One of the Pacific Northwest’s leading professional theaters, Seattle Repertory Theatre (Seattle Rep), has made a breakthrough. Founded in 1963, it serves as an important cultural center in Seattle, presenting classic and contemporary productions and supporting local playwrights. It has now become the first professional theatre and arts organization in Washington state whose paid apprenticeship program received official approval from the state Apprenticeship and Training Council. That regulatory body certifies apprenticeship programs, ensuring they meet strict standards, combine practice with theory, and provide graduates with recognized credentials. Its approval opens access to state funding and significantly increases confidence in the program.
The program, named for Winky Hassi — a well-known figure in Seattle’s theatre community who was active in developing local initiatives — now carries the state’s seal of quality. Her legacy continues by providing opportunities for professional growth. State recognition raises the program to a new level, signaling its high quality and reliability. It is a powerful tool for attracting more talented applicants seeking a serious start in a theatre career with guaranteed pay and support.
The story of Lauren Don, one of the program’s recent graduates, vividly illustrates the opportunities that are opening up. At 22, while an apprentice in directing, she got the chance to work as assistant director and script supervisor with her favorite playwright, Lauren Yee, on the world premiere of a play. “Working for my favorite playwright at 22 — I couldn’t even dream of that. But it happened, and it was incredible,” Don shared.
The program itself offers intensive training lasting about 10 months across five tracks: directing and artistic programs, lighting design, production management, scenic design, or stage management. Apprentices work at least 2,000 hours, receiving a starting wage at Seattle’s minimum level, a midterm raise, and paid vacation and sick leave — rare benefits in the world of theatre apprenticeships. For many apprentices, like Lauren Don, that pay is critical for covering basic expenses, primarily housing. Rent in Seattle has surged due to the tech boom, creating serious financial challenges for early-career arts workers. Guaranteed income makes the dream of working in this field more attainable.
The program is in high demand: for six spots in the 2025 cohort there were more than 680 applications. According to the theatre’s director of education and community programs, Dianna Martinez, the key goal is to make career development in theatre accessible to those without family financial support by offering stable pay and a clear schedule.
Apprentice work is full immersion in the process. For example, Jaina Shoda Meyer, a directing apprentice, during rehearsals records the director’s notes for actors, tracks script changes, and even participates in discussions about the theatre’s future repertoire, gaining invaluable administrative and creative experience.
In addition to intensive practical work, the program includes required classroom training: courses on industry and production safety (OSHA), as well as visits to other regional theaters to study different approaches to organizing work. This gives apprentices a comprehensive understanding of the industry.
These conditions — guaranteed full-time employment with pay and benefits — are exceptional in the theatre field. The skills acquired in the program are applicable far beyond the stage — in film, television, and other creative industries. “We are always called a dying industry,” Martinez says of theatre, “and yet we’re here.” Applications for the next cohort will open at the end of January, offering a new generation of artists a unique career springboard that sets artistic standards for the whole region.
Based on: Seattle Rep’s paid apprenticeships, rare in theater, approved by state