Work With Us
Opportunities at Porchlight Music Theatre
Porchlight is Chicago’s center for music theatre thanks to the work of our dedicated and talented staff and artists. If you have skills and experience that would be an asset to our team, we’d love to meet you!
Porchlight Music Theatre is a professional, nonprofit Chicago theatre with an annual budget of about $2.5million. We are part of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers, operating on a CAT II contract, as well as the Chicago Federation of Musicians.
Celebrating the past, present and future of this unique American art form for more than 25 years, Porchlight is in residence at the historic, intimate Ruth Page Center for the Arts in Chicago’s Gold Coast, and completed the best-attended and highest-grossing season in its history just prior to the pandemic.
Porchlight delights more than 30,000 patrons each season with a three- to four-show Mainstage season of inventively reimagined classics, recent Broadway hits and new musical finds; a Porchlight Revisits series of rarely seen musicals in limited run with enhanced dramaturgy; a New Faces Sing Broadway cabaret series; and a free Broadway in your Backyard neighborhood-park concert series, in addition to educational programs for students of all ages through classes and camps, Chicago Public Schools and community partnerships.
It’s an exciting time to be a part of Porchlight Music Theatre!
Porchlight Music Theatre announces Non-AEA auditions for the roles of “Ronnette” and “Crystal” in Little Shop of Horrors
Vocal range top: F5
Vocal range bottom: Ab3
Vocal range top: F5
Vocal range bottom: Ab3
$300.00 per week for performances based on a six performance week
This is a Non-AEA contract. Chicago-area performers only, please. We do not provide travel or housing.
Porchlight Music Theatre is committed to diversity and encourages all its employees to engage in a policy of equal employment opportunity designed to promote a positive model of inclusion. As such, Porchlight Music Theatre encourages performers of all ethnicities, gender identities, and ages, as well as performers with disabilities, to participate in every audition.
Job Postings
AUDIENCE SERVICES
Audience Services Manager
Porchlight Music Theatre, the award-winning center for music theatre in Chicago, seeks a motivated, highly organized individual to join our dynamic team for our 26/27 season at The Biograph Theatre, 2433 North Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL. The Audience Services Manager provides day to day supervision of all front-of-house operations and ensures a safe, efficient, satisfying and memorable experience for all audiences while maximizing ticket sales and donated income.
This part-time, hourly position begins early August and runs until May 2027.
Major duties and responsibilities include:
- Serve as lead for all front-of-house activities, providing a positive customer experience and ensuring a safe and pleasant patron environment
- Train, manage, supervise, and schedule box office and front-of-house personnel
- Oversee all ticketing operations, through PatronManager including order processing, sales reconciliation, daily/weekly/monthly sales reports.
- Prepares and maintains box office financial and attendance records, including receipts, deposits, ticketing reports, and event summaries in coordination with PMT leadership
- Oversee inventory and readiness of box office and front-of-house supplies
- Respond to audience concerns and service issues professionally and efficiently
- Oversee safety and emergency preparedness program for audiences and respond to emergency situations as needed
- Collaborate with all departments as needed for the overall success of special events/rentals
- Manage volunteer ushers (Saints)
- Anticipate and meet the requirements of special needs patrons ensuring ADA standards are met
- Serve as primary contact for PatronManager including configuring new events, maintaining data, and designing new reports
- Maintain and update the organization’s audience services policy and procedure manual
- Oversee concession operations, including the ordering and inventory management of food, beverages and supplies
Qualifications:
Required:
- Minimum 3 years’ experience working in audience services for a professional
- performing arts organization
Availability to work flexible hours including evenings and weekends. - Strong experience in PatronManager
- Excellent phone skills with a friendly and supportive personality (both on the phone and off)
- Punctuality and professionalism
- Commitment to providing a healthy and safe work environment
Preferred:
- Love of the arts, especially musicals
- Ability to work efficiently in a collaborative team setting and liaison with internal and external stakeholders.
- Ability to multitask in a fast-paced work environment while maintaining great attention to detail
- Ability to effectively prioritize responsibilities and work activities
- Flexibility and willingness to adapt as business demands
COMPENSATION:
$25/HOUR
To apply, please send your CV and cover letter to:
Jenna Deja
Interim Executive Director,
jenna@porchlightmusictheatre.org
EDUCATION
Technical Director – George Westinghouse College Prep
Porchlight is proud to partner with George Westinghouse College Prep to support their theater programs fall and spring theater productions. The Technical Director is a key player in the partnership who helps manage the in-school masterclasses, building of the set, teaching basics of stage carpentry to students as well as other technical needs of all productions. They work closely with Porchlight’s Education Director and Westinghouse’s Lead Drama Teacher to ensure quality program delivery and the growth of the program.
