List Internship - National Network For Artist Placement

Golden Thread Productions
131 Tenth St. San Francisco, CA 94103
Contact	Torange Yeghaiazarian 415.626.4061 FAX: 415.626.1138 torange@goldenthread.org http://www.goldenthread.org
	Golden Thread Productions is a pioneer in the field of Middle Eastern theatre, widely acknowledged for the excellence and innovation of its theatrical offerings, and in particular for tackling the often-difficult issues of Middle Eastern – and Middle Eastern-American – life, through art. Our annual programming consists of a mainstage season of two full-length productions and the ReOrient Festival of short plays, plus staged readings, workshops, and a Children’s Theater Program. We define the Middle East broadly and inclusively ― among the nations represented in past productions are Iran, Armenia, Egypt, Israel, Palestine, Algeria, and Afghanistan. The company is made up of a core of local artists from various ethnic backgrounds, and is augmented by a growing network of associate artists from throughout the world who provide the organization with opportunities for cultural exchange. Since the adoption of our first strategic plan in 2005, our focus has been on taking the organization to the next level of achievement, building on the foundation that we have steadfastly created and the momentum of recent years. Our strength lies in our ability to present high quality programming that reflects a wide range of Middle Eastern cultural experiences, expressing diverse artistic voices and styles, and responding to the need for the development of Middle Eastern playwrights and performers. Golden Thread Productions’ debut production was Operation No Penetration, Lysistrata 97! The classic Greek antiwar comedy was adapted to a Middle Eastern setting where Palestinian and Israeli women unite to force men into signing a peace treaty. Since then the company has continued to creatively present challenging social issues on stage: from Karim Alrawi’s Deep Cut, exploring the universality of human rights received its premiere in 2001 at the Thick House to the San Francisco Bay Area premiere of Nine Armenians by award-winning playwright, Leslie Ayvazian, at the Magic Theatre in 2002 to Yussef El Guindi’s Back of the Throat in 2005 examining the loss of civil liberties in the aftermath of the PATRIOT Act. Back of the Throat is now being produced around the US by such distinguished companies as New York’s The Flee and Chicago’s Silk Road Theatre Project. Golden Thread’s first internally developed production, Love Missile was an original anti-war musical collaboratively created by Hal Gelb, Janaki Ranpura and Torange Yeghiazarian, which explored the dilemma facing a Middle Eastern immigrant scientist who is asked to develop the weapons that will be used against her own nation. Our two long term projects currently in development are: Benedictus, created by Israeli playwright, Motti Lerner; Iranian director, Mahmood Karimi Hakak; American Jewish dramaturg, Roberta Levitow; and Iranian-American producer, Torange Yeghiazarian. Slated to premiere in Golden Thread’s 2007-2008 season; Benedictus is inspired by the real-life story of a meeting between Iranian President Mohammad Khatami and Israeli President Moshe Katsav (both born in the same Iranian town, Yazd) at Pope John Paul’s funeral in Vatican City in 2005 and explores how the relationship among Iran, Israel and United States is impacting the world. The Ta’ziyeh Project is a multidisciplinary exploration of Ta’ziyeh (Iranian Islamic passion play) as a traditional art form as well as a modern political tool, to be developed in workshops in late 2008. Golden Thread Productions hallmark event is ReOrient, an annual festival of plays exploring the Middle East. Debuted in 1999, more than thirty plays have been presented at the ReOrient festival, majority of them world and or U.S. premieres. For four weeks, this one of a kind festival turns San Francisco into a Mecca for innovative, spirited, and thought-provoking theatre from around the world. Providing a rare opportunity for artists and audiences alike to engage deeply and directly with the Middle East in a creative and supportive setting that displaces misinformation and encourages understanding. ReOrient Festival has provided a home to some of the best known emerging Middle Eastern voices on American stage (and screen) today, among them, Betty Shamieh, Yussef El Guindi, Shahe Mankerian, Caveh Zahedi, as well as such established playwrights as Naomi Wallace, Eric Ehn, Israel Horovitz and Motti Lerner. We are a not-for-profit organization. We have had previous internship experience .
Description:	Golden Thread offers internships in the areas of Production and Stage Management (assisting production/stage manager, back stage crew, board operator), Dramaturgy (play development, research, playbill), Marketing (promotion & sponsorships) and Development (grantwriting, fundraising events). We have both paid and unpaid positions depending on experience and availability. A car is preferred but not required. Mileage is not reimbursed. Housing is not available.
Eligibility:	We ask for 10-20 hrs/wk for three months as a minimum commitment. While some experience in theatre and/or arts management is preferred, internships can be tailored according to the candidate’s knowledge. We are looking for graduate students and undergraduate students.
Application:	Internships are year-round. When applying for an internship with us, please send a resume and send a cover letter. Our internships do not have specific starting or endings dates.