MN Opera Production Stage Manager

Position Title:                        Production Stage Manager

Department:                          Production

Reports to:                            Vice President, Production

Classification:                       Full-time, exempt

Salary Range:                      $57,000-$63,000: Commensurate with experience plus benefits (paid vacation, sick days, health, dental, vision, flex spending, life/disability insurance, 403B)

 

Minnesota Opera’s vision and mission is to sing every story and to change lives by bringing together artists, audiences and community, advancing the art of opera for today and future generations. We aim to inspire hope, empower all voices, and strengthen bonds between people of all backgrounds and identities. To this end, Minnesota Opera commits itself to working continuously to become an antiracist and anti-oppressive organization through the following actions: intentionally acknowledging and examining racism, anti-Blackness, and other discriminatory practices; promoting anti-racist and anti-oppressive ideas, values and policies that counter the oppression of any people during the education, production, promotion and experience of opera; working towards eliminating all forms of oppression; and developing effective tools for social justice.

 

SUMMARY

The Production Stage Manager (PSM) works closely with the Production and Artistic Departments in supporting and guiding the creative teams through Minnesota Opera (MNOP) procedures for each production while also creating a positive and productive environment for performers. Key to the success of all productions the PSM takes an active role in facilitating communication, scheduling, and preparations for successful transitions of productions from rehearsal room to stage, while supporting the successful operations and integration of artists and staff in event and daily activities of Minnesota Opera. The PSM performs a leadership role to help create and support a working and producing environment that is artistically satisfying, professional, and safe in alignment with the company’s diversity charter, mission, and vision.

 

RESPONSIBILITIES

Include but are not limited to:

Production / Stage Management

  • Participate in MNOP’s ongoing work in developing and pursuing anti-racist, anti-oppressive practices
  • Create and maintain a safe working environment
  • Supervise daily operations of Staging Staff Department
  • Collaborate with Associate Production Director (Scheduling) (APD-S) to schedule daily events relating to current opera productions, new opera workshops, Resident and Company Artist training programs, Youth Opera Circle & Studio projects, Development and Public Relations events, and outside facility rentals
  • Collaborate with APD-S in scheduling needs of guests and resident and company artists
  • Manage and maintain Electronic Callboard website
  • Communicate with stage directors, conductors, intimacy directors, choreographers, fight choreographers, designers, and opera staff to assess and communicate production needs
  • Maintain rehearsal spaces and work with the production department on needs per production
  • Plan, execute, and supervise the running of all production and event rehearsals and performances
  • Lead and facilitate the integration of Intimacy Direction into the rehearsal process
  • Lead and facilitate the integration on MNOP’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion practices into the rehearsal process
  • Manage Staging Staff through the creation and maintenance of technical running documents for theater crew, including but not limited to, deck cue sheets, rail cue sheets, costume run sheets, properties run sheets, sound cue sheets, WWW, and theater technical requests
  • Collaborate with Technical Director (TD) and Production Carpenter on the development, updating, and maintenance of production paperwork including show ground plans, running notes, and hanging plots and the development of post-production rental packages
  • Collaborate with TD and Production Carpenter on the planning, execution, and monitoring of all on stage scenic shifts
  • Attend all staff, production staff, production meetings, and safety committee meetings as required
  • Call productions as assigned throughout the season
  • Other tasks as assigned

 

