Artistic Producer / Associate Artistic Director

• TITLE: Artistic Producer / Associate Artistic Director

• STATUS: Full Time, Annual, Exempt

• PAY RANGE: $90,000-$95,000

• SUPERVISOR: Artistic Director

• APPLICATION DEADLINE: June 1, 2025

ABOUT VILLAGE THEATRE

Based in Issaquah, WA, with operations in Everett, WA, Village Theatre is a leading producer of musical theatre in the Pacific Northwest. Producing entertaining, quality productions since 1979, Village Theatre has grown into one of the region’s best-attended theatres, with pre-Covid numbers reflecting just over 18,000 Mainstage season subscribers and 220,000 projected total attendance each season. Through its Village Originals program, Village Theatre is nationally recognized for its contribution to the development of new musicals, having supported the creation of over 175 new works to date. Village Theatre also takes pride in nurturing tomorrow’s audiences through its Youth Education programs, serving over 56,000 young people and their families annually.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND ACCESSIBILITY

Theatre lies at the intersection of storytelling and community. The stories we tell represent and influence our shared human experience. We believe that to tell these stories authentically, it is essential to employ equitable practices that are inclusive of and led by a diverse and culturally rich community. Village Theatre has a responsibility to mindfully support and design the impact these stories have on the audiences we serve, the artists we engage, the students we nurture, and the staff we entrust. Centering Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in our work allows us to create a storytelling space that welcomes, celebrates, and honors all people.

More information about our journey to be an anti-racist organization and our DEIA Committee can be found here:  https://villagetheatre.org/deia/

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Artistic Producer / Associate Artistic Director is a senior level member of Village Theatre’s staff, and the director of the Artistic Department. Working closely with the Artistic Director and Director of Production, they line produce all mainstage productions, run Village’s new works program (including the annual Festival of New Musicals), supervise all casting (both locally and out of town), participate in season planning and artist selection. The AP/AAD collaborates with the Artistic Director, Managing Director, and all department heads to maintain the artistic excellence of Village Theatre’s mission, vision, and values. While their primary responsibility is in the Artistic Department, they will collaborate closely with Marketing, Development, and Youth Education staff on special projects throughout this year. If the AP/AAD is a director who has demonstrated excellence in musical theater direction at or near the scope and scale of Village Theatre’s productions, there may be opportunities for mainstage direction on an occasional—but not annual—basis. This person is highly dedicated to amplifying the DEIA goals of the theatre. This position requires night and weekend work, typically scheduled in advance. The position’s title will be adjusted to the preference of the chosen candidate: Artistic Producer or Associate Artistic Director.