Responsibilities:
- Work with Education Director and Theater Director to create schedule of masterclasses, set building, and tech rehearsal
- Create a plan for building, painting, and design of theater sets including portions that will be completed by students in Theater I-IV classes.
- Troubleshoot any issues with student mics and sound mixing
- Act as a Master Carpenter to ensure set pieces are built on schedule
Schedule:
- 11/3-11/7 (8:00 am – 3:10) Build and paint
- 11/8 (12:00 pm – 6:00 pm) Dry Tech
- 11/10 (11:30 am – 9:00 pm) Tech
- 11/11 Schedule flex for catch up
- 11/12 (8:00 am – 3:30 pm) Matinee
- 11/13 (12:00 – 8:00 pm) Show
- 11/14 (5:00 pm – 10:00 pm) Show
- 11/15 (12:00 pm – 5:00 pm) Show
- 11/17 & 11/18 (8:00 am – 3:10 pm) Strike
How to Apply:
Interested applicants should reach out to Education Director, Rebeccah Singer, at rebeccah@porchlightmusictheatre.org. Porchlight Music Theatre is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants from populations underrepresented in the theatre are strongly encouraged to apply.
Teaching Artist
Porchlight accepts resumes for Teaching Artists on a rolling basis for all youth programs – specifically for in-school residencies and after-school programs.
$25-35/hour plus paid prep time and travel stipend per class.
If you are interested (or know anyone who may be interested) in this role, send an email with your teaching resume attached to our Education Director, Rebeccah Singer, at rebeccah@
Responsibilities:
- Work with Education Director and teaching team to plan, prepare, and execute classes upon agreed schedule
- Attend teachers’ meeting prior to the start of the teaching session and agreed upon number of continuing training and professional development sessions
- Arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of class and be ready to receive students at class time
- Not miss more than two classes per session
- Communicate the need for a sub as soon as possible to Education Director
- Participate in self evaluation and provide feedback on teaching team and class experience
- Restore the classroom space after class each day
- Communicate the need for all printing and supplies as soon as possible, or purchase and submit reimbursement
- Adhere to all deadlines for class communications including newsletters and programs
How to Apply:
Please send your teaching resume to Education Director, Rebeccah Singer, at rebeccah@porchlightmusictheatre.org. Porchlight Music Theatre is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants from populations underrepresented in the theatre – especially residents of Chicago’s south and west side and Spanish speaking teaching artists – are strongly encouraged to apply.
INTERNSHIPS
Join the Team. Be a Porchlight Intern.
Porchlight Music Theatre’s Internship program is an opportunity for qualified college students, graduates and young professionals to learn in a hands-on environment as part of the staff of a non-profit theater. Porchlight offers internships in different categories: Artistic Administration, Education & Outreach, Development & Special Events, Marketing & PR/Publicity, and Artistic/Casting.
Porchlight Interns work closely with their departments on special projects and ongoing work. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age. Porchlight Music Theatre is an equal opportunity employer. You can find more information about each internship in “more info”.
Questions? Email rebeccah@porchlightmusictheatre.org
Porchlight is NOT accepting applications for internships at this time. Thank you for your interest.
Be a Part of Our Team As a Volunteer*
Porchlight Music Theatre welcomes volunteers to assist our staff on a variety of projects and events.
- Volunteer benefits include complimentary tickets to Porchlight Music Theatre productions and events, as available.
- Volunteers must complete and submit an application, and an interview will be conducted either in person or via phone.
For more information, please email info@porchlightmusictheatre.org, subject: Volunteer.
*Please note that theatre ushers are provided by The Saints, Volunteers for the Performing Arts. For information on how you can become a Saint, call (773) 529-5510.
Script Submissions
Porchlight Music Theatre accepts full length scripts year-round from literary agents and theatre professionals with whom we have an existing professional relationship. We invite unrepresented writers to submit a brief bio, short synopsis, and ten pages of sample dialogue and music on CD or sent electronically.