Artistic Director - New York Theatre Workshop

New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW) seeks a dedicated, innovative and imaginative Artistic Director (AD) to build upon the theatre’s legacy and lead the organization into the future.



Who is New York Theatre Workshop?



Illuminating our world through theatre.



We are a community of artists and audience members who believe in the transformative power of theatre. For over 40 years, New York Theatre Workshop has cultivated a space where our common humanity is affirmed—where audiences are both challenged and delighted by the daring vision of our artists.



What will you do?

The incoming artistic leadership of New York Theatre Workshop will lead and inspire the creation of artistic work at one of New York’s most adventurous theatres. They will be responsible for all curatorial aspects of NYTW’s programming including its stage productions, developmental workshops, and residency programs.



The Artistic Director (AD) will build upon the legacy of NYTW to create a bold vision for its future. Cultivating relationships with NYTW’s community of artists, staff, board, and audience members will be a key priority as trust and collaboration remain a hallmark of what makes NYTW unique. The AD will advance NYTW’s essential artist-focused mission; valuing work and processes that are exploratory and organic.



This artistic leader will continue NYTW’s legacy of defining excellence as the successful manifestation of an artist(s) singular and idiosyncratic vision. The AD will retain this focus on seeding NYTW’s programming with a wide range of visions, while negotiating the relationship between artistic risk and appropriate resources.



The AD will have a dynamic and open partnership with NYTW’s Managing Director (MD) to lead, manage and motivate the staff at NYTW. The AD will have co-ownership of the strategic and fiscal health of the organization through an open and dynamic partnership with the MD. Both roles report to and are actively engaged with the Board of Trustees.



Areas of Accountability

Artistic Leadership

● Make strategic decisions about season curation in collaboration with the Managing Director, Producing Manager and artistic staff.

● Inspire and elevate artists and their work throughout all aspects of NYTW’s artistic programming including season productions, developmental workshops, companies in residence, and summer residencies.

● Initiate and nurture ongoing relationships with a broad range of artists of diverse career levels, aesthetic approaches, and demographic backgrounds.

● Create a culture that is welcoming, collaborative and productive for artists.

● Lead and empower the artistic and production staff throughout the production process including assembly of creative teams, casting, design, dramaturgy, and other aspects of bringing work to the stage.

● Support artistic risk and innovation in structure and form.

● Evaluate potential projects, resources and partnerships within the context of the workshop’s mission and values.

● In collaboration with the artistic staff, assess and evolve developmental programs in alignment with the current mission, values, and future vision. Developmental programs include: Usual Suspects, Companies-in-Residence, Mondays @ 3, 2050 Artistic Fellowships and summer residencies.

● Work directly with an artistic staff of eleven individuals (including part-time and full-time staff) to imagine and advance structures for collaboration and leadership in the artistic department that support the workshop’s mission and programs.

● Directly supervise the Director of Project Development, Workshops & Residencies, Literary Director & Dramaturg, Casting Director, Artistic Coordinator, Director of Education and Artistic Fellowship Advisor.



Organizational Leadership and Strategy

● Steward the legacy and advance a vision for NYTW’s artistic work and practice in alignment with the organization’s resources.

● Serve as a mentor and motivator for all NYTW staff to create and sustain a healthy, constructive, and professional organizational culture.

● Sustain and expand NYTW’s accountability, anti-racism, and EDI efforts in collaboration with the MD, department heads, and “Core Team” (a rotating group of staffers dedicated to moving the organization forward on a slate of equity and wellness-based priorities).

● Collaborate with staff to determine performance objectives, priorities, and capacity for sustainability and growth within the theatre.

● In collaboration with the MD, board, and/or staff:

○ Supervise all aspects of the organization’s well-being including financial, strategic, production, and human resources.

○ Lead and develop NYTW’s strategic position in New York, across the country and around the world.

○ Support reaching the organization's fundraising goals via donor cultivation and relationship building, including personal meetings and special events.

● Engage with the Board of Trustees around the organization’s strategic direction and finances.

● Lead and serve as a primary connector for all facets of NYTW with donors, audience members, civic and community leaders.



Community and Relationship Development

● Build, nurture, and maintain relationships with a range of stakeholders and constituencies including artists, staff, audiences, trustees, donors, partner organizations and commercial producers.

● Cultivate relationships with current trustees, build relationships with new trustees, and inspire both groups to continue to invest and believe in the organization.

● Stay connected to and invested in the civic life of the East Village, NYC, New York State, and the American theatre community.

● In partnership with the MD and the Director of Marketing, steward the brand of NYTW including the visual identity, audience experience, and organizational voice.

● In collaboration with the Director of Education, shape and advance NYTW’s Education and Community Engagement initiatives, including in-school and out of school programs.



Who are we looking for?

This role is ideal for an emerging or established practitioner in the performing arts who is fueled by a sense of deep curiosity, and ready to make artistic leadership their central passion and primary focus. The incoming Artistic Director will be eager to make a strong, ongoing imprint on the organization’s artistic life and priorities, its artist community, and theatre in New York City and beyond. The ideal candidate will come with a strong artistic background and perspective as well as an inclination toward working within an institutional setting and in partnership with a board, staff and Managing Director.



The Artistic Director must be willing to reside full-time in the New York City area.



This individual will possess

● Enthusiasm for and openness to aesthetics, artists, and structures from across the American and international theatre; including mainstream nonprofit,

emerging/experimental, and commercial theatre -- as well as significant experience in at least one of these sectors.

● Existing strong relationships with artists who represent a multiplicity of voices.

● A passion for challenging and pushing aesthetic form while keeping big social, political, and aesthetic questions at the center of the enterprise.

● A demonstrated ability to cultivate and maintain relationships and trust with a variety of communities both within an institution and beyond.

● The ability to inspire and mobilize diverse stakeholders.

● Skills in community building.

● An orientation towards deep collaboration and the ability to work through challenges with transparency, vulnerability, and heart.

● Experience working toward anti-racist practices in the arts and an understanding of the dynamics of power and privilege into all facets of institutional life and artistic leadership.

● A sense of joy and celebration around artistic work and practice.



How much are we paying and what are the perks?

Annual Salary Range: $180-200K



Benefits package:

● Health, dental and vision insurance

● 403B retirement plan

● Ability to work remotely, from time to time

● Competitive vacation, holiday, and sick paid time off



Start Date

July 2022



How do I apply?

Visit aljpconsulting.com/apply-for-open-positions-1 to submit your application.



We know there are great candidates that may not have all of the qualifications listed above but possess intuitive knowledge or other fully transferable skills. If that’s you, don’t hesitate to apply and tell us about yourself.



NYTW is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). We are committed to diversity in all areas of our work, on and offstage. We encourage applicants with a unique cultural perspective.


Salary: $180,000 to $200,000