Spring 2024 Directing Apprenticeship

/ CSz Philadelphia/

CSz Philadelphia, home of ComedySportz, Philly’s longest-running improv comedy show, is seeking experienced improvisers for its Director Apprenticeship program.

Our Director Apprenticeship Program is a system for training new Improv Show Directors. The program offers “on-the-job” training during a season of our Long Form Teamz program, which performs in the Improv Double Feature. Each season of the Double Feature showcases two teams, each directed by an experienced director chosen by the Artistic Director. One apprentice will be assigned with each director where they will be able to observe how a show is created, from the casting process to details such as lighting and structuring a themed show.

This Summer, the Long Form Teamz program will be producing two new shows, with auditions in April 2024, rehearsals in April/May 2024, and shows running from June 2024 through September 2024:

  • But WAIT there’s MORE!™ , directed by Jake Lucas, is inspired by those aggressively long, late-night infomercials (looking at you magic bullet™) But WAIT there's MORE! takes us through a sordid cast as they sell us on a real object given randomly by the audience. Only while supplies last! 

    Jake Lucas (they/them) has been improvising and educating for over 8 years. Their specialty in play and social & emotional learning (SEL) helps ensure everyone can put the "imp" in impulse. Jake has improvised, devised, and consulted with the City of Philadelphia, University of the Arts, Philadelphia School of Improv, Playworks, Fab Youth Philly, Pseudonym Productions and more. You can see them performing in ComedySportz, Roll Play, Hallmarkable, Be Kind, The Neighborhood, and wherever hoagies are sold. They had this to say "yeehaw 𐚁"

  • Dear Diary, directed by Emily Murphy, will use the Slacker form to recreate the worlds and characters of our wildest childhood aspirations, with the form being used to wind through distinct characters and build out a full world. What if you really did grow up to be a Pokémon trainer? Or an astronaut who lives in a mansion in France per the last game of MASH you ever played? The goal of the show will be to create a world of connected characters with strong and clear relationships, existing in a world that is a bit more whimsical than our own.

    Emily Murphy: (she/they) is an AuDHD improviser and writer based in Philly. She has studied and performed improv comedy since 2019 and was the Director Apprentice for Incantation during this past season of the Improv Double Feature. They have performed with PHIT House Team Main Dog and can be found performing in sketch and improv shows around Philly including 6 Different People, Remain Dog, and Kitchen Sink (and really any other show she can't say no to).

Apprentices will be selected before auditions. Deadline to submit is Sunday, March 31.

Apprenticeship Responsibilities:

  1. Meets with director on their vision and goal of the team before auditions.

  2. Attends auditions to observe the process of casting.

  3. Meets with Director before each rehearsal to learn goals and plan.

  4. Required to be at all Teamz' rehearsals (allowed one absence).

  5. Required to attend at least one performance of their assigned team once a month.

  6. Director may ask the apprentice to lead warmups/check in at the top of rehearsals.

  7. Will direct at least two rehearsals during the run of the Improv Double Feature. This will be scheduled by the Director. The Director will be present to assist. Plan for that rehearsal will be decided between the director and the apprentice.

Apprenticeship Details:

  1. Completing an apprenticeship does not guarantee future employment as a Long Form Team Director.

  2. Notes/personal opinions will only be given by the director to any of the performers during rehearsals, and before or after performances.

  3. If you are assigned to be an apprentice for a season, you are not eligible to audition for that same season’s teamz. (If you are not selected as an apprentice, you are free to audition for that same season's teamz).

  4. This is an unpaid apprenticeship

Rehearsals:

  • But WAIT there’s MORE!™  rehearsals will take place at CSz Philadelphia and are scheduled for:
    Sat 4/27 3pm-5pm
    Sat 5/4 3pm-5pm
    Sat 5/11 3pm-5pm
    Sat 5/18 3pm-5pm
    Sat 6/1 3pm-5pm

  • Dear Diary rehearsals will take place at CSz Philadelphia and are scheduled for:
    Saturday, May 4, 10am-12pm
    Sunday, May 12, 10am-12pm
    Monday, May 20, 7-9pm
    Monday, May 27, 7-9pm
    Monday, June 3, 7-9pm

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Kristin Finger at kristin@comedysportzphilly.com with "Director Apprenticeship" in the subject line.