Artistic Director

Millbrook Playhouse Mill Hall, Pennsylvania

Position Type: Contract (January 1, 2027 – December 31, 2027)
Reports To: Board of Directors
Works Closely With: Managing Director, Board of Directors, Production Staff, Artistic Personnel, Volunteers, Donors, and Community Partners

About Millbrook Playhouse

Located in rural Central Pennsylvania, Millbrook Playhouse is a historic professional summer stock theatre serving Clinton County and the surrounding region for more than 60 years. The organization produces professional theatrical productions, educational programming, and community engagement initiatives that enrich the cultural life of the region while attracting audiences from across Pennsylvania and beyond.

Millbrook Playhouse seeks an innovative, collaborative, and visionary Artistic Director to provide artistic leadership, strengthen community engagement, and guide the continued growth of one of Pennsylvania’s longstanding professional theatre organizations.

Position Summary

The Artistic Director serves as the chief artistic leader of Millbrook Playhouse and is responsible for the planning, development, execution, and evaluation of all artistic programming. The Artistic Director provides leadership in season planning, casting, production oversight, artistic personnel management, audience development initiatives, and community engagement efforts while maintaining the highest standards of artistic excellence.

Working in partnership with the Managing Director and Board of Directors, the Artistic Director will oversee the artistic, promotional, and operational aspects of all productions while contributing to organizational sustainability through fundraising, donor cultivation, sponsorship development, and grant support. In addition to overseeing seasonal productions, the Artistic Director will provide leadership and oversight for all educational and youth programming, including summer theatre camps, youth workshops, youth ensemble productions, and other educational initiatives. The Artistic Director is responsible for ensuring that educational programming reflects the same standards of artistic excellence, organizational stewardship, personnel management, community engagement, and fiscal responsibility required throughout the organization’s artistic operations.

The Artistic Director will be responsible for producing and supervising up to nine (9) productions during the contract year, including one (1) production in the fall and one (1) production in the winter season.

This position offers a hybrid structure. The Artistic Director may perform duties remotely from January through April and must be physically present on-site in Central Pennsylvania from May through December to oversee productions, rehearsals, artistic personnel, and community engagement activities.

Essential Responsibilities

Artistic Leadership & Season Planning

• Develop and curate the annual theatrical season, ensuring artistic excellence, audience appeal, educational value, and alignment with the theatre’s mission.
• Recommend productions for Board approval and create a balanced season portfolio that supports organizational objectives.
• Maintain awareness of current theatrical trends, emerging artists, and opportunities for innovative programming.
• Ensure all programming reflects the organization’s commitment to artistic integrity, community engagement, and professional standards.
• Evaluate artistic outcomes and recommend future programming initiatives.

Production Oversight

• Lead the artistic planning, coordination, and execution of all productions.
• Produce and supervise up to nine (9) productions annually.
• Ensure a minimum of two productions occur during the fall and winter portions of the season.
• Oversee production schedules, artistic timelines, and operational readiness.
• Monitor production quality from concept development through final performance.
• Work closely with directors, designers, stage managers, and technical personnel to ensure successful execution of each production.
• Maintain consistent artistic standards across all performances and programs.

Educational & Youth Programming

• Provide artistic leadership and strategic oversight for all educational and youth theatre programs, including summer camps, workshops, classes, and youth ensemble performances.
• Develop, evaluate, and expand educational programming that supports Millbrook Playhouse’s mission and serves youth throughout the region.
• Oversee the planning, staffing, administration, and artistic execution of youth productions and educational performances.
• Recruit, hire, supervise, mentor, and evaluate teaching artists, camp staff, directors, choreographers, music directors, and other personnel involved in educational programming.
• Ensure that youth programming maintains the same standards of artistic excellence, professionalism, safety, and organizational effectiveness expected of all Playhouse productions and programs.
• Collaborate with schools, families, community organizations, and other partners to strengthen educational outreach and youth participation.
• Participate in curriculum development, program assessment, and long-range planning for educational initiatives.