Administrative

  • Recruit and hire Stage Management and Assistant Direction staff
  • Prepare and execute contracts for Staging Staff
  • Recruit, audition, and hire supernumerary performers, dancers, specialty performers, and other non-singing roles
  • Maintain databases of supernumerary performers, dancers, and other non-singing performers
  • Prepare and execute contracts for supernumerary performers, dancers, and other non-singing performers
  • Recruit and hire youth supervisors
  • Prepare and execute contracts for youth supervisors
  • Participate as a member of MNOP’s Safety Committee
  • Collaborate with the Associate Production Directors in the oversight and continued development of the MNOP Safety, Health, and Emergency Action Handbook and participate in the enforcement of safety policies and practices
  • Maintain Emergency Evacuation Kits throughout the Minnesota Opera Center
  • For all productions:
    • Proof and finalize all staging staff show documentation for archival and re-production purposes
    • Collaborate with the Associate Production Directors on distribution and sharing of show documentation with outside companies for rentals and co-productions
    • Maintain the physical and electronic archives of staging staff documentation
  • Acknowledge and work within the procedures and policies of the collective bargaining agreements between Minnesota Opera and I.A.T.S.E Local 13 and A.F.M. Local 30-73
  • Other tasks as assigned

 

Fiscal

  • Manage supply budget and facilitate purchases of stage management, rehearsal hall, and hospitality supplies
  • Prepare and submit reimbursement requests, check requests, and credit card reconciliations
  • Ensure payment for supernumeraries, dancers, and other non-singer performers
  • Ensure payment for youth supervisors
  • Other tasks as assigned

 

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

  • Attend all company wide and pertinent production EDI training workshops
  • Work with Vice President of Production and APDs in scheduling various trainings and workshops for incoming staging staff and independently contracted artists and rehearsal participants

 

General

  • Approach and carry out duties, as designated above, with a positive and collaborative attitude
  • Function in a professional and collegial manner when collaborating with all opera personnel, professional creative teams, staff, management and other guest artists
  • Represent Minnesota Opera and build positive relationships on its behalf within the profession and with others as appropriate
  • Continue professional development by staying up to date with the latest technologies and best practices within the industry
  • Follow procedures and policies of the Minnesota Opera as written in the employee handbook
  • Give support and show appreciation to the Board of Directors, patrons, and other volunteers and supporters of Minnesota Opera
  • Maintain complete knowledge of Minnesota Opera’s Safety, Health, and Emergency Action Handbook, including procedures for accidents and injuries

 

This position is a good fit for someone who has:

  • Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
  • Extensive knowledge of producing opera
  • Works well in a fast paced, collaborative environment
  • Experience with scheduling, with preference for organizing multiple requests
  • Ability to problem-solve and prioritize
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Intermediate to advanced proficiency in use of Microsoft Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel and Vectorworks and is adept at learning new systems
  • Experience working independently, actively identifying or initiating ways to enhance a process, procedure or outcome that benefits the organization
  • Ability to exercise independent judgment and problem-solving skills
  • Ability to think creatively about opera as a field and culture and who is open to interrogating existing practices in the interest of positive innovation

 

MNOP is willing to teach:

  • Policies and procedures, including Equity, Diversity and Inclusion practices specific to Minnesota Opera
  • MNOP’s commitment to Intimacy Direction
  • Microsoft 365, Adobe e-contracting, Vectorworks and other company-specific software
  • WordPress basics for Electronic Callboard customization and MNOP website integration
  • New Work development & workshopping process

 

MNOP Diversity Charter:

Minnesota Opera believes that pursuing anti-racist and anti-oppressive practices enhances the beauty and power of the art form itself, and amplifies the tremendous artistry cultivated in our musical storytelling.

For a downloadable version of the full MNOP Diversity Charter, click here

To Apply:

Please visit www.mnopera.org/jobs and click the red “Learn More” button under the applicable job description.  You will be asked to complete a confidential Self-ID Survey before proceeding to the next page, where you will be prompted to complete an application and upload a single file containing a résumé and cover letter.  All materials go directly and solely to the HR Director, Jen Thill.  Individual Self-ID information is seen only by the HR Director; application materials are forwarded to the search team. 

Questions regarding the position may be directed to Karen Quisenberry, Vice President, Production: [email protected].  Questions regarding the application process may be directed to Jen Thill, HR Director: [email protected]. 

Application Deadline:

Position will be open until filled

Minnesota Opera is an Equal Opportunity Employer