The Artistic Producer works closely with the leadership team (co-Artistic Literary Director & co-Artistic Managing Director) to produce the world premiere of our mainstage productions starting with Blossom Johnson’s A Boarding School Play, set to debut in the Winter/Spring of 2024. This position can be approached as a temporary position with the possibility of moving into a permanent staff position OR candidates can apply directly to the co-Artistic Producing Director position.

The co-Artistic Producing Director will lead the production unit of AlterTheater and serve on the leadership team as we transition and expand our organizational model. Additional duties include: liaising with board of directors, contributing to development and execution of strategic plans, participating in playwright/season selection, contributing to budgeting and fundraising processes, and supporting the sustainable growth of AlterTheater. Qualified and motivated candidates are encouraged to apply directly to the co-Artistic Producing Director position if interested. 

Roles and Responsibilities

Artistic:

– Lead the recruitment and hiring process for staff/creative team for all productions: live, hybrid, and/or virtual
– Work collaboratively with co-Artistic Directors to support existing artistic programs, including pilot programs at partner sites and transitioning work in development (AlterLab) into the production pipeline
– On a project to project basis serve as actor, director, dramaturg, designer or other artistic role on as capacity allows. These agreements will be made separately from the producer role.
– Mentor another artist or administrator

Production:

– Be present as a leader for critical milestones in the production process (production meetings, first rehearsal, final run through, load-in, tech, previews, opening, special events, closing, load-out, post-mortem)
– Co-create and manage the season production calendar in collaboration with Operations/Program Associate
– Participate in developing relationships with community partners and serve as primary contact with spaces that host our touring productions
– Work closely with stage managers and directors/designers to ensure a safe and productive environment
– Set up & facilitate tech needs for virtual/hybrid/live productions
– Provide designers/technicians with what they need to achieve their visions in production mediums, within budgetary constraints and while respecting AlterTheater’s minimalist aesthetic in found spaces within space limitations
– Work with collaborating companies to coordinate shared resources
– Work with Outreach Coordinator and leadership team on community events that are tied to MainStage productions
– Tour management – working with multiple venues for one show, making sure the needed resources are available to successfully move the show

Administrative:

– Schedule, lead, and attend internal/external meetings related to achieving work plan goals
– Serve as the primary onsite representative of AlterTheater throughout rehearsals, tech, and performances of all productions 
– Manage public facing aspects of Box Office through our CRM Arts People/Neon One, and train/supervise Front of House/Box Office Manager
– Collect receipts and enter expenses into accounting software for timely payments and reimbursements
– Support company values, especially centering the spiritual and emotional well-being of Black and Native people
– Support fundraising efforts by providing feedback on documents (grants, letters, proposals, etc) and providing logistical support to live events, when possible 

Preferred Qualifications

-Adept understanding of production processes
-In depth knowledge of the 9-county SF Bay Area
-Cultural competency to work with BIPOC stories and BIPOC storytellers
-Proven time/project management skills
-Ability to balance multiple needs and articulate boundaries
-Able to work under pressure while creating an emotionally and physically safe working environment
-Ability to speak Spanish (or any second language) a plus, or comfort in bilingual rooms
-Ability to lift and carry small set pieces and large props, costumes, if needed
-Ability to drive required, (stick shift a plus)
-Experience with/knowledge of marketing a plus
-Demonstrated commitment to anti-racism

We believe that people who have worked in theater, film, new media, television production; people who have project management experience; people who have trade experience; people who have studied theater or film in college; or people who have attended trade school in electrics or carpentry; people with marketing/branding backgrounds; may have complementary skill sets for this position.

Compensation and Benefits

Artistic Producer 

$26.63/hour; 15-30 hours per week during pre & post-production periods and 30-40 hours per week for ten consecutive weeks during rehearsals and the production tour in the winter/spring of 2024. This position is projected to begin in October and conclude May 31, 2024 with a possibility to extend if interests align. Sick pay available. We are strategizing to incorporate additional benefits for our employees. 

co-Artistic Director

$26.63/hour; 25-40 hours per week. You will have flexibility to determine your schedule outside of the designated production milestones. This position is projected to begin in October. Sick pay available. We are strategizing to incorporate additional benefits for our employees. 