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Artistic Department
  • Oversees and facilitates the day-to-day artistic operations of the theatre while assisting the Artistic Director in all aspects of the creation of excellent works of theater in a humane and ethical manner.
  • Participates in regular season planning meetings with the Artistic Staff.
  • Attends productions (both locally and beyond) to identify promising talent for the theater’s mainstage and new works programs.
  • Directly supervises and collaborates with key staff members.  As of the date of this posting, this includes supervising a full-time Resident Music Supervisor, part-time Artistic/Producing Associate, contracted Artistic Associate, and seasonal actors, casting assistants, and more. As of the date of this posting, collaborates closely with the Director of Production, Production Manager, Resident Stage Manager, Director of Operations, Company Manager, Production & Artistic Projects Associate, Director of Marketing, Director of Development, Director and Associate=Director of Youth Education, and other administrative Directors as needed.
  • Manages department budget, in partnership with Resident Music Supervisor.
• Producing
  • Works as a producer on all five mainstage shows, in close collaboration with Artistic Director and Director of Production. Hires dialect coaches, fight directors, intimacy directors, associate directors and associate choreographers, and participates in selection of directors, designers, and other creative personnel.
  • Is available to and advocates for artists throughout the rehearsal and tech process, helping to provide a comfortable, rigorous, and artistically fulfilling process for all artists.
  • Attends design runs, dress rehearsals and some previews, and participates in notes sessions with directors.
  • Produces special events throughout the theatre including curation, casting, scheduling, and contracting
• New Works
  • Serves as primary artistic staff person who recruits, reads and identifies promising new works of musical theater, evaluating scripts, communicating with writers and agents and advocating for new works.
  • Leads the curation and producing of the annual Festival of New Musicals, and will oversee future new works programs such as commissions, residencies, and small-scale productions.
• Casting
  • Prepares cast size breakdowns (including potential doublings) of musicals being contemplated for Village Theatre production for budgeting purposes. Ensures adequate understudy coverage for all roles.
  • Supervises all mainstage and new works casting, in close collaboration with Village’s Producing/Casting Associate. Prepares casting breakdowns, collaborates with creatives on pre-offers, schedules and attends both generals and local invited auditions.
  • Maintains strong relationships with and knowledge of local talent, ensuring that auditionees have a smooth and pleasant experience.
  • Coordinates all out of town casting including scheduling, and hiring of out of town Casting Directors.
  • Negotiates casting offers, and collaborate with Company Management on contract details.
• Institutional
  • Represents the Artistic staff both internally (collaborating and communicating with other departments) and externally (as a public face for audience members, donors, and artists).
  • Models and supports the Mission and Values of Village Theatre by showing commitment to work toward diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, creating a space of belonging for all audiences and employees.
  • Serves on the Village Theatre Management Team and contributes to planning the future direction of the organization; carries out the organizational goals/vision/values.
  • Supports the Marketing Department as a liaison with production teams and artistic talent. Provides producorial guidance in the creation of marketing collateral such as rehearsal room videos, video previews, and photo shoots as well as on-air or public appearances.
  • Supports the Development Department by attending and hosting donor events such as backstage tours, invited technical rehearsals and dress rehearsals, and cultivation lunches and dinners.  Coordinates talent and programming for annual galas and other events throughout the season in partnership with the Artistic Director and Resident Music Supervisor.

YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

Extensive professional musical theater producing, new works, and/or casting experience. Optional: professional musical theater directing.

Qualifications/skills:

Deep knowledge, familiarity, and love of the musical theatre canon and genre. Strong emotional intelligence, people skills, and conflict management. Deep understanding of the theater making process, strong skills using Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel) as well as Internet collaboration tools. An excellent knowledge of current trends and artists in new musical theater writing. Producing or associate producing experience at a LORT or equivalent venue, working with union actors, directors, and designers. Extensive relationships with agents, writers, directors, designers, and producers throughout the industry. Ability to analyze and understand issues pertaining to inclusion, diversity, equity, and access. Ability to read a script and assess both its artistic merits and its producibility. Demonstrated ability to lead a casting process, working with both in-house and NYC-based casting directors. A collaborative nature and calm demeanor with excellent problem-solving and time-management skills. A passion for community building and supporting local talent. Ability to manage multiple projects on multiple timelines between multiple departments simultaneously. For candidates who are directors: extensive and successful experience directing professional musical theater at a LORT or equivalent-sized theater.

COMPENSATION

Salary for this position ranges between $90,000 – $95,000

Additionally, Village Theatre offers a comprehensive benefits package including Medical, Prescription, Dental & Vision Insurance; 403 (b) Retirement Plan with employer match; paid Vacation, Holidays, and Sick time; Flexible Spending Account; Life and AD&D insurance.  Additional information, such as waiting periods and premium rates, will be made available to final candidates.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Village Theatre is committed to equitable hiring practices that center the matching of skills, interests and learned experience over education requirements and previous employment.   All applications will be redacted to provide anonymity for the candidate, then reviewed by a diverse hiring committee consisting of at least three individuals.  The committee will create a rubric for assessment using the criteria from the job description.  The committee will make recommendations on who should move on to the interview process based on the assessment.

Candidates who are asked to interview can expect a conversational, non-confrontational environment focused on questions that speak to experiences. We wish to remove any barriers to interviewing for our candidates and as such, interviews can be in person or over zoom, and at a time of day that works for the candidate. We will ask about and will meet accessibility needs.   Following an interview process, every candidate interviewed will receive a phone call to share the outcome.

To apply, please e-mail your resume and cover letter to:
resumes@villagetheatre.org with “AP/AAD” and your last name in the subject line.
PDF Format is preferred.
No phone calls, please.