2026 Career Accelerator FELLOWS Application

DEADLINE: Wednesday, October 1, 2025
FIRST ROUND INTERVIEWS: October 6 - 17, 2025
FINALIST INTERVIEWS: October 20 - 24, 2025
FELLOWS SELECTED: November 26, 2025
PLACEMENTS CONFIRMED: December 12, 2025

Thank you for your interest in being a fellow in New Jersey Theatre Alliance's Career Accelerator Program. This 6-month program includes three 2-month placements, two with professional theatres and one with New Jersey Theatre Alliance, to learn about theatre administration and management in real-world contexts.

New Jersey Theatre Alliance is committed to fighting racism, white supremacy, ableism, sexism, homophobia, and injustice on stage, off stage, in the theatre field, and beyond. Applicants should share our commitment as outlined here on our website.

This program is specifically designed to accelerate the careers of emerging theatre professionals from underrepresented communities in the New Jersey arts sector. We believe the staff and leadership of arts and culture organizations should reflect the diverse populations that they serve. Applicants from historically underrepresented backgrounds (e.g., indigenous, transgender, non-binary, disabled, and/or people of color) are strongly encouraged to apply.

During each placement, the Career Accelerator Fellow will work 16 hours per week for a pay rate of $17/hour, paid by New Jersey Theatre Alliance. Fellows will also receive $500 toward travel expenses and $500 toward supporting life needs that enable them to participate in this program, such as healthcare, childcare, debt repayment, or tuition costs.

In addition to learning in the field, fellows will participate in professional development seminars, mentor meetings, and check-ins with the Alliance staff.

Host theatres and fellows are matched based on preference, location, needs, and interests.

This application is required for fellows who would like to participate in this 6-month program in its entirety (January - June 2026).

1. Name*

First NameLast Name

2. Pronouns

3. Contact Information (please use your current address, even if it is a university address). *

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code

4. County (i.e. Bergen, Essex, etc.)*

5. Email*

example@example.com

6. Phone Number*

Please enter a valid phone number.

7. Where did you hear about the Career Accelerator Program? (Check all that apply.)*

8. What is your ethnicity?*

Hispanic or LatinoNot Hispanic or LatinoPrefer not to answer

9. What is your race? (Check all that apply.)*

American Indian, Alaska Native, or IndigenousAsianBlack or African AmericanNative Hawaiian or Other Pacific IslanderWhitePrefer not to answerI identify with one, multiple, or none of the above communities and prefer a different term/s:

10. Which of the following best represents your gender identity? (Check all that apply.)*

11. Do you identify as any of the following? (Check all that apply.)*

12. What areas of theatre administration are you interested in learning about through this program? (Check all that apply.)*

13. Because of the nature of our industry, most theatres operate mostly if not fully in person. However, some have hybrid/remote arrangements. What work setup are you open to having? (Check all that apply.)*

In-personHybridRemote

14. How far are you willing to travel for a placement? Please note that many placements will involve traveling to the theatre at least twice a week.*

Only locally (15-mile radius or less)15-30 mile radiusAnywhere in New JerseyOther

15. Please note that one of the criteria for applicants is the ability to travel to theatres in person when necessary; fellows do not need to drive or own their own car, but are responsible for their own transportation. Do you have access to a car to provide your own transportation to theatres?*

YesNo

Comments

16. Will you require any access services to participate fully in the program (for example ASL interpretation, wheelchair-accessible office, etc.)*

YesYes

Comments

17. Why do you want to be part of the Career Accelerator Program? What are the top three things you hope to learn or experience from the program? (Please limit your response to 250-500 words.) *

18. What are your long-term goals in theatre? What are your long-term goals within the NJ theatre field? (Please limit your response to 250-500 words.) *

19. Which specific New Jersey Theatre Alliance member theatres would you *most* like to be placed with and why? If you don't know which theatres are in our membership, what kind of theatres would you want to learn from? For example, what kind of plays, work environment, geographic location, or size of theatre is interesting to you? (Please limit your response to 250-500 words.) You can see information about all of our member theatres on our website here: https://njtheatrealliance.org/map/ *

20. What experiences in your life/career have fueled your commitment to helping create a workforce in the arts that is equitable, just, & representative of the diverse communities of NJ theatre? (Please limit your response to 250-500 words.)*

21. The New Jersey Theatre Alliance may share your information on our social media channels, our website, and in press releases in order to promote/highlight the program. This can include (but is not limited to) your picture, name, pronouns, university/college, username, and theatre placement. Are you comfortable with this? Specify in the comment section what information you are NOT comfortable sharing on these platforms, if any. Please note that your answer will not be a barrier to acceptance.*

YesNo

Comments

22. Please upload your resume as a PDF.*

23. Are you available for a Fellows Orientation on Monday, December 8th, 2025? (Time TBD, based on shared availability)*

YesNoUnsure

24. Please enter the names and contact information for two references who are familiar with you and your work. *

25. Is there anything else that you would like us to know about you? Please use this space for additional comments not yet covered in your previous answers.

By submitting your application, you agree that you are available to participate in this program in its entirety between January and June, 2026.

Someone from New Jersey Theatre Alliance will be in touch by Wednesday, November 26, 2025 regarding next steps in your application process, including setting up an interview.

For questions about the application, please contact Daria M. Sullivan, Manager of Programs and Services, at dsullivan@njtheatrealliance.org. No phone calls, please.

2026 Career Accelerator Fellows Application