The Great River Shakespeare Festival in Winona, Minnesota is the largest professional Equity theatre to open in the Upper Midwest in the last 10 years and has enjoyed unprecedented success since its 2004 inaugural season. Employing nearly 100 people at the peak of the season, GRSF presents its six-week long season of rotating repertory from late June to the end of July in the 435-seat mainstage theatre on campus at Winona State University.
In addition to its professional company and staff, GRSF offers internship and apprenticeships to aspiring theatre technicians, administrators, and actors, and annually recruits its interns and apprentices from college and university theatre training programs across the country. The intern/apprentice program experience culminates with performances of a studio theatre production of a play by Shakespeare (in 2013: Macbeth).
JOB OPENING – Managing Director
April 30, 2013
The Great River Shakespeare Festival, currently celebrating its 10th season of “unexpected Shakespeare” in Winona, Minnesota, seeks qualified candidates for the position of Managing Director. GRSF produces two to three professional productions each summer, hosts numerous education and community outreach programs, and maintains a year-around staff of five, together with part-time staff contributing to ongoing operations. GRSF operates on a LORT D-referent contract, and engages nearly 100 artists and craftspeople at the peak of its season. Annual operating budget: $800,000.
The Managing Director will be a collaborating and co-equal partner with the Artistic Director, each reporting to the Board of Directors through the Board Chair and Executive Committee. The Managing Director will have several direct reports as approved from time to time by the Board.
Key Roles and Responsibilities
A critical first priority is to establish and maintain a strong working relationship with the Artistic Director. This executive team must offer a unified and inspirational approach for Board, staff and volunteers.
Specific roles include:
- Guide the organization, together with the Artistic Director, to achieve its vision in a sustainable manner.
- Take primary responsibility for carrying out the mission of the festival through Development, Sales and Marketing, Finance, front-of-house, community relations, personnel management, media relations, budget planning, and Board development activities.
- Take a lead role in Board development and attend Board meetings and committee meetings as appropriate.
- Take an active and effective personal role in fundraising strategy and in high-level donor cultivation and solicitation.
- Report ongoing activities and new developments on a continuing basis to the Executive Committee of the Board.
- Manage office staff and provide clear guidance and directives with regard to their respective duties and responsibilities.
- Create and nurture a collaborative environment for staff, volunteers, and the Board.
- Serve as the staff financial officer for the organization.
- Lead the development of an annual budget based on sound revenue projections, and then manage the budget using accurate and efficient financial management tools and techniques.
- Provide regular budget reports for staff and Board.
- Provide overall leadership for the sales and marketing efforts of the organization, including audience development, media, sales, public relations, and publications.
- Take an active role as an advocate in the community for the organization.
- Perform other duties as assigned from time to time by the Board or Executive Committee.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in arts administration, business, or related area.
- Experience in fundraising and development, sales and marketing.
- Excellent communication skills (oral and written).
- Non-profit organization work experience.
- Knowledge and experience in accounting and budgeting.
- Familiarity with QuickBooks and patron software programs a plus.
- Demonstrated leadership ability.
- Ability to exercise creative thinking in the areas of future planning for long-term sustainability and future growth as well as for day-to-day operations.
- Work experience in, and passion for, live theatre is desirable.
How to apply
Email resume and letter of interest to: shaslemore@thern.com. Include “GRSF MD Search” and your last name in the subject line. For more information visit GRSF.org.
Apprentice Actor Training Program
For details, application and audition information, visit grsf.org/education/apprentice
2013 Season Auditions for Great River Shakespeare Festival
The Great River Shakespeare Festival’s 10th Anniversary Season season will include 2 productions. Henry V and Twelfth Night. The professional acting company consists of 18 actors including 7 Equity actors working under a LOA contract referencing (LOA – LORT D). All contracts include housing in Winona, MN.
Auditions for the 2014 season will be held in Winona, Minnesota in early July. Anyone auditioning will receive a ticket to see one of the productions in the 2013 season: Henry V or Twelfth Night. Please prepare two monologues each under 2 minutes. At least one should be by Shakespeare and preferably in verse. If you are singer, please prepare 16 bars of a song to sing a capella. No accompanist will be provided. To schedule a time or for more information, please email your photo and resume to auditions@grsf.org. No phone calls please.
Internships
We are no longer accepting applications for 2013 internships. If you have filled out our application form but have not sent a resume, please follow up by sending a resume to: danm@grsf.org. And be sure to watch our site as early as November for the applications to open for 2014.
Opportunities for Teens
Teens: Click here for information on our Journeyman and Shakespeare for Young Actor’s Programs.
