Employment
ACTORS NEEDED
Arch Street Meeting House will be holding auditions for its Summer 2026 production of A Quiet Roar: The Unparalleled Lives of Bayard Rustin and Sarah Mapps Douglass.
The two-person play, presented during the City of Philadelphia’s year-long celebration of America’s 250th birthday, explores the complex, intertwined legacy of Quakers and people of color through the writings of Rustin and Mapps Douglass, two prominent Black Quakers with strong connections to Arch Street Meeting House.
A Quiet Roar, a short one-act written and directed by Yvie Jones, will be presented to visitors most Saturdays from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, as well as previews and the occasional weekday holiday.
Characters
Sarah Mapps Douglass (mid-fifties, African American female born in 1806, modest but watchful and engaged)
Bayard Rustin (mid-thirties, African American male born in 1912, slim, passionate, and energetic)
Auditions will be scheduled on Saturday, February 28 from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Actors are asked to send a headshot, resume and, if available, a recorded performance of your choosing via YouTube link to yvonne.jones@gmail.com by February 20th. Selected actors will receive a short selection from the play before the audition. Cold readings from the script will also be available.
Tentative Performance Dates
May 23 (one evening Saturday performance)
May 25 - Memorial Day Monday
May 30
June 6
June 13
June 19
June 20
June 27
June 29 (one evening Monday performance)
July 4
July 6 (TBD - one evening Monday performance)
July 11
July 18
July 25
August 1
August 8
August 15
August 22
August 30
September 5
September 7 - Labor Day Monday
*Any additional performances to be made based on performer availability.
COMPENSATION
Rehearsals:
$25 per hour (approximately 30 to 35 hours)
Performances:
$100 for two-performance days (maximum of 4 hours on site)
$50 for one-performance days (maximum of two hours on site)
Volunteer
Internships
Internships at Arch Street Meeting House are educational experiences designed to provide the practical experience necessary to complement students’ academic programs of study. Our goal is to create an experience that ensures students gain behind-the-scenes knowledge of what it is really like to work at a historic site.
Interns will work closely with staff to support the development and implementation of new interpretive and educational programs, performing tasks related, but not limited to giving tours, manning the greeter desk, assisting with programs and large rental events, and data entry. An intern at Arch Street Meeting House will partner with staff to develop a mutually beneficial course of study to satisfy academic requirements and further the mission and vision of our site. Stipends may be available to interns who can be on-site at least three days a week (about 18 hours), pending funding.
Education and Background:
The ideal candidate is an undergraduate or graduate student with an interest in museum education, history, and/or public history. We are looking for someone who is flexible, able to work independently, and someone who is enthusiastic about history.
Characteristics and Experience:
Comfortable with speaking to large and small groups
Warm, enthusiastic, and welcoming personality
Interest in working with people of all ages and nationalities
Reliable, responsible, punctual
Physically able to lead tours around the site
Able to work cooperatively and accept supervision
An attitude of tolerance and respect for all people’s points of view
Interest in religion, history, and or architecture
Check out this video on a day in the life of an Arch Street Meeting House intern!
Video courtesy of Bloomberg Arts Internship and Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance
Through meaningful and engaging educational programming, Arch Street Meeting House volunteers contribute their time, energy, and ideas to make Quaker history accessible, understandable, and rewarding.
Our volunteers can participate in special events, property maintenance, community projects, and the day-to-day interpretation of the building to the general public.
Being a practicing Quaker is not a requirement, but enthusiasm is a must!