Location

Applicants must be based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Remote work is possible for some aspects of the role. Must be legally able to work in the U.S.

Organization 

AlterTheater develops and produces plays written and performed by the best established and emerging storytellers, presented where people live, work, or play. AlterTheater has been commissioning, developing and premiering new plays in the San Francisco Bay Area since 2008. Its AlterLab playwright residency focuses on writers from underrepresented communities: 85% of writers are women and ⅔ of writers identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color). While our cohorts are multi-ethnic, we’ve supported more Native playwrights than any other demographic (30%). For 15 years, the company performed in highly visible, non-traditional spaces, primarily storefronts in downtown San Rafael’s pedestrian shopping district, with windows left clear, so passersby could “window shop” theater. AlterTheater seeks to create a more just, more equitable community by:

supporting the creative growth of theater artists from historically underrepresented communities;
telling stories that reflect the full complexity and diversity of our community; and
sharing stories with our full community, in places where people are.

Future 

We think the way forward for our small, BIPOC company is to lean into deeper partnerships with other value-aligned organizations, as we continue to serve and expand our community of artists and audiences and seek to right-size our company. With this in mind, we have been cultivating several relationships with theaters, community organizations, and educational institutions. Some of our recent partnering organizations include Dominican University, Cedars, Arts Research Center at UC Berkeley,  La Lengua Teatro en Español, California Shakespeare Theater, the Latino Council, and more. Alter’s future programming will deepen its focus on social justice work using theater as a tool for change and improved health outcomes. We will double down on serving local communities with live, in-person events, as we search for the right trajectory of sustainable growth to support our programs and the people who make them possible. 

Work Culture & Mentorship

AlterTheater works under a distributive leadership model, with an ensemble sensibility. We engage in consensus-based decision-making, and provide opportunities for individuals to take ownership of their own projects, using our company’s values as their guide.

AlterTheater’s leadership team includes:

– AlterTheater’s Ensemble is composed of 3 co-artistic directors and several associate artists. The ensemble decides which artists to support, playwrights to commission, and which projects to develop and produce.
– Co-Artistic Literary Director, Diana Burbano, responsible for new work development in our flagship playwright development program AlterLab
– Co-Artistic Managing Director, Eric Avery, responsible for day-to-day operations and developing partnerships with aligned organizations. 
– Artistic Producer (or Co-Artistic Producing Director), This would be you! You’d work collaboratively with the co-Artistic Directors in moving projects from under the New Work/Development arm to production. You’d be responsible for projects in production.

We prioritize people first, purposely choosing to produce in minimalist ways in found and donated spaces. More than 72% of our cash budget (and some years, up to 91%) has gone toward paying people. Mentorship is a core part of our company. We make a practice of supporting the creative growth of not just our artists but our artist-administrators on staff. We believe in tailoring work to people’s interests and skills. We will be invested in your career, in you as a person, and we commit to supporting your long-term vision for your future. Our company is small enough that we are able to tailor leadership positions to the talents and interests of those in the position, and so we encourage applicants of all backgrounds and experiences to apply.

Applications and Inquiries

We created two paths for this work area because we want to find the right fit with the right person. We want to meet candidates where they are and understand your preferred working style, what is attractive about this role, what is concerning, why theater, why AlterTheater, and how might this opportunity put you on a path that is healthiest and best for your career? Please address these questions in your application. 

To apply, email a resume/CV and cover letter to Jobs@altertheater.org with the position you are applying for in the subject line. Please send any questions you may have to that same email address. Applications received by August 25th will be prioritized, and submissions after will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The process will include a brief phone interview, reference check, and a final zoom interview. Thank you for reading!