Manager of Music Theatre and Opera Production

Full-time position within the Arts Programming job family.

About the Role

Collaborates with the music theatre and opera faculty and staff to coordinate, build, and ensure readiness of all scenic elements for all musical theatre and opera productions and collaborations. Manages all technical elements of stage production, which may include lighting, sound, equipment requirements, and stage management. Constructs scenery, manages props, oversees inventories, maintains facilities and equipment, and purchases specific materials needed for production. Assists with overseeing the work of supporting staff, contractors, and students in scenic, property construction, paint, lighting, sound, media, and stage management. Teaches production classes. Requires a flexible work schedule to meet departmental needs.

Responsibilities

• Serves as Manager and Technical Director of Music Theatre and Opera productions.
• Works with MTO faculty and staff to plan, develop, and execute production schedules, builds, work plans, and workflows in accordance with quality standards, specifications, objectives, and funding limitations for all MTO productions.
• Supervises, trains, and evaluates assigned MTO staff, students, and contractors.
• Recruits, trains, mentors, and supervises students.
• Coordinates with MTO faculty, staff, and production representatives; reads contracts to ascertain production needs; determines feasibility and makes arrangements for stage management, special staging, rental equipment, and special effects.
• Coordinates or executes the design of stage scenery, props, lighting, lighting effects, and sound systems. Oversees building, painting, and props for multiple productions simultaneously.
• Attends production and departmental meetings.
• Oversees and organizes scene shops, maintains all scenic production-related equipment, manages scenic production inventories, and purchases technical supplies and equipment.
• Assists in determining staffing needs and schedules crews for events.
• Prepares budget proposals and recommendations; establishes budget control systems for expenditures; controls expenditures in accordance with budget allocations; recommends equipment and resources; advises if approaching budgetary limits.
• Assists with reports such as event evaluations, industrial injury summaries, and expenditure summaries for each event.
• Interacts and maintains liaison with students, faculty, staff, and outside/community agencies to facilitate program objectives.
• Schedules facility rentals and services for use by campus and outside organizations.
• Maintains direct contact with personnel of various outside organizations and university departments associated with scheduled functions/programs.
• Serves as a representative to ensure all aspects of function/program are implemented and controlled according to plans.
• Serves as Safety Compliance Officer. Performs safety checks on equipment and facilities to ensure safety guidelines are met. Oversees ASU, city, county, and state/federally required fire, chemical, and gas inspections of all music theatre and opera spaces.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree and three (3) years of experience appropriate to the area of assignment/field; OR any equivalent combination of experience and/or training from which comparable knowledge, skills, and abilities have been achieved.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of supervisory practices and principles.
• Knowledge of stage management principles and practices.
• Knowledge of set/prop design techniques.
• Skill in stage production methods and techniques.
• Skill in both verbal and written communication.

Working Environment

The usual and customary methods of performing the job's functions require the following physical demands: occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling; some climbing and balancing; significant stooping, kneeling, crouching, and/or crawling; and significant fine finger dexterity. The job is performed under minimal temperature variations and in a generally hazard-free environment but includes exposure to moving mechanical parts and vibration. The employee is occasionally exposed to the risk of electrical shock. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 70 pounds and must be comfortable working at heights above 70 feet. Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception.

Pay

Position salary range: $48,600 - $52,000 annually, depending on experience within the posted range.

Department Information

The Herberger Institute comprises six schools: ASU FIDM; the School of Art; The Design School; The Sidney Poitier New American Film School; The GAME School; and the School of Music, Dance and Theatre; as well as the ASU Art Museum and the ASU FIDM Museum. With programs ranked top 20 and more than 135 degree and certificate options in art, architecture, dance, design, fashion, film, gaming, media arts and sciences, music, and more, the Herberger Institute is a powerhouse of art, culture, and design and a model of inclusive excellence. The institute harnesses the transformative power of creativity to solve real-world challenges and shape a more compassionate, connected future. Students work across disciplines—combining science, engineering, design, storytelling, and the arts—to create solutions that benefit people and the planet.

Learn more about the Herberger Institute.