Education and Events Coordination Internship

Confluence Theater of Pittsburgh (CTOP) seeks two college students to intern with its Academy beginning December 1 through the 2027 spring semester, supporting daily education operations of our Academy, education and community engagement programs. Interns will be critical support to two of the region's signature youth theater events, The Gene Kelly Awards and the Shakespeare Monologue contest.

Position title: Education and Events Coordination Internship
Department: Education and Community Engagement
Reports to: Program Manager and Education Operations Manager
Work location: Downtown Pittsburgh, Cultural District; on site, with some remote work possible
Term: Approx. mid-November through late May 2027 (one academic semester plus event close-out)
Schedule: 12–20 hours per week; added evening and weekend hours during contest and awards weeks
Classification: Temporary, part-time intern; non-exempt
Compensation: $8/hr and/or academic credit, per the intern's institution

About Confluence Theater of Pittsburgh and the Academy
Confluence Theater of Pittsburgh unites two of the city's leading professional theaters, Pittsburgh CLO and Pittsburgh Public Theater, into one company producing musicals, plays and new work. The CTOP Education and Community Engagement department, housed at the Academy downtown, carries forward both organizations' education legacies: classes and training for young performers, school partnerships, and community programs for learners of every age.

Two flagship events anchor the spring:
● Shakespeare Monologue & Scene Contest (33rd year in 2027): Students in grades 4–12 perform a monologue or scene from Shakespeare in preliminary rounds on the O'Reilly Theater stage, leading to a public Showcase of Finalists. Recent contests have drawn more than 1,000 students from across the region.
● Pittsburgh Gene Kelly Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theater (36th year in 2027): Founded in 1991, it is the nation's oldest regional high school musical theater awards program, culminating in a Tony-style ceremony at the Benedum Center. The 2026 edition involved 37 Allegheny County high schools, and its top actor and actress go on to represent Pittsburgh at the national Jimmy Awards in New York.

The Internship
Education Interns gain hands-on experience running arts education programs at a professional theater, from daily administration to large-scale youth events. Each intern works to support the department's general operations and serves on the production teams for both the Shakespeare Monologue & Scene Contest (February) and the Gene Kelly Awards (May).
The semester follows the Academy's calendar:

1. November/December: Onboarding, clearances, and contest registration and scheduling.
2. January/February: Shakespeare preliminary rounds and Showcase of Finalists.
3. March/April: Gene Kelly Awards adjudication logistics, nominee communications, and ceremony planning.
4. May: Gene Kelly Awards rehearsals and ceremony at the Benedum Center, then wrap-up and evaluation.

Key Responsibilities

General operations (about 40% of time)

• Maintain databases, spreadsheets and shared files for participants, schools and teaching artists.
• Assist with outreach to schools and community partners, including mailings, flyers and social media content drafts.
• Help track program data for grant reports and evaluations.
• Provide general office support to the education team as needed.

Shakespeare Monologue & Scene Contest (about 25%)

•  Process school, group and individual registrations and build the preliminary-round performance schedule.
• Staff preliminary rounds: check-in, wrangling performers backstage, keeping rounds on time, and supporting judges.
• Compile judges' scores and help prepare finalist, winner and honorable-mention lists.
• Support the Showcase of Finalists: rehearsal schedules, programs, awards and front-of-house. 

Pittsburgh Gene Kelly Awards (about 35%)

• Coordinate adjudicator schedules and logistics for attending participating schools' musicals.
• Maintain school, nominee and production records; prepare communications to directors and students.
• Support rehearsals for the ceremony, including student check-in, schedules, backstage movement and chaperone coordination.
• Assist with scholarship, nominee and award materials, programs and signage.
• Work the ceremony at the Benedum Center as part of the event staff team.
• Help with post-event wrap-up: thank-yous, inventory, data and debrief notes.

Qualifications
Required

• Currently enrolled in a college or university program (undergraduate or graduate), or graduated within the past 12 months.
• Strong interest in theater, arts education, arts administration or youth development.
• Clear, professional written and spoken communication, including with teachers, parents and young people.
• Organized and detail-oriented, able to manage schedules, lists and deadlines.
• Working knowledge of Google Suite or Microsoft Office and Sharepoint especially spreadsheets.
• Able to work some evenings and weekends during event periods.
• Able to obtain Pennsylvania child protection clearances before starting (see Working Conditions).

Preferred

• Coursework in theater, education, arts management or a related field.
• Experience working with K–12 students as a counselor, tutor, teaching assistant or camp staff.
• Event, stage management or front-of-house experience.
• Familiarity with Shakespeare or high school musical theater, including past participation in either event.
• Experience with a CRM or ticketing database (e.g., Tessitura), Canva, or social media tools.

What You'll Gain
By the end of the term, interns will have:

• Planned and run two large public youth events from registration through ceremony.
• Practical skills in program administration, participant data and stakeholder communication.
• Exposure to how a merged professional theater structures education, development and production.
• A capstone project and a reference from the education team.

Interns also receive:

• Weekly check-ins with their supervisor and a midterm and final evaluation.
• Informational sessions with staff across CTOP departments.
• Complimentary tickets to CTOP productions, as available.
• Support with academic-credit paperwork from their school.

Working Conditions

● Work takes place in offices, classrooms, rehearsal halls and theaters in downtown Pittsburgh, including the O'Reilly Theater and the Benedum Center.
● Event days are fast-paced and involve standing, walking and stairs for several hours, moving between backstage and front-of-house areas, and lifting materials up to 25 lbs.
● The role works directly with minors. Before starting, interns must obtain the Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance, Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check, and FBI fingerprint clearance, as required by Pennsylvania law. CTOP will provide guidance on the process.
● Reasonable accommodations are available to enable people with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role.

Timeline: Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, with priority given to those received by November 17. Interviews take place in December, and the internship begins in mid-January 2027.

Equal opportunity: Confluence Theater of Pittsburgh is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. Students from groups underrepresented in the arts are strongly encouraged to apply.