ASC Theatre Camp

The American Shakespeare Center seeks to fill the following positions for the 2026 ASC Theatre Camp:

4 Residential & Directing Assistants (RDAs) in the following supervisory & artistic roles:

• 2 Residential Wellness Leaders & Assistant Show Directors
• 2 Residential Social Leaders & Assistant Show Directors

Read on for detailed descriptions of each role, including responsibilities, employment dates, and compensation details.

Resident & Directing Assistants (RDAs)

ASC Theatre Camp Residential & Directing Assistants (RDAs) are more than just camp counselors: they are teachers, directors, supervisors, cheerleaders, role models, mentors, and fellow students. RDAs are the captains of dorm life, the production leaders and assistant directors for the mainstage shows, the mentors for the production interns, and the directors of the mid-session showcase performance.

The six RDAs work as a united team under the leadership of the two “Team Captains” who serve as liaisons between camp staff and ASC admin and as lead directors for the mid-session Showcase. Each member of the RDA team has specific roles to play in both the residence halls and the rehearsal rooms, outlined in more detail below.

QUALIFICATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS

• Must be at least 21 years of age
• Valid driver’s license and good driving record preferred
• Must be willing to submit to (and pass) a standard background check
• Experience performing, directing, and/or teaching Shakespeare (specifically) as well as a rich, diverse background in theatre arts (generally)
• Exhibits dependability, punctuality, patience, teamwork, self-control, and enthusiasm
• Possesses good leadership skills and responsibility
• Demonstrates appropriate behavior at all times

RESPONSIBILITIES

SERVE AS A RESIDENT ASSISTANT FOR ALL CAMPERS

• Supervise campers throughout the duration of their stay (e.g. escorting campers to and from rehearsals, meals, and activities during the day, being present and available in the dorms during downtime, etc.)
• Serve as positive role models for healthy behavior
• Work amicably and cooperatively with campers and staff members
• Observe and promote all rules and regulations of ASC Theatre Camp
• Fulfill all requirements of assigned Residential Role (Wellness or Social) 

WELLNESS LEADERS

In charge of all camper physical, emotional, and spiritual health and wellbeing needs not requiring the assistance or intervention of trained medical personnel.

• Physical
  • Assist campers with daily medications as needed and able
  • Create and maintain first-aid kits at all camp locations
  • Provide transportation to urgent care as needed
  • Organize and supervise extracurricular athletic activities for campers based on need and interest (e.g. morning runs)
  • Take point on Covid testing procedures in the case of outbreak of exposure, including delegating testing assignments to other staff when needed
• Emotional
  • Provide emotional support for campers as needed, which may look like:
    • Taking a walk with a camper who needs a break to help them regulate their emotions
    • Helping a homesick camper plan a good time to contact parents for a chat
    • Providing a listening ear for a camper who is having a bad day
    • Notifying Team Captains when a camper’s need for emotional support rises beyond the level of what we can provide at camp
• Spiritual
  • Assist campers in locating services for worship as needed
  • Coordinate transport for campers who wish to attend services

SOCIAL LEADERS

In charge of coordinating camp life events, maintaining camp’s social media presence, and collecting and curating the information for the final performance festival program.

• Event coordination
  • Create and execute themes for camp life events (e.g. Masquerade Ball, talent show)
  • Inventory and maintain event supplies (e.g. sunscreen, bug spray, decorations, etc)
  • Coordinate prep for camp field trips
• Social media
  • Post daily on ASCTC social media outlets (Instagram, Facebook) with regular crossposts on the main ASC accounts
  • Write and post regular blog entries about camp life activities on the ASCTC blog
• Festival Program Content Creation and Curation
  • Work with Camp Admin staff to create and distribute program information survey in the first week of camp
  • Enforce deadlines for content submissions from campers and camp staff
  • Create, design, and post the “digital program” for the final performance festival on the camp blog, including show cast lists, bios for campers and staff, notes from directors and dramaturgs, and any other content desired by the show team
    • Will have access to ASC’s premium Canva account to create graphics 

SERVE ON PRODUCTION TEAMS FOR MAINSTAGE CAMP SHOWS

WELLNESS & SOCIAL LEADERS: Assistant Directors

By serving as Assistant Directors for one of the session’s mainstage shows, Wellness Leaders and Social Leaders also:

• Attend production meetings with their artistic teams
• Participate in pre-audition workshops during orientation
• Prepare text for Tableaustry section of auditions
• Attend auditions and casting sessions
• Attend all daily rehearsals with their cast
• Work individually with campers during rehearsals as qualified and as needed/assigned by the show’s Director
• RDAs may be asked to block scenes, teach/review choreography, work with campers on text analysis, etc.
• Work individually with campers on line memorization, choreography, music, and other production elements outside of rehearsals as needed

SUPERVISE PRODUCTION INTERNS

In addition to the general production responsibilities outlined above, Social & Wellness Leader RDAs will be in charge of supervising one of the production interns assigned to their show each session. While the interns should be the ones executing these tasks, RDAs are in charge of making sure they have what they need in order to be successful.

Stage Management Interns

• Take blocking notes
• Be “on book” during rehearsals
• Write and send official daily rehearsal reports
• Coordinate costume and prop check-out, organization, maintenance, cleaning, and strike
• Keep time in rehearsal

Dramaturgy Interns

• Review intern’s research and assist with compiling packet of information about the play(s)
• Assist intern with dramaturgy presentation(s)
• Assist director with script preparation process in the lead-up to camp
• Maintain prompt copy of the text
• Serve as general outside eye and advocate for the play throughout the rehearsal process, providing regular feedback to the director and/or the camp company on questions of staging and clarity

SERVE ON TEAM OF DIRECTORS FOR MID-SESSION SHOWCASE

RDAs also have a chance to stretch their wings as solo directors: each RDA will be responsible for directing a section of the mid-session Showcase performance each session, put together under the general direction of the Team Captains with input from Camp Admin. Showcase also includes the “All-Camp Song” (a musical number including all of the campers), which the entire staff helps campers put together under the general direction of the Team Captain Music Director.

More info: After the mainstage shows are cast, RDAs will work with Camp Admin to finalize the Showcase script and decide casting based on a) the distribution of parts for the mainstage shows, b) the strengths and interests of the RDAs, and c) the needs, wants, and desires of the campers (as listed on their audition forms). 

MAINSTAGE SHOWS

Twelfth Night (directed by Hailey Pearce)

Antony & Cleopatra (directed by Mili Koncelik)

EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT DATES: June 23 – July 16, 2026

June 23: Staff Orientation

June 24: Camper move-in

July 15: Final performances

July 16: Camper move-out and general strike

Residential Staff Members must attend orientation and stay through final strike. RDAs receive one day off per week, scheduled in rotation by the Team Captains. 

COMPENSATION

$1,450 per session 

A private room (or suite) in the residence hall with an en-suite bathroom

All meals for the duration of the contract