Managing Director

Managing Director

Position Profile

About the Opportunity

The Award-winning Barrington Stage Company (“BSC”) in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, has initiated a search for a Managing Director. BSC’s Board plans to identify its choice for the position and engage the successful candidate by the late spring of 2025. The Managing Director will join in leading BSC to its next era of success and impact for its audiences, community and the American theatre profession more broadly.

Barrington Stage has successfully transitioned from the pandemic and decades of success under the leadership of a charismatic founder. Its Managing Director will have the opportunity to partner with renowned director and Artistic Director Alan Paul and an engaged board in leading the company to its next era of success under a new co-executive team and financial structure that supports the company’s full artistic and organizational potential going forward.

BSC’s Managing Director will help shape the company’s future and continue to strengthen its relationship to the increasingly diverse communities it serves. They will also seek opportunities to engage with a broad constituency by strongly supporting educational and community engagement initiatives for people of all ages and backgrounds.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to become the co-executive of a multi-faceted regional theatre with state-of-the-art facilities located in one of the most picturesque and vibrant regions of the country. They will be joining the leadership team of a company with a demonstrated history of creating and producing work that exhibits the highest production standards and a rigorous commitment to engage audiences in ways that bring new understanding to contemporary life and our common humanity. The successful candidate will be excited about engaging with the broader Berkshire community and supporting colleagues and constituents in advancing BSC’s interests in support of the arts and cultural community and those it serves at the local, regional and national levels.

BSC’s Managing Director will be an individual who will help lead the company with a clear organizational vision that is aligned with that of the Artistic Director and the company’s mission. They will partner with BSC’s Artistic Director, Board and staff to support continuing organizational success that ensures BSC continues to respond successfully to the complex challenges that face theatres now and into the future.

Competitive candidates will be accomplished arts administrators and will have a passion for BSC’s mission, and strong relationships throughout the theatre and arts communities. BSC’s Managing Director will be deeply committed to and have a demonstrable history of their commitment to institutional practices that encompass EDIA-based values and will foster systemic change that embeds equity, diversity, inclusion and access in all of BSC’s endeavors and relationships in support of BSC’s continued efforts to become an anti-racist organization. The search committee looks forward to interacting with organizational leaders from diverse backgrounds and varying experiences who have entrepreneurial instincts and social and artistic curiosity.

About Barrington Stage Company

Founded in 1995, Barrington Stage Company is one of the fastest-growing arts venues in Berkshire County. Today, BSC continues to gain national recognition for the quality of its productions, its award-winning educational programs and its broad civic engagement. With an annual operating budget of approximately $6.7 million for the current fiscal year, BSC attracts an audience of more than 30,000 each year to an average of eight stage productions and numerous concerts, cabarets and special events in three venues in downtown Pittsfield, MA.

BSC first gained national prominence in 2004 with the world premiere of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. A runaway hit at BSC, the musical later moved to Broadway where it garnered significant acclaim and won two Tony Awards. Numerous BSC productions have been named among the top 10 productions of the year by various media outlets - leading The Boston Globe to laud BSC as “one of the jewels in the state’s crown.” BSC has been recognized by the profession for its artistic excellence and contributions to the field with countless awards and honors culminating in 2020 with BroadwayWorld Berkshires naming BSC “Theatre Company of the Decade”.

Today, BSC is a cultural flagship for the region it serves and an economic driver for Downtown Pittsfield and surrounding communities. After decades of strategic growth, the theatre’s campus includes the 520- seat, state-of-the art Boyd-Quinson Stage, the Sydelle and Lee Blatt Performing Arts Center, home to the 136-seat St. Germain Stage and the 99-seat Mr. Finn’s Cabaret, the Wolfson Center, which houses BSC’s administrative offices, rehearsal rooms and costume shop in a prime location in downtown Pittsfield; and its Production Center, which houses its set, prop and paint shops.

In addition to its heralded programs, BSC has become an integral part of downtown Pittsfield’s economic revitalization, so much so that the Massachusetts Cultural Council presented a “Creative Community” Commonwealth Award to the City of Pittsfield in recognition of its efforts to boost the creative economy in Massachusetts.

Barrington Stage has been active for more than 15 years in developing and producing new works for the stage. It has produced over 40 premieres,18 of which have moved on to New York and/or major regional theatres around the country. BSC’s commitment to new work also includes the development and production of new musicals. The Musical Theatre Lab was created after BSC workshopped and premiered William Finn and Rachel Sheinkin’s The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee in response to musical theatre writers not having a home to develop their work. It has become an integral part of BSC’s commitment to support a broad spectrum of new musical works and writers that author them. Since MTL’s creation, 17 world premieres and 6 workshops of new musicals have been produced, and many have moved on to New York and various venues around the country.

In addition to its award-winning work onstage, Barrington Stage has long been at the forefront of creating impactful educational and community engagement initiatives. Its robust educational programming is designed to “awaken the minds, imaginations and creative power of young people” by providing opportunities for them to experience the joy of live theatre as performers, technicians and audience members. Every year, BSC offers more than 250 classes and employs 40-50 teaching artists who work with 7,000 young people from a broad spectrum of backgrounds and lived experiences.

