Student Opportunities

This page is regularly updated during the academic year (August–May) with opportunities that may be of interest to our students. If you would like to list an opportunity or resource, please email tdps@berkeley.edu

Please Note: Listings do not imply endorsement of any organization or individual by the Department of Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies. Whenever possible, we will do basic vetting of opportunities and provide links to information about the sponsoring organizations.

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Auditions & Performance Opportunities

Classes & Workshops

Discounted & Free Tickets

Internships & Fellowships

Jobs & Gigs

Publications & Writing

Scholarships, Prizes & Contests

Study Abroad/Away

Volunteering

Auditions & Performance Opportunities

National Choreographer's Month January Challenge (San Francisco)

Posted: December 1, 2023

This year’s choreographic kick in the pants will show several works from Bay Area residents, often including current Cal students and recent alumni. The show encompasses choreographers, dancers and filmmakers that welcome all styles, experience levels, and interests. Early commitment is encouraged, but we will also happily take dancers who join later in the process. NACHMO Interest Form

Contact: Laney Stevens, helenacstevens@gmail.com

Call for Proposals: United States of Asian America Festival (San Francisco)

Submissions Due: January 8, 2024

Each year, the United States of Asian American Festival (USAAF) presents between 15-20 different programs reflecting the artistic accomplishments and cultural diversity of San Francisco’s Pacific Islander and Asian American communities. USAAF showcases artists representing a diverse range of ethnic and cultural groups and aims to heighten the visibility of Asian and Pacific Islander (API) artists working in all disciplines — theater, music, dance, film, literature, visual arts, and more! USAAF Call for Proposals

Lobotomy (Short Film)

Posted: December 1, 2023

UC Berkeley alum Alexandra Shahinfar is casting actors for a short film, Lobotomy, with filming dates set for December 15–17. Synopsis: In the dystopian Corporate States of America, where the Life at the Office policy blurs boundaries, Iris discovers her colleague, Frank, consumed by work and facing assimilation. As the corporate noose tightens, they attempt to break free. Lobotomy Film Casting Form

Belonging Resident Company (Spring Class)

Auditions: January 22, 2024

Want to get credit for moving your body, mind, and co-creating original art? Then this class is for you! Hosted by the Othering & Belonging Institute at UC Berkeley, the Belonging Resident Company (BRC) is a performance group that will create original dance/theater works, and engage in embodied facilitation and research, all to offer a visceral understanding of belonging. BRC Interest Form

Readings of New Play, Who Goes Out On A Monday Night?

Posted: November 16, 2023

Joe-William De Quattro, a UC Berkeley writing lecturer, is seeking four actors for readings of his new play in January/February. Set in mid-1990s Massachusetts, Who Goes Out On A Monday Night? is a play about identity, place, and female empowerment amidst male toxicity and repression. Over the course of several summer days and nights, two young women from very different backgrounds together embark on a life changing journey. Refer to the casting call for details.

Audition & Casting Resources:

Classes & Workshops

Detour's Winter Intensive Series (San Francisco)

Workshop Dates: January 10–13, 2024

Detour, a dance-theater ensemble in San Francisco, is hosting a series of four workshops on devised theater, experiential work, and drag artistry. All workshops are sliding-scale and no one turned away for lack of funds. Detour Workshop Details

Bay Area Classes & Work Exchanges:

Discounted & Free Tickets

Cal Performances: $10 or Half-Price Student Tickets

Cal Performances (UC Berkeley) offers $10 student tickets to select performances. UC Berkeley students can also get 50% off tickets to any show. For details, visit CalPerformances.org

Shotgun Players: $10 Tickets for Ages 25 & Under

Shotgun Players (Berkeley) offers $10 M.A.D. Tickets to anyone 25 and younger. Use discount code MADTIX to reserve tickets to any performance. ShotgunPlayers.org

The Marsh: $10 Student Tickets

Use promo code STUDENT for $10 student tickets to any show at The Marsh (Berkeley & San Francisco). TheMarsh.org

Berkeley Playhouse: $20 Student Rush Tickets

Berkeley Playhouse is thrilled to offer a special discounted ticket price for college students for our Main Stage productions. Rush tickets can be purchased for $20 at the door at a performance’s showtime. Tickets are based on availability. A valid student ID must be shown for entry. Visit BerkeleyPlayhouse.org for show schedules.

