Open Positions

General Manager

Overview

SpeakEasy Stage is hiring a General Manager to oversee operations at one of Boston’s most respected theatre companies. The ideal candidate is a motivated team player, comfortable multi-tasking in a fast-paced, fun, and collaborative work environment and has a demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.
The General Manager supervises and manages financial, HR, and staff operations for the organization as a whole, and serves as HR manager for guest artists and seasonal production staff. They are supported by a Contract Bookkeeper. They report directly to the Producing Artistic Director, and communicate directly with the Finance Committee of the Board of Directors.

RESPONSIBILITIES: FINANCES
● Supervise the Contract bookkeeper, who pays bills, keeps the books for the
company,enters all financial and payroll transactions, and supports the annual audit
process.
● Work with the Bookkeeper to ensure vendors and artists are paid in timely fashion,
expenses and revenue are recorded accurately and tracked against the budget, and
annual audit reports
● Coordinate and approve all payrolls, ensuring the Bookkeeper has all the information
necessary to accurately submit payroll to the payroll vendor in a timely fashion.’
● Process unemployment claims, as needed.
● Coordinate the company’s annual Live Theater Tax Credit application.
● Secure insurance policies for the company and file claims as needed
● Prepare financial and cash-flow reports for the finance committee, treasurer, and board,
and track year-to-date spending and revenue against the budget.
● Attend finance committee meetings and budget planning meetings
● Work with all staff to draft departmental budgets and plan for future seasons; present
budgets to the Finance Committee for review and approval
● Assist other managers with reporting and tracking of project and department budgets
● Review and sign contracts and leases for the organization
● Approve bill payments and payrolls
● Act as signer on the company bank and loan accounts
● File any government required annual forms or reports
● Work with outside Auditor and CPA to complete the annual audit, prepare audited
financial statements, and file state and federal tax returns (forms 990 and PC)
● Review for accuracy and approve box office settlements.
● Prepare royalty reports after a production is complete and ensure timely payment of
royalties to licensors.

RESPONSIBILITIES: HR AND STAFF OPERATIONS SUPPORT
● Draft and communicate company policies to all staff members and seasonal employees
● Manage all aspects of the employee lifecycle including hiring, employment and
professional development, and transitioning out or firing
● Price out and contract for employee benefits including health plan, disability,
● Maintain records for workers comp and unemployment insurance
● Manage payroll and employee benefits, including union benefits and reporting
● Train staff and others in Anti-Harassment policies, investigate reports of harassment or
misconduct, and make recommendations or take disciplinary action
● Manage office, to ensure that space, equipment, mail, phones, and IT systems all
support the work of company staff.
● Align operations with SpeakEasy’s Equity and Anti-Racism goals
● Assist staff and department managers with problem solving and planning for company
programs and events
● Attend events and meetings, on some evenings and weekends, to represent the
company.ekends, to represent the company.

PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL REQUIREMENTS
● Three to five years experience in non-profit theater administration or arts management
role, or in adjacent fields
● Excellent interpersonal relationship skills and communication skills, both written and
verbal
● Excellent organizational skills
● Experience with HR, employee lifecycle management (hiring/firing/transitions)
● Experience with payroll systems and payroll accounting
● Experience with small to medium sized small business finances, including accounts
payable, budget planning, and expense tracking and reporting
● High proficiency in Microsoft Excel or other spreadsheet software
● Proficiency with office productivity apps and tools: MS Office suite, google, shared
calendars
● Proficiency with QuickBooks is necessary.

LOCATION
SpeakEasy’s office is located in Boston’s South end at 551 Tremon Street. The General Manager will generally be expected to work four days a week in the office, and one day from home. Additional work from home time can be arranged, when needed with supervisor approval. Periodic work-from-home days are possible, pending responsibilities allowing.

HEALTH AND SAFETY 
All in person work will adhere to SpeakEasy’s Health and Safety policies, following all recommendations of state, local, and federal governments, and approved by Actors’ Equity Association. Policies will be reviewed upon the start of in-person work, and SpeakEasy will provide training on a safe working environment.
Your employment may be contingent on a successful background check made by SpeakEasy with your authorization.

COMPENSATION
This is a full-time exempt position, Monday-Friday. Weekends and evenings are a regular
part of the work culture. Attend committee meetings, special events, and shows as
necessary; these commitments are scheduled well in advance. Annual salary: $60,000-
$70,000, commensurate with experience.. Benefits include a health plan, short-term and
long-term disability insurance, three weeks (15 days) vacation (with two weeks to be taken
during the May-August off-season), two weeks (10 days) of sick or personal leave, and
Federal holidays.