BSC has long been at the forefront of addressing social justice issues onstage and off. In 2016, it’s production of American Son became the impetus for a symposium on race and bias throughout the communities it serves. In addition to its mainstage run, it played to more than 2,000 high school students who participated in talk backs with actors and BSC creative staff members throughout the tour. As part of its continuing efforts to join the community in addressing systemic racism, BSC launched its Black Voices Matter (BVM) Initiative to amplify BIPOC voices within its community and raise awareness of social justice issues. The BVM Initiative speaks to the racial climate in this country and the social, political and economic inequities facing communities of color. Building on BVM, in the summer of 2021, BSC produced a week-long “Celebration of Black Voices Festival” where BSC staff worked with local artists of color to present programs that celebrate their many talents.

To learn more about BSC’s programming, educational initiatives and ongoing community engagement efforts, go to https://barringtonstageco.org/.

BSC’s Mission, Values and Guiding Principles

Mission

Barrington Stage Company has a three-fold mission: to produce top-notch, compelling work; to develop new plays and musicals; and to engage our community with vibrant, inclusive educational outreach programs.

Vision

Barrington Stage creates theatre experiences that engage and excite our audiences by entertaining as well as challenging them with the most dynamic and provocative productions possible. BSC creates a platform for new voices and diverse perspectives that drives our work: our productions, our educational programming and our community engagement.

Values

• Artistic Excellence — we create an environment that empowers and supports artists to do their best work.
• Community — we create relevant work that deeply resonates with the diverse communities we serve.
• Respect and Openness — we strive to create a positive environment where ideas from many different perspectives are valued and openly discussed.
• Stewardship — we believe that financial health and stability are integral to our success and embrace our responsibility to be good stewards of the resources entrusted to us and to make wise and prudent use of those resources.
• Equity, Diversity and Inclusion — we welcome artists, staff and patrons of all ethnic and cultural backgrounds, economic groups, religions, age, gender and physical ability.

Barrington Stage Company is committed to a workplace free of discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, or disability. Our work seeks to celebrate all members of our community and amplify the marginalized voices who are often silenced. It is our responsibility to prioritize and protect from discrimination and oppression those who make our work possible. We stand in solidarity against bigotry and racism. We will hold our artists, staff, board, audience members, volunteers and donors accountable to these principles.

The Community

Pittsfield is the largest city and the county seat of Berkshire County, Massachusetts. The population was just under 44,000 at the 2020 census, making Pittsfield the third largest municipality in Western Massachusetts. It is the gateway to the Berkshires where nearby ski resorts draw winter visitors. To the south is the Tanglewood performing arts center in Lenox and the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge. In 2009, the City of Pittsfield was chosen to receive a 2009 Commonwealth Award, Massachusetts' highest award in the arts, humanities, and sciences and in 2010, the Financial Times proclaimed Pittsfield the "Brooklyn of the Berkshires" in an article covering its renaissance at that time.

Pittsfield operates a public school system which has over 6,000 students and is home to the main campus of Berkshire Community College and Mildred Elley's Pittsfield campus. The nearest state college is the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams, and the nearest state university is Westfield State University. In close proximity are the renowned Williams College in Williamstown and Bard College at Simon’s Rock in Great Barrington.

Pittsfield offers a host of recreational opportunities and natural resources. It is home to two major lakes, Onota and Pontoosuc, both used for swimming, boating, and fishing. Pittsfield is home to Canoe Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary, 264 acres of woods, fields, and wetlands maintained by the Massachusetts Audubon Society. Bousquet Ski Area and Summer Resort and a number of golf courses entertain visitors and residents year-round. Pittsfield State Forest, an 11,000-acre park, provides residents and tourists with hiking and cross-country skiing trails, camping, picnic areas, and a swimming beach.

Pittsfield is designated by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as a “Gateway City” due to its economic revitalization driven by creative industries, of which BSC is a recognized leader. Its downtown is also one of Massachusetts’ Cultural Districts, the Upstreet Cultural District, which, in addition to its theatre offerings, boasts a lively roster of thriving galleries, artist studios, cooperatives and a variety of festivals and community events and a growing dining scene with cuisine representing 4 different continents. Its eclectic cafés have breakfast and coffee covered, and many of its downtown restaurants serve food and drink late into the evening.

