House Manager

Arena Stage•Washington, DC

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Arena Stage seeks a full-time House Manager to support Audience Experience operations during performances and special events. The House Manager is responsible for ensuring a safe, welcoming, accessible, and well-coordinated experience for all audience members and serves as a primary Front of House authority during assigned performances. House Managers work as part of a collaborative Audience Experience team, partnering closely with fellow House Managers, the Associate Director of Audience Experience, the Senior Director of Community Engagement & Audience Experience and additional front-of-house staff to ensure consistency, communication, and shared standards across performances. This is a highly visible leadership role requiring sound judgment, calm decision-making, and clear communication in a live performance environment. The House Manager works in close coordination with Security, Box Office, Concessions, Facilities, and Production teams to support a seamless audience experience from arrival through departure.

Requirements

Minimum of 3 years of experience in front of house, audience services, hospitality, live events, or customer-facing roles
Familiarity with ticketing systems; Tessitura experience preferred
Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills
Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to multitask
Ability to remain calm, professional, and audience-centered in fast-paced environments
Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively within a team-based leadership structure
Availability to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as required by the performance calendar
CPR/First Aid certification or willingness to obtain
Passion for the arts, patron engagment and live performance

Responsibilities

Lead Front of House operations for Arena Stage productions and events across all three theaters: Fichandler Stage (680 seats) Kreeger Theater (510 seats) Kogod Cradle (202 seats)
Serve a primary on-site Front of House authority during assigned performances
Supervise ushers and other audience-facing staff on site
Conduct pre-show Front of House briefings and assign staff positions and responsibilities
Manage late seating, re-entry, and audience flow in coordination with production needs
Collaborate with fellow House Managers to ensure alignment on procedures, coverage, and audience experience standards
Respond to audience concerns, accessibility needs, and service recovery situations with care and discretion
Support the delivery of accessibility services and devices in alignment with Arena Stage standards
Help foster an inclusive and welcoming environment for first-time attendees, subscribers, donors, community partners, and VIPs
Coordinate in real time with Security, Box Office, Concessions, Facilities, and Production teams
Conduct pre- and post-show walk-throughs of lobbies, theaters, restrooms, and exterior entryways to ensure readiness, cleanliness, and safety
Serve a primary responder to Front of House incidents and emergencies in collaboration of the Associate Director of Audience Experience
Assist with emergency response procedures, including evacuation or shelter-in-place as needed
Respond to medical incidents and coordinate with emergency personnel as appropriate
Complete incident reports and end-of-performance documentation
Complete performance reports and share notable audience feedback, operational issues, and trends
Communicate clearly with internal partners to support continuous improvement of Audience Experience operations
Participate in regular communication and knowledge-sharing with fellow House Managers to support consistency, learning, and team cohesion