<p>When I decided in '96 to become a theater major and transfer to a specifically arts college, some of the folks at that college turned their noses up at my community theater experience. They really did think that “community” theater experience was nowhere near as valuable as “professional” theater experience.</p>
<p>When all is said and done, it is very hard to actually explain what the difference is between a “community” theater, and a “professional” theater. I used to think the difference was that professional theaters paid their actors, but then I discovered that many, many, “professional” theaters don’t pay their actors either!</p>
<p>You would have a very different experience in this 11 week apprenticeship with the NJ Shakespeare Company then you would have with a typical community theater. You will meet people who are much much more serious about theater. You will get to work on a professional level with Shakespeare–when most American community theaters are unable to produce Shakespearean plays.</p>
<p>If you really can find a community theater that produces work of the same quality as the NJ Shakespeare company, then yes, that would be worth pursuing. But such a theater would be professional quality, so you would probably want to call it “non-Equity” when being interviewed about your theater experience (again, because some folks turn their noses up at anything that calls itself “community theater”.)</p>
<p>But in some ways, the fact that you are even asking these questions, the fact that you are not excited about an opportunity to work with the NJ Shakespeare Company may mean that perhaps you should let the opportunity go to someone who is more interested.</p>
<p>KEVP</p>