HOW TO APPLY
SpeakEasy Stage strives to become a fully Anti-Racist organization. We value an inclusive and equitable organizational culture. We invite (and strongly encourage!) applicants from historically marginalized communities to apply. Please send one PDF file to jobs@speakeasystage.com that includes both your resume and a cover letter addressed to Dawn M. Simmons, Producing Artistic Director.

Please follow the link below to complete a voluntary demographic census. Responses are not required for employment, are anonymous, and are not used for hiring decisions. https://forms.gle/LKchCokkoWzfLTHv7

To learn more about why we ask for this information, please refer to SpeakEasy’s Equity and Anti-Racism plan: https://speakeasystage.com/equity-and-antiracism-at-speakeasy-stage/

SpeakEasy Stage Company is an equal opportunity employer, and we do not discriminate
based on race, religion, age, sexuality, gender identification, or physical ability. The company is deeply committed to equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility.

ABOUT THE COMPANY

In 1992, SpeakEasy Stage was born with a simple idea: To build a thriving theater scene in Boston that is committed to excellence and supports local artists. From its humble, 40-seat beginnings to its current status as resident company in the Calderwood Pavilion’s 200+ seat Roberts Theater, SpeakEasy has become one of the region’s leading producers of live theater.

SpeakEasy’s season of contemporary plays and musicals, as well as its suite of curated community programs, facilitates important conversations about truth, identity, longing, pain, heart, inspiration, self-confidence, and so many other human emotions and values. Its work addresses complex, multifaceted themes–such as gender identity and acceptance, immigration histories and policies, and racial power imbalances–with courage, compassion and authenticity, both on stage and off.

SpeakEasy has a demonstrated track record of investing in its people – from emerging talent and future arts leaders to its community of accomplished professionals, patrons, and donors. This investment is underscored by the equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives that its staff, Board, artists, and creative and production teams advance collectively.

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RELEVANT DATES FOR TECHNICAL PRODUCTION OPPORTUNITIES:

Coming Soon 26/27 Season Dates!

Various positions with the company are open on a rolling basis year around as needed for seasonal, project based, and freelance positions.

SpeakEasy Stage Company is an equal opportunity employer, and we do not discriminate based on race, religion, age, sexuality, gender identification, or physical ability. The company is deeply committed to equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility.

THE BASICS: HOW PRODUCTION HIRING WORKS AT SPEAKEASY

Traditional paths to a theatre career can be a maze of twisty passages with no obvious entrance.  In the interest of making our hiring more equitable, SpeakEasy is offering this guide to the different positions and the paths to hiring.

Job Postings:

SpeakEasy posts jobs to multiple sources:  our web page at www.speakeasystage.com, the Boston Theatre Freelance facebook group www.facebook.com/groups/bostontheatrefreelance and Hire Culture www.hireculture.org

We also will send targeted emails to past employees, past job applicants, and people on our list of overhire technicians.

Any person may apply at any time by emailing materials to jobs@speakeasystage.com.

OVERHIRE CREW

SpeakEasy relies on overhire crew with a variety of technical skills for hourly work.  This work is advertised via an internal email list of overhire workers, and also posted to the Boston Theatre Freelance facebook group.  

Job Description: We hire these workers during the week immediately prior to public performance when we need many hands to assemble the physical elements of the show.  These jobs do not continue during rehearsals or performances.  The supervisor is the department head – TD for carpenters/loaders, Master Electrician for electricians, Sound Designer or Audio Supervisor for sound engineers, Props Master for props and craft artisans, and Wardrobe Supervisors and Costume Designers for stitchers.

Compensation: Rates are $17-$25/hour, paid with a 4-hour minimum.  That means that if the work call is only one or two hours, the worker is still paid for 4 hours.  The “4 hour mini” is an industry standard that makes the travel time worth it though short maintenance or notes calls may be brief in duration.

How to apply: To gain entry to the overhire list, we require an e-mailed resume describing training and past or current jobs in technical theatre, that is descriptive about skills including:

• Theatre lighting – electrician, hanging, cabling, and focusing lights   
• Sound technician for audio gear setup, troubleshooting, and take down   
• Stage carpentry   
• Scenic painting   
• Props or crafts work   
• Stitching or altering costumes   
• Driving, vehicles such as car, cargo van, or box truck   
• Loading (less skilled, more ability to move items and equipment)

It is common to have multiple areas of expertise listed for one person on the overhire list.

We add technicians with high-school level of skills and experience to the overhire list all the time.  While we could not succeed with a crew consisting of all workers of limited skill, there is often room for a variety of skills to round out a crew.  Jobs get assigned on the fly and there is room for as-you-go learning of specific tasks.

