Open Positions

Marketing Manager

Overview

SpeakEasy Stage, Boston’s home for the bold, is hiring a Marketing Manager to oversee marketing at one of Boston most respected theatre companies. The Marketing Manager reports to the Executive Director and is a member of SpeakEasy’s leadership team. 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 Marketing Manager guides marketing strategy, audience development, and promotional messaging for SpeakEasy Stage Company. The Marketing Manager works with the Executive Director to set earned revenue goals, and is responsible for achieving those goals by effectively promoting season subscriptions, flex passes, and single tickets. The Marketing Manager also supports SpeakEasy’s group sales and eventually corporate sponsorship efforts, and will be expected to attend periodic special events and programs. As the company’s brand steward, the Marketing Manager is responsible for ensuring that SpeakEasy presents itself publicly in ways that are “on brand” and consistent with all brand standards and guidelines. This is a salaried position exempt from overtime pay.

RESPONSIBILITIES
The Marketing Manager will:
• Work with the Executive Director, Artistic Director, and other SpeakEasy leaders to establish marketing goals that are consistent with organizational priorities.
• With senior leadership, plan strategy for and oversee execution of marketing campaigns.
• Supervise others on the Marketing team.
• Manage all partner agencies and marketing vendors or contractors.
• Manage campaign timelines and ensure timely development of all related content.
• Ensure the quality and inclusiveness of all marketing content.
• Guide SpeakEasy’s use of digital marketing and increase audience engagement on digital platforms.
• Maintain SpeakEasy’s website and ensure strong functionality and SEO.
• Manage and grow SpeakEasy’s mailing and email lists.
• Manage content development, graphic design, printing, and distribution of playbills/programs for all SpeakEasy shows.
• Collaborate with other relevant staff to ensure that messaging across Marketing, Public Relations, and Development is inclusive, consistent, and on brand.
• Work with discount ticket vendors to maximize attendance at SpeakEasy shows and events.
• Support season planning by forecasting the sales potential of shows.
• Manage expense budgets for season and show marketing.
• Represent SpeakEasy at relevant industry events and groups.
• Participate in Committee and Board meetings, as requested by senior leadership.
• Uphold the values and culture of the organization.

QUALIFICATIONS
Our ideal candidate will have:
• 3-5 years of relevant experience, preferably in the performing arts.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• A demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion
• The ability to work effectively with people whose backgrounds and lived-experience differ from their own.
• A supportive and inclusive approach to collaboration and management that promotes belonging, fosters creativity, and inspires others to do their best work.
• Strong digital marketing expertise and a demonstrated ability to execute digital marketing campaigns that drive engagement and sales.
• Experience collecting, managing, and reporting on marketing data and the results of marketing campaigns.
• Some video production/editing and graphic design experience.
• Experience with non-digital marketing channels and the ability to effectively blend digital and non-digital campaigns to drive attendance at shows and events.
• A mission- and data-driven approach to strategic thinking, and an ability to leverage mission and data to market effectively and creatively.
• An eye for detail and a commitment to creativity and quality.
• A demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both in writing and verbally.
• Strong copy editing and proofreading skills.
• A willingness to provide and receive constructive feedback, and to learn and improve.

LOCATION
SpeakEasy’s office is located in Boston’s South End at 551 Tremont Street. The Marketing Manager will generally be expected to work four days a week in the office, and one work from home day. Additional work from home time can be arranged, when needed, with supervisor approval. Periodic work-from-home days are possible, 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: $58,000-$60,000, 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 David Beardsley, Executive 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 five-production mainstage 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.

---

RELEVANT DATES FOR TECHNICAL PRODUCTION OPPORTUNITIES:

PRIMARY TRUST – SEPT 8TH-OCT 11TH 2025
LIZARD BOY – OCT 13TH-NOV 23RD 2025
JOB – JAN 12TH-FEB 7TH 2026
ANTIQUITIES – MARCH 2ND-MARCH 28TH 2026
SWEPT AWAY – APRIL 13TH-MAY 23RD 2026

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.