Facilitating positive relationships among aspiring, emerging, experienced, and seasoned theatre practitioners in the Washington, DC-area.

Mentorship Program

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2020 Theatre Summit

The Mentorship Program pairs mentors and mentees who seek professional growth through the direct observation, guidance, and feedback of other practitioners. Individuals are matched based on specialties, career paths, and development interests.

Our next session will run May 6 through August 23, 2024. If you are interested in becoming a mentor or mentee, please review the program expectations, and apply using the links below. If you have any questions, please reach out to Alissa Klusky at alissa@theatrewashington.org.

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The mentorship program not only allowed me to share my knowledge of how theatre can be used to empower communities, but it also connected our organization to a very bright and talented individual with whom we can imagine collaborating over the long term.
Mentor Deb Gottesman
The Theatre Lab

Building Community

Our mentorship program was developed by Thembi Duncan and led by Tristan Willis from 2018 to 2023. Now facilitated by Alissa Klusky, this program was built for early-career and established theatre practitioners with varying levels of familiarity with the Washington, DC-area theatre landscape. No matter where you are in your career, we will carefully match you with a mentor who shares interests with you and can remember what it felt like to be where you are now. We invite you to become a mentor if you're ready to share from your experiences and excited to engage with and learn from up-and-coming artists.

The Practice of Questioning

This program is built on the idea that the practice of questioning is artistic and meaningful work. Both mentees and mentors are encouraged to wonder, to be curious, to ponder, to search, and to puzzle through questions together. No question is too big or too small. No question is too silly or too trite. Any question, every question, is valuable. To practice the art of asking is the foundation of this program. Participants are never expected to know all the answers, but rather to ask and to seek. This is a space where mentees and mentors can joyously discover together.

All Ages, All Stages

At Theatre Washington, we believe that learning is a lifelong journey and that no one outgrows the need to learn or offer learning opportunities. Consider that a program participant is never too old to take in new knowledge about their craft or too young to step into the role of mentor and help guide newer artists. This program is for adult theatre-makers (18+) to grow at any age, or any stage, of their career. 

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Mark Chalfant and Jasmine Jiang

Expectations & Benefits

Our goal is for the mentee-mentor relationship to be authentic, informed, and guided by our collective work and connections as a community. Mentorship pairs participate in four meetings over 16 weeks. There is no cost to participate.

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Deidra LaWan Starnes and Michelle Proctor Rogers

Become a Mentor or Mentee

If you are interested in being a mentee, please fill out this form. We have space for 20 mentees, and the program will prioritize BIPOC applicants and representing the diversity of artistic discipline in the Washington, DC-area community.

If you are interested in being a mentor, please fill out this form. Mentor selection is tailored to each mentee participating in the program; mentors will be matched based on artistic goals, discipline, career background, and collaborative style.