For this reason it is suggested that the overhire list be the first way to gain employment backstage for skilled work.

To gain access to the overhire list, please send a resume, and we may contact you for a brief phone, video, or in-person interview before adding you to the list.

DESIGNERS: LIGHTING, SOUND, SET, COSTUMES, PROJECTIONS/VIDEO

Job Description: Designers (Sound, Set/Scenic Lighting, Costumes, Sound, Projections/video) are key creative contributors to productions.  The job requires a great deal of artistry as well as technical knowledge and practical problem-solving.  Designers do a mix of realizing their own design to handing off detailed drawings or specifications to have the design elements build, shopped, or acquired by other workers.

We start with the art first, so in addition to a resume and experience, a portfolio is essential to getting hired as a designer.  Portfolios on a publicly accessible website are preferred, but any form that can be easily viewed electronically will work.

How to apply: Designers who are new or unknown to the company usually are hired by scheduling a portfolio review with the Production manager and/or Artistic Director, and then by arranging other short interviews with Directors or other lead artistic staff on a project.  These interviews may be by phone or video or in person.

We also accept references from directors, designers, and stage managers who often recommend designers they have worked with in the past.

Compensation: Designers are freelancers, paid a flat fee, starting at $1,500 for mainstage productions.  Special projects or second stage productions may start lower.  The job is hired as a freelance contractor, with the designer doing most of the creative work at their own studio or residence on their own schedule.  Paid as 1099.  We hire a mix of union (USA Local 829) and non-union designers.  Union designers may receive benefits according to the contract, non-union designers do not receive benefits above the fee.

Costume Designers usually do more hands-on work to realize designs (buying, building, or altering) and are offered additional fee towards that work based on the cast size and period or complexity of the show.

RUN CREW: WARDROBE SUPERVISORS, WARDROBE RUN CREW, BACKSTAGE CREW, AND BOARD OPS

Run crew positions are hired hourly to fill key roles in running and maintaining our productions.  We begin by hiring the supervising positions: Wardrobe Supervisors, Stage Managers, and Assistant Stage Managers at the beginning of each season.  Based on the needs and budgets of the show, we hire run crew to fit the needs of the show.  All crew jobs share in basic maintenance and cleaning of the stage and backstage areas and pre-show prep.  Crew do not do building maintenance or specialized work on set, lights, or sound equipment.

Run Crew positions require skills and experience working backstage on live theatre events.  We tend to hire with stage management experience for most general crew jobs, but if the production has a special technical element we will look for skilled applicants.  Board operators must have some background operating lighting, sound or video systems but are often trained on our particular setup during rehearsals.

Compensation:

Wardrobe Supervisors $17/hr W2 eligible for overtime

Run Crew – $15 per hour W2 eligible for overtime over 40 hours per week

STAGE MANAGERS, AND ASMS

Job Description: All Stage Management jobs and some ASM (Assistant Stage Management jobs) are union positions for SpeakEasy mainstage shows.  Stage Managers are hired mostly upon personal recommendation from directors, choreographers, and artistic directors.  Stage Management candidates who are new to the company are hired after several in-person or remote job interviews and extensive checks of references.  The communication between the stage manager and the director, cast, creative team, and run crew is critical.

How to apply: Assistant Stage Managers are hired as union and non-union depending on the production.  ASM candidates often come from resumes submitted directly, by promoting a run crew or overhire employee, or from a personal recommendation from another stage manager or director.

Compensation: Union Stage Managers are paid $550-700 per week salary plus overtime and benefits, with rates set by a Union Collectively Bargained Agreement.  Non-union Assistant Stage Managers are paid $15 per hour, eligible for overtime, no benefits, and minimum salary of $250/week.

TECHNICAL DEPARTMENT HEADS: PROJECT TECHNICAL DIRECTOR (TD) MASTER ELECTRICIAN, AND PROPS MASTER (ADD HIDE/REVEAL)

SpeakEasy stage does not own and operate a theatre full time, so we hire technical department heads on a show-by-show basis, to be resident and working on-site the week prior to opening our shows.  For consistency we try to hire for multiple projects.  We hire candidates that come to us through resume submission, personal recommendation from other theatres and production managers, and by promoting employees with past experience in Overhire and crew positions.

How to apply: In addition to a resume and reference check, we require several interviews that include in-depth descriptions of past projects and examples of technical abilities as well as people-management skills.

Compensation: Project TD and ME positions are paid a salary starting at $1,600 per show.  Props Masters are paid a similar salary OR hourly at $25/hour depending on the complexity of the project.