Hawaii Performing Arts Festival’s acclaimed Directing Professional Fellowship Program—dedicated to nurturing emerging opera and musical theatre directors—will pause for the 2026 season.
Program
Hawaii Performing Arts Festival’s Directing Professional Fellowship Program will award Fellowships to two outstanding young directors who are aiming for careers in the opera and/or musical theatre directing field.
Fellows will work closely with our directing faculty and receive regular one on one sessions. Each fellow will be assigned to one of our two mainstage productions, working under the guidance of our world-renowned stage directors. Fellows will also have the opportunity to work one on one with the festival’s singers during dramatic coachings. Additional artistic assignments may be assigned at the discretion of artistic staff.
ALL PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS will receive education and experiences in traditional Hawaiian arts, history, and local landmarks. The beauty of the Hawaiian culture and ‘Āina are essential to the experience of our Festival.
All Fellows receive a full-tuition waiver, shared housing accommodations, and on-campus meals while in residence. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided on all days on-site, except performance days, tech days, and Festival dark days.
Roundtrip airfare to/from Kona (KOA) is the responsibility all participants. A rental car will be required for the duration of the Festival and can be shared amongst participants to lower the cost. Car shares can be arranged by contacting Shayna Leahy, Artistic Administrator, at sleahy@hawaiipaf.org, following the acceptance of an offer.
Duties & Responsibilities
- Each fellow will be assigned a mainstage production to assistant direct under the supervision of the Director of Production including but not limited to:
- Assist with stage director duties for assigned mainstage production and affiliated concerts
- Pre-production planning, design and production Meetings
- In-Festival design and production Meetings
- Assisting with rehearsal room set-up, strike, rehearsal report and scheduling in coordination with stage management, production staff, and mainstage directors.
- Lead a three-session workshop for High School Singer Program participants:
- Three workshop sessions from each directing fellow
- This will be coordinated among the three directing fellows to create a total of 3, three-session workshops with each directing fellow focusing on a particular area of singing acting technique.
- Three workshop sessions from each directing fellow
- Lead dramatic coaching and workshop sessions for developing singers and professional fellow singers
- Assist with other mainstage productions, concerts, and performances
Curriculum
Mentorship, Instruction, and Seminars In the Following Areas
- Stage Directing Best Practices for Opera, Music Theater, Theater, and other Event and Touring Productions
- Understanding Union Rules and How to plan for and Direct a Professional Production
- Design & Production Collaboration and Production Meeting Best Practice
- Entering the WorkForce – How to identify opportunities, develop your portfolio, and win professional gigs
- All fellows will have the opportunity to interface with our entire staff of world-renowned directors and artistic personnel.
- HPAF Faculty will observe your teaching sessions to offer individual constructive feedback, and also schedule other guided activities and discussion sessions.
Application Requirements
- Resumé (include link to your website, if applicable)
- Two letters of recommendation from professionals who speak to your ability as a stage director (Recommendations should be sent directly to: Scott Skiba, Chair – sskiba@hawaiipaf.org)
- Upload a video excerpt of a production, scene, or a compiled directing reel of production and scene excerpts that you have directed (maximum 15 minutes)
- Upload a video introducing yourself and your approach to working with young singers (maximum 3 minutes)
IMPORTANT: Both videos should be uploaded to YouTube with links included on your YapTracker application.
If needed, finalists may be notified for a Zoom interview with the artistic staff.