Personnel Management

• Recruit, hire, contract, supervise, mentor, and evaluate directors, actors, designers, stage managers, choreographers, music directors, and other artistic personnel.
• Collaborate with production leadership in the recruitment and management of technical and production staff.
• Foster a professional, collaborative, inclusive, and supportive work environment.
• Establish clear artistic expectations and performance standards.
• Address personnel concerns in a professional and timely manner.

Organizational Leadership

• Partner closely with the Managing Director to ensure alignment between artistic vision and organizational resources.
• Participate in strategic planning and organizational development initiatives.
• Attend Board of Directors meetings and provide regular reports regarding artistic operations, season planning, production status, personnel needs, and artistic outcomes.
• Serve as a key spokesperson and ambassador for the organization within the community and professional theatre industry.
• Develop relationships with artists, patrons, educational institutions, community organizations, and regional partners.

Marketing, Audience Engagement & Community Relations

• Collaborate with staff and volunteers on promotional strategies that support ticket sales and audience development.
• Assist in the creation of marketing content, production messaging, season announcements, and audience engagement initiatives.
• Participate in public appearances, donor events, educational activities, media interviews, and community outreach efforts.
• Support efforts to expand audience participation and strengthen community engagement throughout the region.

Financial Stewardship

• Collaborate with the Managing Director and Board in preparing the annual operating budget.
• Develop production budgets and artistic expense projections.
• Exercise due diligence in managing production costs and ensuring expenditures remain within approved budgetary constraints.
• Monitor and approve artistic expenditures as authorized.
• Identify opportunities for efficiencies while maintaining artistic quality.
• Ensure artistic planning aligns with organizational financial goals and sustainability objectives.

 Fundraising & Development

• Assist with fundraising efforts, sponsorship development, donor cultivation, and grant applications as needed.
• Support special events, donor engagement initiatives, and fundraising campaigns.
• Collaborate with Board members and staff in communicating the artistic vision to current and prospective supporters.
• Help identify grant opportunities and contribute artistic content required for funding applications and reports.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Theatre, Arts Administration, Performing Arts, Fine Arts, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Demonstrated experience in artistic leadership, directing, producing, or theatre management within a professional theatre environment.
• Experience recruiting, supervising, and evaluating artistic personnel.
• Strong knowledge of theatrical production processes, including casting, design, rehearsals, production management, and performance operations.
• Experience managing budgets and exercising fiscal responsibility.
• Exceptional communication, leadership, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to balance artistic excellence with financial sustainability.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with staff, volunteers, artists, donors, and Board members.

Preferred

• Professional experience in a summer stock or regional theatre environment.
• Experience working within nonprofit arts organizations.
• Grant writing and fundraising experience.
• Experience engaging rural communities and developing audience growth initiatives.
• Existing professional networks within the regional or national theatre community.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Visionary artistic leadership and strong curatorial judgment.
• Demonstrated success overseeing multiple productions and competing priorities simultaneously.
• Strong organizational and project-management skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and collaborative leadership abilities.
• Ability to inspire artists, staff, audiences, donors, and community stakeholders.
• Strong budgeting and financial-planning capabilities.
• Effective problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Commitment to artistic excellence, professionalism, and ethical conduct.
• Familiarity with current theatrical best practices and industry trends.
• Ability to represent the theatre positively in public and professional settings.

Work Schedule & Location

• Contract period: January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2027
• Remote work permitted from January through April 2027 for season planning, casting, budgeting, fundraising support, and administrative responsibilities.
• Required on-site residency from May through December 2027. Housing will be provided during on-site residency.
• Evening, weekend, and holiday work will be required during production periods.
• Attendance at rehearsals, performances, special events, Board meetings, donor functions, and community engagement activities is expected.

Compensation

Salary and benefits are competitive and commensurate with experience.

To Apply

Interested candidates should submit the following to millbrookadsearch@gmail.com

• Cover letter
• Resume or curriculum vitae
• Artistic philosophy statement
• Three professional references
• Examples of directing, producing, or artistic leadership experience (portfolio materials optional)