courses in other programs in the School, or in other departments and schools at the University, may be considered, subject to scheduling and adviser approval.

DRAM 9a/b, TD&P Seminar See description under Technical Design and Production.

DRAM 99a/b, Internship Practicum This course provides practical work in the intern’s area of concentration, with experience in the different elements and phases of the theatrical production process. Interns train on tools, software, and processes as required for each production. Additional training beyond production needs is also possible after consulting with faculty or staff advisers. Open only to those in the Technical Internship Training Program. Shaminda Amarakoon and faculty

DRAM 559b, Imagining an Anti-Racist Production Process See description under Technical Design and Production.