Youth Stage Manager

Job Type: Contract
Location: The Ruth and Nathan Hale Theater, Pleasant Grove, Utah
Estimated Start Date: Depends on assigned project.

Job Summary: The Ruth & Nathan Hale Theater is looking to hire experienced stage managers for our 2025 Youth season. This position is responsible for overseeing all aspects of a theatrical production involving youth performers from pre-production through post-production. This role ensures smooth operations, coordinates between departments, and maintains communication among cast, crew, and parents to ensure a successful and positive experience for young performers.

Responsibilities: 

Pre-Production

• Review and analyze the script to identify technical requirements, scene changes, props, and special effects.

Team Coordination: 

• Communicate with directors, designers, and production team to clarify vision and technical requirements.

Production Meetings: 

• Attend and facilitate production meetings, ensuring all departments are aligned.

Auditions & Callbacks:

• Organize audition materials, schedule audition times, and prepare the audition space, ensuring a supportive and welcoming environment for youth performers.
• Communicate audition details and expectations to potential cast members and their parents/guardians.
• Record and track auditions and callbacks, ensuring all necessary information is documented for casting decisions.
• Assist the director during auditions and callbacks, providing logistical support and taking notes while maintaining a positive atmosphere for young performers.

Rehearsals:

• Create and distribute detailed  rehearsal schedules.
• Distribute scripts and rehearsal materials to cast.
• Prepare and maintain rehearsal spaces, ensuring they are safe and conducive to productive work.
• Document blocking, technical cues, and other essential details in the prompt book.
• Act as the main point of contact between the director, cast, and production team, ensuring smooth communication and addressing any concerns from parents/guardians.
• Generate and distribute daily rehearsal reports, highlighting progress, issues, and changes, with a focus on the well-being and progress of youth performers.

Tech Rehearsals:

• Oversee the integration of all technical elements, including lighting, sound, set changes, and special effects.
• Conduct technical run-throughs to ensure all cues are correctly timed and executed.
• Address and resolve any technical or logistical issues that arise during tech rehearsals.
• Update the prompt book with finalized cues and technical notes.

Performances:

• Manage call times for cast and crew, ensuring everyone is prepared and on time.
• Conduct pre-show checks to ensure all technical elements are in place and functional.
• Call all technical cues during performances, coordinating with operators and crew.
• Handle any issues that arise during performances promptly and efficiently.
• Maintain open lines of communication with front-of-house staff and other departments, as well as parents/guardians of youth performers. 

Post-Production:

• Compile and distribute final production notes for postmortem on what worked well and areas for improvement.
• Collect and facilitate return of scripts and rehearsal materials.

 Qualifications & Qualities:

• Experience:  3+ years experience as a Stage Manager in a theater or live event production setting, with experience working with youth preferred.
• Education:  Bachelor's Degree in stage management, theatre production, technical theatre, or related field; or equivalent professional experience. 
• Background Check: Successful completion of a background check is required.
• Skills:
  • Proficient knowledge of stage management techniques, including cueing, blocking, and scheduling.
  • Excellent organizational and multitasking skills, sense of timing, with a keen eye for detail and accuracy of work.
  • Strong leadership abilities, with the capability to manage a team effectively.
  • Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills to work collaboratively with diverse personalities.
  • Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive and equitable working relationships with members of The Ruth staff as well as contracted artists.
  • Sensitivity to the needs and concerns of participants from diverse backgrounds
  • Optimism, sense of humor, creativity, problem-solving abilities, and the ability to work under time constraints with creative team members, The Ruth staff, and working on projects alone.
  • Ability to adapt quickly to changing circumstances and solve problems in a fast-paced environment.
  • Experience in maintaining a prompt book and calling performances.
  • Ability to read and interpret ground plans and design drawings.
  • Must be available to work weekday afternoons and some Saturdays as required by the production schedule.
  • Must be comfortable with physical activity, including but not limited to walking, standing, lift of up to 30 pounds. 
  • Must be comfortable with varying work environments, including but not limited to quiet and loud spaces.
  • Ability to run and edit a QLab file efficiently during rehearsals and performances. 
  • Experience running a light and/or sound board is a plus.

Compensation: 

• $1500/contract. Contract covers pre-production, rehearsals and performances.

Youth Production Schedule (The majority of rehearsals take place weekday afternoons):

• Pre-production: 24 weeks prior to opening (production meetings, auditions, callbacks)
• Rehearsals: 7-8 weeks
• Tech: 1-2 weeks
• Performances: 2 weeks

When completing the application below, please ensure you enter the position you are submitting an application for.