Job Description

Qualities and Qualifications

The Search Committee is focused on identifying candidates whose talents as a theatre administrator/leader have been in evidence for a significant period of time and who have had demonstrable leadership success in complex creative environments. Successful candidates will demonstrate:

• The collaborative skills to successfully partner with the Artistic Director, Board, staff, and key stakeholders to provide organizational leadership and direction;
• Strong and proven leadership experience at a professional theatre or performing arts organization; Past success in organizational planning and operational implementation;
• Proven ability to manage a complex, creative company with success in mission delivery and positive financial results;
• Vision and entrepreneurial capacity to elevate the stature of BSC and its productions locally and throughout the national theater community;
• Passion and proven ability to implement and advance EDIA values and initiatives within the organization, on its stages, and in the community;
• A compelling public spokesperson and fundraiser who is able to inspire support for BSC’s mission and organizational goals;
• The ability to analyze the theater’s operational status and to develop strategies in support of its overall organizational success;
• The ability to build, lead, and inspire a dynamic management team and staff;
• A collaborative and open management style;
• The experience to fully support BSC’s educational and community engagement objectives;
• The capacity, with the Development Director, to shape and implement an active and multifaceted fundraising effort;
• A demonstrated ability to develop productive relationships with civic leaders throughout the Berkshires and Massachusetts;
• Proven ability to balance artistic initiatives and risks with fiscal responsibility.

Principal Role and Responsibilities

The Managing Director, as BSC’s co-executive and Chief Administrative Officer, shall be principally responsible for BSC’s administrative, financial, marketing, development and human resource functions. The successful candidate will enable BSC to carry out its programming and broader mission within a financially sustainable business model. Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• In collaboration with the Artistic Director, guiding the development of a long-term business model that supports BSC’s artistic mission and energizes the staff, Board, artists and the community;
• Working with the Artistic Director, Board, and key constituents to develop and advance all aspects of the theater’s brand identity;
• Participating in the development of a sustainable organizational structure that prioritizes standards of excellence while recognizing the importance of work/life balance;
• Directing the preparation of the annual budget and managing operations throughout the year to ensure fiscal integrity;
• Supervising BSC’s day-to-day administrative, financial and operational functions;
• Serving as an ex-officio member of the Board and its Executive and Finance Committees, keeping the Board and Committees fully informed of all BSC operating and financial matters, and assisting the Board President and committee chairs in planning and conducting meetings;
• Collaborating with the Artistic Director in defining annual season planning assumptions and co-leading the planning process in a manner that will contribute to both artistic and financial success;
• Serving as an outward facing presence to cultivate relationships with leading regional theaters and commercial producers;
• Overseeing the financial planning, budgeting, and long-term development of New Works;
• Championing EDIA values and practices that demonstrate BSC’s commitment to anti-racism;
• In coordination with the Development Director, developing, implementing and participating in strategies and initiatives to increase contributed income and build corporate and foundational support;
• In coordination with the Marketing Director, developing and implementing, comprehensive strategies for marketing BSC’s productions and programs, focusing on increasing revenue, building community support, and enhancing the theater’s national reputation;
• In coordination with the Director of Education, ensuring that the young people of Berkshire County continue to experience live theater and arts education opportunities onstage, backstage and in their communities;
• In coordination with the Director of Production, assuring that the highest standards and technical expertise in all areas of design are achieved within BSC’s budget;
• Insuring that BSC is in compliance with the terms of all personnel policies and collective bargaining agreements;
• Representing BSC in all relationships and negotiations with associations that represent employees and contract personnel, such as Actor’s Equity Association, United Scenic Artists, and Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers;
• In collaboration with the Artistic Director and others, continuously cultivating community support for BSC’s core mission and programming;
• Participating in Board development and recruitment activities, as appropriate;
• Acting as a community spokesperson on behalf of the theater and attending community events as BSC’s representative.

The Board seeks candidates with vision, passion, and commitment. The successful candidate will be an inspiring representative of the theatre and the arts more broadly. They will look forward to becoming an active member of the Berkshire community. They will recognize and embrace the importance of building community throughout the organization and with Barrington Stage’s external stakeholders at the local, regional and national levels.

Not sure you meet 100% of our qualifications? Research shows that men apply for jobs when they fulfill an average of 60% of the criteria. Yet women and other people who are systematically marginalized tend only to apply if they meet every requirement. If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply.

We are dedicated to considering a broad array of candidates, including those with diverse workplace experiences and backgrounds in the performing arts or non-profit space. So, whether you're returning to work after a gap in employment, simply looking to transition, or taking the next step in your career path, we will be glad to have you on our radar.

Compensation

Barrington Stage Company offers competitive compensation, with a salary range starting at $160,000-$175,000 annually, and a generous benefits package that includes a comprehensive range of benefits, including medical and dental insurance, life insurance, paid vacation and sick leave.

Application Instructions

The search for the Managing Director is being conducted on behalf of Barrington Stage Company by Tom O'Connor Consulting Group, a New York-based executive search and consulting firm specializing in the arts and culture industries. Cynthia Fuhrman, Vice President/Executive Search, is leading the search process, reporting to a search committee made up of a mix of members of the Barrington Stage Company Board of Trustees and Staff.

Please use your cover letter to tell us about what you hope to bring to this role, and how your background and experience responds to the desired skills and qualities.

To apply, visit the online application (https://tinyurl.com/3z5ktfxk) and submit your materials. For best consideration, please apply by April 11, 2025. While we will still accept and consider applications received after this date, we encourage you to apply as early as possible for the best chance at being considered for the position. Please note that meeting the priority deadline does not guarantee an interview. No phone calls, please.