The Associate Director of Story Wranglers, Production manages the rehearsal and performance aspects of Paramount’s Story Wranglers Program. This is a seven-week in-school residency in which third graders learn the foundations of creative writing through arts-integrated lessons designed to motivate students and improve their writing skills, confidence, creativity, and storytelling. During the residency, each classroom writes stories as a class, in small groups, and in individual journals. At the end of the seven weeks, professional actors known as the Paramount Story Wranglers transform students’ original stories from page to stage in a live performance for the entire campus.
Department: Education
Manager: Senior Director of Education
Location: Austin, Texas
Full Time: Hybrid Remote/In-Person Schedule. Night and weekend hours required when in rehearsal. (15 weeks per year, Sunday afternoons + Monday-Thursday evenings)
Salary: $55,000 to $60,000 depending on years of relevant education experience.
Responsibilities:
- Partners with the Associate Director of Story Wranglers, Program to maintain a cohesive and unified mission between curriculum and performance.
- Co-manages the Story Wranglers budget with the Associate Director of Story Wranglers Program
- Clearly communicates expectations and needs for each performance with key stakeholders such as campus administration, audio/visual personnel, transportation, etc.
- Serves as ambassador for the program to the community including presentations at conferences, community events, performances, etc.
- Auditions, hires, trains, and schedules members of the (40-50 person) Paramount Story Wranglers performance ensemble.
- Promotes the Story Wranglers ensemble in the Austin performance community and recruits new ensemble members.
- Maintains a welcoming and inclusive rehearsal and performance atmosphere.
- Researches and infuses best-practices for an equitable and anti-racist theatre making process.
- Serves as main facilities contact for the Story Wranglers rehearsal space, currently at Central Presbyterian Church, within walking distance of the Paramount Theatre.
- Serves as director for the majority of Paramount Story Wrangler shows, providing constructive feedback to ensure high-quality performances.
- Oversees production workflow for multiple shows at once.
- Collaborates closely with Paramount Education’s Music Director to infuse music into Story Wranglers performances.
- Hires and trains guest directors and choreographers as needed.
- Supervises a part-time contract Production Associate who assists with administrative tasks and creates original props for each performance.
- Manages and executes payroll for Story Wranglers Ensemble members.
- Assists with the promotion of the program through social media, materials, and community events.
- Supports additional Paramount Education and Austin Theatre Alliance initiatives as they come up, such as Student Matinees and Family Series performances, Summer Camps, Moontower Comedy Festival, Paramount Annual Gala, etc.
Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in Theatre Arts, Arts Management, or demonstration of comparable education and experience.
- Minimum 5 years of experience directing in a professional theatre setting, ideally in theatre for young audiences (TYA).
- Knowledge of best practices in devised theatre and/or sketch comedy.
- Ability to hire, train, and manage staff effectively with a spirit of generosity and mentorship to bring out the best/highest energy in each performer.
- Knowledge of Spanish and interest to increase Spanish language fluency.
- Demonstrated leadership skills, maintaining calm under stress, & problem solving.
- Familiarity with teaching in a K-12 setting.
- Strong visual arts skills are beneficial.
Paramount Perks
- Health insurance benefits package (medical, dental, vision and Telemed).
- Company paid short- and long-term disability.
- 401(k) retirement plan with company match.
- Paid vacation, sick days and holidays.
- Access to covered downtown garage parking.
- Gold’s Gym membership discount.
- Countless opportunities for once-in-a-lifetime experiences at shows, festivals, galas, and beyond…..and more!
Process
To apply for this position, please submit your resume and cover letter to [email protected] with the subject line “Story Wranglers Production.”
