Company & Stage Manager for Opera

Rice University•Houston, TX

41d•Onsite

About The Position

The Company & Stage Manager ensures that the day-to-day operations and public performances of the Shepherd School of Music's Opera Department are executed with excellence and professionalism. This position serves as Stage Manager for opera productions, concerts, opera scenes programs, auditions, and other voice-related events and special projects as assigned. The Company & Stage Manager coordinates all travel logistics, including flights, lodging, ground transportation, and itineraries for guest artists. This position serves as a key member of the production leadership team, liaising with a diverse community of students, faculty, staff, and patrons on a daily basis. The Company & Stage Manager reports to the Director of Opera Studies and works closely with all members of the opera department staff, including the Director of Operations and Director of Production for Opera. The ideal candidate is proactive, detail-oriented, and possesses exceptional time management and organizational skills. They are collaborative, adaptable, and thrive in a dynamic artistic environment.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree
In lieu of the education requirement, additional related experience, above and beyond what is required, on an equivalent year-for-year basis, may be substituted
3+ years of experience as a stage manager working in a professional theater organization or university/conservatory music or theater program
In lieu of the experience requirement, additional related education above and beyond what is required, on an equivalent year-for-year basis may be substituted
Ability to read music and follow musical scores
Ability to work independently as well as part of a team
Excellent verbal, written, and organizational communication skills
Ability to give direction and delegate responsibility clearly and patiently
Ability to multitask and remain calm under pressure in a dynamic, fast-paced environment
Ability to work successfully with a range of strong artistic personalities
Ability to support the needs of undergraduate and graduate students in a supervisory capacity
Commitment to working in a collaborative environment serving a diverse group of constituencies and situations
Proven knowledge, skills, and ability in emergency preparedness and incident management
Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel), Google Workspace (GCal, Drive), and arts-based scheduling systems

Nice To Haves

4+ years experience as a stage manager working in a professional theater organization or university/conservatory music or theater program

Responsibilities

Serves as stage manager for all opera productions and projects as determined by the Director of Opera Studies. Responsibilities include: Running all staging and technical rehearsals
Ensuring that the rehearsal space is set for all music and staging rehearsals
Collaborating with Opera Department staff to create schedules, agendas, calendars, and other production paperwork
Creating, maintaining, and finalizing all necessary production paperwork
Maintaining all artistic and production values during the run of the production
Supervising assistant stage managers, student workers/crew as applicable
Attending production and post-production meetings as required
Supports opera/voice department auditions, special events (i.e., master classes), etc., as needed
Fosters a culture of respect and safety within the rehearsal setting; implements and upholds policies that create an inclusive, supportive environment for students
Mentors and guides students to prepare them for professional settings through hands-on production experience
Acts as the primary coordinator between the academic, artistic, and production elements of the department
Creates and oversees surtitles from sourcing to input to production
Coordinates travel, housing, and rental cars for out-of-town artists
Organizes on-site hospitality for visiting guest artists
Researches and communicates accurate budget figures to the Director of Production for all artist travel and accommodations
Organizes and manages the Pack Language Institute Study Abroad Program
Oversees and maintains the SSM prop inventory, including sign-outs and storage
Other duties as assigned
As needed, supports special Shepherd School and/or Rice University events, internal or external rentals in the Morrison Theater, working closely with the Director of Production for Opera and members of the SSM Facilities and Production teams