Artistic Director - Nashville Repertory Theatre

Artistic Director

Nashville Repertory Theatre is now inviting qualified candidates to submit applications for the role of Artistic Director (AD).



Founded in 1985, Nashville Repertory Theatre is currently celebrating its 35th anniversary season. Its mission is to entertain and inspire by creating exceptional theatre that explores the diversity of human experience.



The company produces a wide range of repertoire, including classic and contemporary titles, musicals, non-musicals, and plays with music during its five-show mainstage season. In addition, Nashville Rep is home to the Ingram New Works Project, a nationally recognized new play development program now in its 11th year. During the 19/20 season, the organization launched a series of youth programs under the umbrella title of the Nashville Rep Conservatory, offering summer camps, masterclasses, a young writers’ program, and musical productions.



As one of the three resident companies of the Tennessee Performing Arts Center (along with the Nashville Ballet and the Nashville Opera), Nashville Repertory Theatre performs primarily in TPAC’s Andrew Johnson Theatre, a 260 seat blackbox venue. Some shows are produced in TPAC’s James K Polk proscenium house, with 1000 seats. The company also produces special events in multiple non-theatre spaces throughout metro Nashville. Administrative offices are located offsite along with several other organizations in the Nashville Public Television building.



The annual budget for the 19/20 season is approximately $1.8 million. The organization has a full-time year-round staff of 12, assisted by seven interns. The Artistic Director reports to the Executive Director. The production season runs September through May. The company operates primarily under an AEA SPT-7 contract, with occasional LORT/LOA contracts for larger events.



Key Responsibilities



Designing, planning, and implementing a mission-based program of work. The AD is responsible, in consultation with the board and senior staff, for all artistic programs.



Identifying, hiring, and leading the artistic teams to create each season’s program of work, including guest directors, designers, choreographers, music directors, stage managers, musicians, and actors.



Serving as one of the primary faces of Nashville Repertory Theatre at the local, state, and national level, assisting in advocacy, awareness, and all fundraising efforts.



Preparing, in consultation with the board and senior staff, annual budgets for artistic programs, as well as individual program budgets; monitoring adherence to these budgets at a departmental level.



Directing a minimum number of mainstage productions each year, influenced by artistic needs, other responsibilities, and budget.



Cultivating and nurturing strategic partnerships with organizations whose strategic missions align with that of Nashville Rep and/or support the ideas presented in Nashville Rep programming.



Working collaboratively with the theatre’s administrative team, including fundraising, marketing, finance, education, box office, and general administration; participating in each function as required to achieve successful completion of goals and timelines.



Opportunities



Developing a second stage season that embraces nontraditional theatre, new works, and niche titles, including site specific events, immersive experiences, and world premieres.



Building the newly launched education programs to a market leading position.



Furthering Nashville Rep’s leadership in the new work development space; leveraging new works development for fundraising and awareness; identifying and cultivating new partners; creating a structure that supports Nashville Rep affiliated playwrights throughout their careers.



Broadening the existing engagement and outreach programs to fully reach Nashville’s diverse communities; taking theatre outside of the four walls of the venue; inspiring a new generation of theatregoers.



Challenges



Creating programming that engages new audiences while continuing to delight and inspire current patrons and longtime supporters; developing and articulating program descriptions to do the same.



Nurturing both internal and external stakeholders through rapid organizational change.



Responding to the organization’s needs around performance space and artist housing in an increasingly expensive real estate market.



Cultivating new talent, particularly from diverse communities.



Continuing to deliver important storytelling and high production values within the constraints of a regional theatre budget.



Extending the program planning timeline to support major events, collaborations, and talent engagement.



Participating in deficit management strategies.



Ensuring that diverse voices in the community are represented through the art and in the organization.



Requirements



A minimum of five years’ experience in a strategic arts leadership and management role.



A significant directing resume, including professional productions, musical and non-musical, of similar size to those of Nashville Repertory Theatre.



A demonstrated ability to translate artistic needs and values into strategies and plans.



Exceptional relationship management and team building skills.



Significant knowledge of the non-profit professional arts sector, which may be demonstrated through a combination of experience and education.



Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.



To apply:



Please send a cover letter, personal artistic statement, resume, and any supporting materials to NashRepADsearch@gmail.com. Please discuss what makes you uniquely suited to the role and include salary requirements. Supporting materials may include production photos, reviews, etc. Initial interviews are expected to begin in the Spring of 2020.