Top Reasons to Apply for a Lab Company Performance Fellowship

• Apply virtually from anywhere in the world
• Gain an immersive hands-on experience in a repertory environment
• Attend classes and workshops taught by career professionals
• Enhance your craft by engaging in a series of professional-level rehearsal experiences and performances, all taught, led, or directed by guest artists, Hangar staff, and a team of FutureNow Directing Fellows
• Spend the summer learning, rehearsing, and performing at and around the Hangar Theatre in beautiful Ithaca, New York.
• Receive housing and a weekly stipend

2023 Lab Company Performance Fellows

The Hangar Lab Company Performance Fellowship, designed for college students and theatre artists transitioning into the professional world and selected through an entirely virtual application process, provides an immersive hands-on experience in a repertory environment supplemented by classes and workshops taught by career professionals, while receiving housing and a weekly stipend.

Hangar Lab Performance Fellows will spend the summer learning, rehearsing, and performing at and around the Hangar Theatre in Ithaca, NY. Fellows will enhance their craft by engaging in a series of professional-level rehearsal experiences, workshop explorations, classes, and performances–-all taught, led, or directed by guest artists, Hangar staff, and a team of FutureNow Directing Fellows, selected in collaboration with the the prestigious Drama League in New York City.

Hangar Lab Fellowship Performance Series

The Hangar’s summer KIDDSTUFF theatre for young audiences (TYA) series features plays and musicals selected especially for young audiences, a selection of current popular titles and reimagined classics that reflect the diversity of backgrounds and viewpoints of today’s world. 2023 KIDDSTUFF productions will take place on the Hangar’s Outdoor Tented Stage.

The Wedge series was established in 1983 by former Hangar Theatre Artistic Director Robert Moss to showcase timely, inventive productions produced entirely by members of the Hangar Theatre’s pre-professional training programs. Titles are proposed and directed by FutureNow Directing Fellows, designed by Hangar Design Fellows, and cast with Hangar Lab Performance Fellows. The 2023 FutureNow Wedge Festival will include a lineup of workshop productions of new plays in development, presented in downtown Ithaca.

Performance Fellowship Assignments:

Each Lab Company Performance Fellow will be cast in at least 3 roles throughout the summer, including one (or more) KIDDSTUFF assignment and one (or more) FutureNow Wedge workshop. Some Performance Fellows will also be considered for and cast in Hangar Mainstage productions. All roles will be offered as part of the Fellow’s Letter of Agreement (LOA) outlining the full summer commitment. Performance Fellows will have the opportunity to read and consider all scripts before accepting assignments. 

Some Fellows will also be assigned to a teaching position with our Next Generation School of Theatre for school-aged young artists. There will be space on the application to indicate whether this is of interest, and to share any teaching experience you’ve had.

Collaborators:

• Hangar Performance Fellows work closely with FutureNow Directing Fellows while rehearsing and performing KIDDSTUFF and FutureNow Wedge projects. 
• Fellows will work with experienced professional directors and actors during and Hangar mainstage assignments.
• If Fellowship tracks include a teaching assignment, they will work with Hangar Teaching Artists and full-time Education staff during that period of time.

Learning Objectives:

The greatest value of the Hangar Lab program has always been the opportunity to learn by doing. As a 2021 participant shared, “I think the most valuable opportunity is to be able to perform in 3 shows within 2 months … it really helps you improve as an actor. I also enjoyed collaborating with everyone … it was a really immersive experience.”

With that in mind, a Hangar Lab Performance Fellow can expect to:

• Develop a process for investigating scripts and developing characters both in the rehearsal room and in personal preparation.
• Better understand the relationship between actor and director, and best practices for communicating within that relationship.
• Work collaboratively with a director, fellow actors, and designers to establish staging for effective and exciting story-telling.
• Learn to move from page-to-stage in a relatively short rehearsal period: develop strategies to effectively learn text and make it your own
• Learn special skills and techniques through professional development workshops throughout the summer; and engage in QA sessions with experienced theatre artists.

The Ithaca Area:

Located in the Finger Lakes Region of central New York State, Ithaca has been named one of the best small towns and cities in the U.S. by The Guardian. Sitting on the southern tip of Cayuga Lake, Ithaca is home to over 100 waterfalls within 10 miles of downtown, more restaurants per capita than New York City, two major universities, and a thriving arts scene, of which the Hangar is proud to be a part of. As a Lab Company Performance Fellow, you’ll experience a Finger Lakes summer like no other, living, working, and creating in and around Ithaca, NY. Company members who opt for housing will be housed in fully-furnished rooms on a college campus in Tompkins County. Work-related transportation and regular trips to malls and grocery stores are provided, but Fellows that are able to bring their own cars are encouraged to do so.

Compensation:

Fellowship compensation includes a weekly stipend of $275 and housing for the duration of the residency. We can provide travel funding up to $200.

Dates:

2023 Program Date Range: June 11, 2023 – July 30, 2023 (arrival and departure dates may be staggered)

COVID-19 Considerations:

All Hangar performance and education programs will follow current union and state guidelines regarding COVID safety. In 2021, we required that all Hangar staff and company members be fully vaccinated. Currently, there are no exceptions to that requirement. While we will update procedures according to best practices, this is likely to be the case for summer 2023 as well. Please continue to check in at our website for updates.

How to Apply:

APPLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE HERE.

The deadline to complete the application and submit all videos is March 24, 2023. Artists who have completed the previous iteration of the Hangar Lab Company are welcome and encouraged to apply for the performance fellowship.

QUESTIONS? Email lab@hangartheatre.org