Professional Artist Partners
Make your work here. Help train who comes next.
Rent the Annex Black Box and our studios at reduced rates when you open your rehearsal room to our Apprentices. You get space, a trained young production team and an audience. They get a seat in a real professional process.
What you get
- Reduced rental rates: The more you mentor, the lower your rate for the Annex Black Box and rehearsal studios.
- A trained production team: Auditioned Apprentices, ages 14+, ready to work as assistant stage managers, assistant directors, ensemble or understudies.
- A built-in community: Promotion to families across the Expand Community Arts Alliance, plus help with online ticketing.
- Paid teaching experience: Lead a paid Limelight Lab masterclass, mentor young artists, and add a teaching residency to your résumé and grant applications.
Partnership levels
Level 1: Open Room · 10% off your production rental
- Apprentices observe 2–4 of your rehearsals
- A short Q&A with Apprentices at one session
- Best for: early drafts, readings and short rentals
Level 2: Host · 20% off your production rental
- Place 1–3 Apprentices in your production, with at least one evening or weekend rehearsal plus tech or a performance open to them
- Roles: assistant stage manager, assistant director or choreographer, ensemble, understudy
- Credit Apprentices in your program
- Best for: productions and workshops that need extra hands
Level 3: Mentor Partner · 30% off your production rental
- Everything in Host
- Lead one or more one-hour Limelight Lab masterclasses, with a $75 stipend for each Lab
- Attend the Limelight Showcase and give feedback
- Priority booking for the next season. Limited to about 4 Mentor Partners a year.
- Best for: artists who want a teaching residency
How the discount works
- The discount applies to your full rental for the production Apprentices join, including rehearsals, tech and performances.
- We agree on your level in writing before your first rehearsal.
- If a commitment changes, such as canceled Labs, your rate moves to the matching level.
Summer 2027 partners: Summer partners mentor our Spark students from the Inner Light Cabaret and Summer Semi-Pro Production, along with the incoming Apprentices chosen at the May 2027 auditions. The same levels and rates apply, and roles are matched to each student's age and experience.
Not ready to mentor? Standard hourly rentals are always available. Ask us for current rates.
What Apprentices bring
Ready for a professional room
- Chosen by audition, ages 14+
- Trained in rehearsal etiquette: call times, blocking notation, quiet in the room
- Supported by a Phosphorescent faculty liaison who handles scheduling and attendance
- Available weekday evenings and weekends during the school year
What we ask of you
Keep the room safe and real
- Apprentices join only material that's appropriate for their age. Tell us about your content up front.
- Follow our youth safety policy, including a background check for every adult working with Apprentices
- Treat Apprentices as part of the company, with real tasks and real notes
- Fill out a short feedback form on each Apprentice at the end of the term
Who it's for
Independent theatre makers · Playwrights developing new work · Musical theatre writers · Directors · Choreographers · Small and emerging companies · Filmmakers shooting in the black box
The Annex Black Box suits staged readings, workshops, developmental showcases and small productions. Rehearsal studios are available for scene work, movement and music rehearsal. Filmmakers can also cast Phosphorescent Screen Lab students in short films shot in the Annex, giving students real on-screen credits through Shoot Day.
How it works
- Propose your project: Tell us what you're making, when, and how many people are involved.
- Tour and talk: Visit the Annex, talk through your schedule and content with us, and complete a background check for each adult who will work with Apprentices.
- Choose a level: Pick Open Room, Host or Mentor Partner. Your rental rate is set from there.
- Meet your Apprentices: We match Apprentices to the roles you need, and introduce you before your first rehearsal.
- Rehearse and mentor: Apprentices work with you through your process, with our faculty liaison on hand.
- Share feedback: Complete a short form on each Apprentice. Mentor Partners join the Limelight Showcase.
Dates for artists
- Open now: Summer 2027 proposals open
- February 1, 2027: Fall 2027 proposals open
- March 15, 2027: Summer 2027 proposals due
- April 4, 2027: Pathway Info Night, 5:00 PM. Artists welcome.
- July 15, 2027: Fall 2027 proposals due
- August 2027: Fall placements confirmed
- September 1, 2027: Apprentices begin
- May 5, 2028: Limelight season ends
Questions artists ask
Do I have to cast Apprentices as performers? No. Many Apprentices are most useful as assistant stage managers or assistant directors. You choose which roles you can offer.
Does my show have to be family-friendly? Your show doesn't, but the parts Apprentices join do. Tell us about your content when you propose, and we'll plan placements together.
How much time does mentoring take? Open Room is a few rehearsals. Host fits into the rehearsals you're already running. Mentor Partner adds one or more one-hour masterclasses and the Showcase.
Does the discount cover my whole rental? Yes. The discount applies to your full rental for the production Apprentices join, including rehearsals, tech and performances. Other projects are billed at the standard rate.
Are Limelight Lab teachers paid? Yes. Artists who lead a Limelight Lab receive a $75 stipend for each one-hour masterclass, on top of their Mentor Partner rental discount.
Can I partner in summer 2027? Yes. Summer proposals are open now and due March 15, 2027. Summer partners work with our Spark students and with incoming Apprentices, who get an early start before the season begins September 1, 2027.
Who needs a background check? Every adult in your company who will work with Apprentices, including directors, stage managers, choreographers, Lab teachers and cast members. Checks must be complete before Apprentices join your first rehearsal.
I'm a filmmaker. Can I work with your students? Yes. Filmmakers who shoot in the Annex can cast Phosphorescent Screen Lab students in short films through our Shoot Day workshop. Students get real on-screen credits, and you get trained young actors. The same partnership levels and rates apply.
Can I rent without mentoring? Yes. Standard hourly rentals are always available.
Who handles scheduling and supervision? A Phosphorescent faculty liaison coordinates Apprentice schedules, attendance and communication with families.
Propose a project
Tell us what you're making and how you'd like to work with our Apprentices.