OPPORTUNITIES TO GET INVOLVED

Performing

The Muhlenberg Summer Music Theatre is a major employer of artists and musicians each summer season. Dedicated to preserving the music and theatre of the American Musical Theatre, the company mounts two major stage productions of Broadway's most acclaimed musicals with professional artistic staff and orchestra in residence.

The company holds open auditions for both Equity and non-Equity artists. The first audition is a prepared vocal audition and is followed by extensive callbacks for principal characters. Dance audtions may also be required of certain roles. Children (under16), if appropriate, will audition at different times.

Muhlenberg Summer Music Theatre offers employment in design & technical positions as well as positions for stage and musical directors, choreographers and stage managers. Each year, the Summer Theatre also employees up to 40 technicians, costumers, and administrative personnel. Carpenters, electricians, and properties people are needed for the productions, as well as running crews - light board operators, sound board operators and backstage crews. Costumers, first hand, stitchers, and wardrobe running crew members are needed in the Costume Shop. Box Office associates, house managers, and publicity/PR people are needed in Administrative Offices.

Employment for all technical and administrative positions is by application and interview.Technicians and administrative salaries vary depending upon the position, though first-year carpenter/electricians and costume shop personnel start at $1,000 for the summer. The application deadline for technicians, costumers, and administrative personnel is March 1, 2009.

Muhlenberg Summer Music Theatre offers opportunities for company members to work as teaching artists in a respected summer performing arts program offered to the community's middle school students. Teaching interns may also be performing members of the summer theatre company. For more information on the summer education programs, visit our Camps web page.

CAMP IMAGINE! is a performing arts camp for middle school students in the Allentown School District. The camp is funded by the local community and corporate foundations to provide gifted students the opportunity to explore the performing arts. The morning sessions run Monday through Friday, July 7 through July 31, from 9:30 to Noon in the Trexler Pavilion for Theatre & Dance. A closing performance showcase is staged on Saturday, August 1. Applications for the camp are due no later than June 1, 2009.

THE PERFORMING ARTS WORKSHOP is designed for high school students with a passion for theatre, music and movement. Our Performance Workshop for High School students offers the opportunity to work with an energetic ensemble of students from across the Lehigh Valley. Focused on building bridges - culturally and artistically - the workshop will engage students with a love for any and every aspect of the performing arts. Respected and encouraged as young artists, teens will work together in a professional studio setting to prepare their voices, bodies, and minds to perform. Teens will meet Monday through Friday, July 7 through August 1, from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the Trexler Pavilion for Theatre & Dance. Applications for the workshop are due no later than June 1, 2009.

TEACHERS. Select members of the Summer Music Theatre Company are trained and supervised by professional educators to teach for Camp Imagine. Teaching interns for Camp Imagine! are provided housing and a cash stipend. Theatre, dance, music and education majors may complete an application to teach in Camp Imagine and submit it by email to Marilyn J. Roberts. Applications are due by April 9, and applicants will be scheduled for an interview.

Alumni working in the performing arts and education are encouraged to consider teaching in the Performing Arts Workshop. Anyone interested may email Marilyn J. Roberts for details.

High School internships in STAGE MANAGEMENT are available for those who are at least 16 years of age by the time they begin working for the Summer Theatre. Interns work along side college students and professionals from the College and guest artists from New York, learning valuable skills that they can take back to their high school programs.

Stage Management Interns work June through the last week of July as assistant stage managers for the summer productions; one advisor's recommendation is requested with each application. First-year high school interns are paid $400. Free dormitory housing is also provided for anyone who does not live in the Allentown area.

Application Form 2009 (pdf)
For more information, email Jess Bien, Company Manager.

Gift Certificates. For information on purchasing gift certificates to give theatre tickets to family, colleagues and friends, email Jess Bien or call the administrative office at 484-664-3087.

Individual Donations. The public is invited to contribute to the summer theatre program by including a financial gift with their subscription ticket orders and/or by giving a direct gift or a corporate matching gift check. Your financial gifts are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law and will be dedicated to the Muhlenberg Summer Music Theatre and officially acknowledged by Muhlenberg College.

Contact Marilyn J. Roberts, Director of Development and Marketing, at 484-664-3693 to arrange a donation to the performing arts programs at Muhlenberg College at any time of the year.

Sponsors. Muhlenberg Summer Music Theatre is a non-profit organization that depends on the generosity of the private and corporate community to continue producing full-scale musical theatre at affordable ticket prices. Your gifts support not only the work of the company of 100-plus artists who produce and perform in our shows, but also sponsor the educational outreach programs which introduce young people to the joy of performing in the theatre.

Sponsors are acknowledged in the season's theatre programs and invited to a dessert reception and complimentary evening of theatre each season. Contact Marilyn J. Roberts for more information on our programs.

Program Advertisers.

We encourage area business managers and owners to consider sponsoring their unique display advertising in the Muhlenberg Summer Music Theatre programs. One program is printed for the season, reaching more than 12,000 people who are actively interested in the cultural life of their community. We depend on the earned income from our summer theatre program to support our marketing efforts each season. For additional information and a copy of the program, email Marilyn J. Roberts in the Department of Theatre & Dance.

Volunteering

The Summer Theatre invites members of the community to inquire about volunteer positions in ushering for our any of our summer productions. In exchange for collecting programs, tearing tickets and escorting patrons in need of assistance to their seats, we offer our ushers free admission to that performance.

If you are interested in signing up to usher, please contact the box office at 484-664-3333 or boxoffice@muhlenberg.edu. Slots are limited for each performance, please request your date to usher in advance.

Parents and teachers in the Lehigh Valley may also volunteer to work with the resident staff in support of the outreach efforts of the summer program, particularly for Camp Imagine, our performing arts camp for middle school students. For more information on the summer education programs, visit our Camps web page.

For more information, email Jess Bien.