Internships & Fellowships

Shotgun Players' M.A.D. Fellowship Program (Berkeley)

Posted: December 1, 2023

Starting a career in theater? Want a hands-on learning experience with professional designers on one of Shotgun’s mainstage shows? Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity for early-career and emerging theater artists to get PAIDhands-on experience working alongside established creatives and designers on our mainstage shows. M.A.D. Fellowship Program Application Form

Summer Internships with Joffrey Ballet School

Posted: December 1, 2023

Joffrey Ballet School hosts summer intensives in several cities including New York City, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and more. We hire more than 50 paid interns with different contract lengths available from 4 to 12 weeks. All interns receive free housing and perks, including attending classes for free. JoffreyBalletSchool.com

SDCF Professional Development Program

Applications Due: December 11, 2023

The Stage Directors & Choreographers Foundation (SDCF) facilitates observorships and fellowships with professional mentors at several major theaters. SDCF's Website

American Dance Festival Internships (Durham, NC)

Applications Due: February 1, 2023

Each summer, ADF offers internships in all areas of arts administration and production. Administrative internships provide hands-on experience for those interested in arts management. Production interns work on the crew for the 18-plus performances of the ADF season featured at Duke University and other local venues. AmericanDanceFestival.org

Internship Resources:

Jobs & Gigs

Teaching Artists for Prescott Circus Theatre (Oakland)

Posted: December 8, 2023

Are you a Caring Creative? Interested in learning while teaching in a multi-generational community of artists, educators, and students? We are seeking resident and guest artists for January–May after school residencies in Oakland schools. Residencies take place 2x week, 1.5 – 2 hour classes with students in grades 4–5. PrescottCircus.org

Scenic & Props Designer for Cutting Ball Theater (San Francisco)

Posted: November 21, 2023

The Scenic & Props Designer will conceptualize, draft, and load in designs in artistic collaboration with the Curation Director and Variety Pack staging directors, and in accordance with all structural, technical, and financial limitations specified by Cutting Ball Theater. Project Timeline: January 12 – February 12. Pay: $30/hour with pre-approval of 40hrs. Additional hours to be negotiated as needed, or $1,200 flat rate. CuttingBall.com

Teaching Artists for LINES Ballet (Bay Area)

Posted: November 16, 2023

LINES is seeking individuals with experience in after-school, community center and in-school classrooms as student teachers or teaching assistants to join our Community Programs Teaching Artist team for HeART with LINES, our PreK-8th grade residency program, and Kids at LINES, our tuition-based kids program. LinesBallet.org

Job Resources:

Publications & Writing

Peregrine Undergraduate Literary Journal

Submissions Due: December 1, 2023

To help mark our 30th Anniversary, College Writing is launching a new literary journal for Berkeley undergrads. The inaugural issue of Peregrine is due out next semester. Categories include poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, academic essays, and one act play/screenplay. There is no entry fee, and cash prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and honorable mention for each category. Writing.Berkeley.edu

Scholarships, Prizes, Grants

Big Ideas Contest

Applications Due: December 6, 2023

Big Ideas is an innovation ecosystem that provides training, networks, recognition and funding to interdisciplinary teams of UC Berkeley students who have transformative solutions to real-world problems. The contest includes eight social impact tracks, including "Art & Social Change." Big Ideas Contest Application Details

Elizabeth Mills Crothers Prize in Literary Composition

Submissions Due: December 15, 2023

The Elizabeth Mills Crothers Prize in Literary Composition is awarded for excellence of composition in poetry, story writing, drama, or another field of literary composition. Judging is based on excellence of composition. Open to all graduate and undergraduate students. FinancialAid.Berkeley.edu

Jacobs Institute Innovation Catalysts Student Grant Program

Applications Due: January 3, 2024

Each semester the Jacobs Innovation Catalysts student grant program supports student ideas and projects with up to $2000 of funding and other support. We support a wide range of projects at the intersection of design and technology innovation, reflecting the multitude of talents and interests in the Jacobs community. The program is open to all current UC Berkeley students. JocobsInstitute.Berkeley.edu

UC Berkeley Scholarship & Prize Resources:

Study Abroad/Away

Berkeley Study Abroad Week: November 13–17, 2023

Learn about study, intern, and research abroad opportunities—even summer options! Our signature event will be our Study Abroad Fair on Tuesday, November 14, from 12–4pm in West Pauley Ballroom, MLK Jr. Student Union. Join us for some fun activities, giveaways, and opportunities to interact with our Berkeley Study Abroad advisers, campus resources, and former study abroad participants! Learn more at StudyAbroad.Berkeley.edu

Fulbright UK Summer Institutes

Applications Due: February 1, 2024

The Fulbright UK Summer Institutes are fully-funded 3–4 week programs for U.S. college freshmen and sophomores who have no, or very little, travel experience outside North America. Participants explore the culture, heritage, and history of the UK while experiencing higher education at a UK university. Students interested in applying are welcome to email ourschol-coordinator@berkeley.edu to discuss the application process. Fulbright Program Details

UC Programs:

Volunteering (Arts-Related)

UC Berkeley:

Greater Bay Area:

  • Write Reviews for Theatrius.com — Founded by UC Berkeley alum Barry Horwitz, Theatrius covers plays and musicals all over the Bay Area and is always looking for volunteer correspondents to cover small, unique theaters.

East Bay Theaters:

San Francisco Theaters: