Managing Director- Job Posting

The House is Chicago’s premier home for original works of physical and music theatre. Founded and led by Artistic Director Nathan Allen and driven by an interdisciplinary ensemble of Chicago’s next generation of great storytellers. The House aims to become a laboratory and platform for the evolution of the American theatre as an inclusive and popular artform.

The House was founded in 2001 by a group of friends to explore connections between Community and Storytelling through a unique theatrical experience. In 2002 The House was hailed by the Chicago Sun Times as “The Next Big Thing.” In early 2007, following dozens of world premiere productions, and national attention from The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, NPR, Variety, and American Theatre Magazine, The House achieved even greater success with “The Sparrow,” which Chicago Tribune theater critic Chris Jones called, “Among the very best original theater pieces I’ve ever seen.”

The House now produces a 4 show mainstage season with additional late-nite productions and employs 3 full time and 2 part time staff members. We currently perform at the 150 seat Chopin Theatre in the Wicker Park neighborhood of Chicago.

The House’s plays are developed and devised by our ensemble of story-driven theatremakers. Our stories are set in worlds of fairy tales and comic books, science fiction, fantasy and action/adventure in an effort to draw audiences from different parts of the city and get them to laugh and cry together.

House shows are visceral and immersive events. Filled with music, dance, and spectacular stagecraft all in service of classical storytelling. Epic tales of heroes, gods and monsters are brought to life by blending popular performance traditions like Vaudeville, Kabuki, and Grand Guinol, with Cinematic and Popular Music influences.

Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune has called The House: “a group of fearless, optimistic and prodigiously talented theater artists with an unusually cohesive collective aesthetic, rooted in the production of original material drawn from a blend of mythology and mass culture, and produced with an uncommonly intense and open communication with a young and excited audience.”

Charles Isherwood of The New York Times has said “Everyone in Chicago goes to The House.”

Since becoming eligible in 2004, The House has been nominated for 45 Joseph Jefferson Awards (17 wins) and became the first recipient of Broadway in Chicago’s Emerging Theater Award in 2007. Now celebrating its 10th year of original work, The House continues its mission to unite Chicago in the spirit of Community through amazing feats of Storytelling.

Responsibilities
The Managing Director is the Chief Executive Officer of The House and as such is responsible for all marketing, fundraising, community development, financial performance and reporting, public relations and personnel functions. Reporting to the Board of Directors, and in partnership with the Artistic Director as the representative of the creative artists and artistic ensemble, the Managing Director is charged with leading the theatre and carrying out its mission in a manner that supports the continuity of the theatre and adheres to the established policies of the theatre.

The specific responsibilities of the Managing Director include:
• As a partner with the Artistic Director, the Board, and Ensemble, establish, maintain and direct a spirit of community and accomplishment within the organization that align with the theatre’s mission.

• Act in the role of the theatre’s major spokesperson with donors, the business community, and the subscriber base and business and vendor partners. Work closely with the Artistic Director in the construction of House messages, and involve the Artistic Director where appropriate to describe future and previous works and accomplishments.

• Serve as the main staff liaison to the Board of Directors, managing workflow and deliverables by Board members to ensure they have the information and resources to meet their fundraising obligations.

• Facilitate short and long-term planning efforts in conjunction with the Board and all other House stakeholders, be they employees, independent artist or critical business partners.

• Provide leadership to the Director of Development, the Board’s Vice President of Fundraising and the Board on all matters related to the generation of revenues from supporters and the business & fund community.

• Act as the responsible executive for all matters related to human capital resources; inclusive of management of all administrative personnel and any bargaining required for negotiation of employee agreements and resolution of employee disputes.

• Work as partner with the Artistic Director in formulating employee compensation plans and in the construction and tracking of season budgets. This includes any actions over payment decisions to ensemble members, staff and vendors.

• Guide the House into a new, healthy and long-term relationship with Actors Equity Association

• Oversee development of the annual budget with direct input from the Artistic Director and staff with Board and Finance Committee oversight.

• Oversee the timley completion and approval of the fiscal year audit process, as well as all required regulatory reporting, such as 990’s.

• Design, create and manage the production of weekly, monthly and quarterly reporting involving financial position, performance against goals, major changes in planning assumptions, and “executive dashboard reporting” tracking critical performance thresholds and highlighting significant performance variances.

• Control and approve expenditures.

• Manage the application of funds, cash-control, budget adherence, and treasury related duties of the Theatre; ensuring financial viability; and identifying mission-issues with an allowance of time for appropriate Board resolution.

• Promote an atmosphere of group accomplishment and common value recognition in all matters related to the people involved in all House efforts.

• Take the leadership position in all human capital acquisition, disposition, personnel policy creation and control, and company announcement efforts.

Traits and Characteristics
• A creative and dynamic sense of leadership and mission.

• A passion for the theatre; and for theatre as an artform that can inspire a feeling of fellowship in an audience.

• Respect for each individual and their positions on House related issues.

• A commitment to the House philosophy of artistic involvement and the House model of ensemble involvement.

• An understanding of the creative process, the various functions that are involved with all theatre activities, and the process of artistic creation and production.

• A persona that leaves no room for doubt that the Managing Director is a supporter of The House at the founder level of commitment.

• A mastery of leadership and motivation.

• An intellectual acuity and mental involvement level that demonstrates a razor-sharp and intense focus on The House being the best it can be in all matters.

• Demonstration of intelligence (problem solving, analysis, creative and emotional) that demands respect and attracts allegiance.

• Interpersonal skills that facilitate and support the accomplishment of all responsibilities.

• Judgment that allows for the recognition of errors, supports timely and responses, and produces accurate and correct actions plans in most cases.

Qualifications
• Ten years of successful experience in a non-profit theatre organization.

• Leadership experience at an executive level.

• Experience in the development and production of new theatre works.

• Experience negotiating and contracting with relevant theatrical unions.

• A demonstrated passion for the theatre as an actor, production artist, business development expert, organizational developer, or key organizational executive.

Compensation will be commensurate with qualification and experience and is competitive with prevailing compensation for similar positions within the non-profit performing arts industry. Benefits include medical insurance and paid leave package. The House Theatre of Chicago is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply.

Please send a confidential résumé and cover note to William Baker (wmbaker@bakermontgomery.com) and Nathan Allen (Nathan@thehousetheatre.com).

The Sparrow–Out On DVD

We know, you’ve been waiting.

The Sparrow is out on DVD. It costs $15 and you can buy it at thehousetheatre.com/swag. It will take 4-6 weeks for delivery.

The story of Emily Book, a small-town girl returning home ten years after a tragic accident that claimed the lives of her entire class. As the town struggles to accept the strange girl who reminds them of what they lost, Emily attempts to hide the special powers that make her different.

Watch the preview

Chase Community Giving

Here’s what it is: Chase Community Giving is back to give away another $5 million, and you help decide which 200 local charities receive donations. During the voting period, Participants who allow “Access” and “Like” the Chase Community Giving application on the Facebook platform, may vote for Charities. Unless a Participant is the recipient of a Gift Vote, described below, each Participant will be limited to one (1) vote per Charity with a total of twenty (20) votes per valid user profile. Sponsor will donate $250,000 to the Charity receiving the most votes, $100,000 to each of the four runner-up Charities, and $20,000 to each of the remaining top 195 Charities receiving the most votes at the end of the Program. –straight off the Facebook page.

You should vote for House. Click here!

And while you’re at it, you get nineteen other votes and there are a lot of great organizations you can vote for.

The Nutcracker

When I think of The Nutcracker I remember my dad taking me and my sister to see The Nutcracker ballet when I was younger. We would dress up in nice Christmas dresses and watch Clara—the envy of all young girls in the audience—dance with the beautiful snowflakes, party-goers, and sugar plum fairy. When I started to do ballet myself (a short-lived career) I was in “Clara’s Dream.” This performance at my ballet school allowed me to be an angel with a big hoop skirt, a toy soldier, and the lead clown thanks to my abnormally tall height.

This, I quickly learned, is not how House does The Nutcracker.

Some of you may remember The Nutcracker at House when they did in the fifth season. I didn’t see the version that year, but from what I learned at the reading Tuesday night the show is being completely re-vamped. Members of House, Phillip C. Klapperich, Jake Minton (playwrights), Tommy Rapley (director), Kevin O’Donnell (musician), and guest readers piled into the office to sit down with the first draft the revised script. I have been to play readings at school and I was happy to see that the relaxed, friendly atmosphere that I feel in my community at school is something that House appreciates as well. But, the great thing about this show is that it is completely appropriate for the entire family at Christmas. But, as was pointed out at the reading, there are profound, genuine, tragic, and beautiful emotions in the show that are relevant to an adult audience member.

All I can think is, too bad I’m only here for the summer. Maybe I’ll come back up on my Christmas break.

Laura

Fuerza Bruta and The House

Last night Fuerza Bruta invited The House Theatre to come to see their show and have a private discussion afterward. As the new intern in my first week of work, I was sent on to the show.

I got there with my friend Emily, an intern at City Lit. We are broke, as we are unpaid interns, so we were happy to be going to see a show for free. We got into the lobby filled with people milling around in colorful lighting sipping on drinks. So, we got a drink. A $9 drink. And we only finished half of it before we were shuffled into the theater and told to throw them away.

Fuerza Brute is an exciting show. It mixes extreme physical control with the loose-ness of dancing without inhibition. And people were letting themselves get carried away. I knew people were into the show when a man behind me took his shirt off and started swinging it around his head. The older lady opposite of us did not look pleased.

But–we could take pictures. This is what we saw…

The discussion after the show was great. Tamara Levinson, John Hartzell, Marcelo Curotti, Eugena Schilling and Martin Buzzo from Fuerze Bruta talked with The House. The most interesting thing about the show seemed to be that the artists did not want people to try to extract too much meaning. It is just about fun and getting the audience to relax.

What a way to start an internship at The House.

Laura

House Brand in Hot Mag

The House logo is — BLAM!! — in a Russian graphic design magazine.

Famous!

Clips from Girls vs. Boys

Happy Birthday House, $9 Tickets + Win Subscription

chicago off-loop theatre cheap tickets

Look at those fresh-faced kids! This article was posted in the July 29, 2002 issue of the Sun-Times. But The House received its articles of incorporation 9 years ago this week.

What does this mean for YOU?

Join the birthday celebration! Get $9 Pit tickets at Girls vs. Boys all weekend.

It’s so easy. Just go to the BOX OFFICE, click BUY TICKETS, and enter the code NINE when checking out to get the deal on the Pit tickets (usually $15). Tell your friends!

Even. more. awesome. is a way you can support your favorite little theater company that could while also getting something (not a tote bag!) in return. Check out these hot options.

Sign up to donate $9 a month for one year and get a free 2010/11 subscription.

Donate $19 a month for one year and get TWO free 2010/11 subscriptions.

Donate $29 (one time only!) and get entered to win a free subscription.

And don’t forget: not only do you get the $75 subscription — 3 shows! perks! Swag! — you get this fantabulous season screen-printed poster made by Delicious Design League. Can you beat it?

1. Satisfaction of altruism.

2. Continued source of entertainment for the next year.

3. Free House merchandise

4. Art that will be the envy of all your friends.

All for just $9 each month?

Yup.

Happy Birthday House!

The House announces its 8th season!!!

Here is our season 8 poster, that doubles as your member/subscriber ticket!! For more information on the House’s exciting upcoming productions, check out: http://thehousetheatre.com/seasons/eight

To become a member and get tickets to 3 shows of our season, plus the special holiday remount of the House’s The Nutracker, plus this awesome poster, designed by Delicious Design League, check out: http://thehousetheatre.com/box-office/member

Season 8 Poster

Girls vs. Boys VIP Launch Party

The Girls vs. Boys VIP Launch Party

Saturday, April 17, 2010 — 10pm-midnight.
Following the April 17 performance at 8pm.

Usagi Ya — Pan Asian Cuisine and Sushi Bar
1178 N. Milwaukee – around the corner from Chopn
in the downstairs lounge

$25 admission

Your admission helps support new work at The House Theatre of Chicago.

Come hang out with the cast of Girls vs. Boys.
Admission includes 2 drinks + appetizers and a chance to win FABULOUS PRIZES, including a subscription to our 2010/11 season.

And there will be a raffle rabbit.

All VIP guests will get $10 off subscription to The House’s 2010/11 Season (regularly $75)

BUY TICKETS TO THE VIP LAUNCH PARTY

You could win:

2) Tickets to a Chicago Wolves Hockey Game
(1) Year membership to the Chicago Botanic Garden
(2) Tickets to a performance at Theatre Building Chicago
(10) Free lessons with the Chicago Ballet Arts
(2) Tickets to the Chicago Sinfonietta
(2) Tickets for free admission for 4 people and 4 free drinks at Chicago’s legendary blues club Kingston Mines\
(1) VIP tickets to the Shedd Aquarium
(1) Gift Certificate to Fireside Restaurant
(1) Family pass good for four general admission tickets to the Museum of Science and Industry
(4) Admit One tickets to the North Shore Chamber Orchestra
(1) Free pass for 4 to the Shedd Aquarium