(SEATTLE, WASHINGTON) - When Seattle Rep Apprentice Lauren Dong received her first e-mail from her favorite playwright, she was thrilled. 

Lauren Yee had e-mailed Dong and others to discuss the upcoming world premiere of Yee’s play, “Mother Russia,” at the Rep. Dong, a self-described “fangirl,” had seen the world premiere of Yee’s play “Cambodian Rock Band” when she was 15.

Now, as the Rep’s Directing And Artistic Programs Apprentice, Dong would be Yee’s Assistant Director And Script Supervisor for the new show.

When Yee e-mailed Dong to welcome her to the team, Dong immediately screenshotted the notification to keep as a memento, and she texted several people she knew to share the good news.

“Working for my favorite playwright when I was (22) was not on my bingo card - But it happened, and it was so incredible,” said Dong, who finished her Rep apprenticeship in 2025. 

Dong’s apprenticeship at the Seattle Rep opened up the Professional Theater World to her.

The Rep has had a training program in some form for over 40 years, but in April, the Winky Hussey Professional Arts Training Program earned a new star: Approval from the State. 

Apprentices can study one of five tracks: Directing and Artistic Programs; Lighting Design, Production Management, Scenic Paint or Stage Management. 

The Apprenticeships are about 10 months long and Rep Apprentices work for the State-required minimum of 2,000 hours.

Deanna Martinez, the Rep’s Education and Community Programs Director, said more than 680 people applied for the 2025 cohort.

The Regional Theater Company hired six of them as Apprentices.

The Rep initially pays Apprentices Seattle’s minimum wage of $20.76, then gives a small pay increase midway through the program.

To Read This Apprenticeship And Training Labor News Story In Its Entirety, Go To: Seattle Rep’s paid apprenticeships, rare in theater, approved by state | The Seattle Times