Stage Manager for The Dinosaur of Lake Michigan

Kerfuffle is seeking a non-equity stage manager for The Dinosaur of Lake Michigan. The Dinosaur of Lake Michigan is an interactive play for very young children and their caregivers that will perform at Night Out in the Parks this summer. This is a world premiere co-production conceived by Rachel Hartmann, Ashley Laverty, and Emilie Wingate. The production is directed by Alyssa Vera Ramos.

Synopsis:

The Dinosaur of Lake Michigan is an outdoor puppet play designed for very young children aged 3-6 with their caregivers. Taking place on and near the beaches of Chicago, it examines the climate emergency using hyper realistic animal puppets made out of recyclable items, live music, and physical storytelling.

Mary is fascinated by the legends of monsters in the Great Lakes. She invites audiences to join her on her treasure hunt for the elusive “dinosaur of Lake Michigan”, also known as a sturgeon. The Dinosaur of Lake Michigan is an exciting introduction to site specific theatre for very young children that highlights the importance of community care in light of the ever growing climate emergency.

Production Calendar Rehearsal Dates

Location: The Edge Theater – 5451 N. Broadway St., Chicago, IL 60640 and TBD outdoor locations for preparation for Night Out In the Parks
July 19 6:00p-9:30p
July 22 6:00p-9:30p
July 23 6:00p-9:30p
July 25 10:00a-2:00p
July 26 10:00a-2:00p
July 28 6:00p-9:30p
July 29 6:00p-9:30p
August 2 6:00p-9:30p
August 4 6:00p-9:30p
August 5 6:00p-9:30p
August 6 6:00p-9:30p
August 8 10:00a-2:00p
August 9 10:00a-2:00p
August 11 4:00p-8:00p
August 12 4:00p-8:00p
August 13 4:00p-8:00p

Dress/Tech Rehearsals Dates

Location: TBD outdoor locations for preparation for Night Out In the Parks
August 15 9:30a-2:00p (Open rehearsal)
August 16 10:00a-2:00p (Tech)
August 17 4:00p-8:00p (Tech)
August 18 4:00p-8:00p (Tech)
August 19 4:00p-8:00p (Tech)
August 20 4:00p-8:00p (Rain Date Hold)

Performance Dates

Previews/Performances: Performances are at 10:30a or 5:30p on select weekdays or weekends between August 21 and September 5.

Locations:

3 north locations: Leone Beach, George Lane Beach, Clark
3 central locations: Humboldt Beach, McKinley, Ward
3 south locations: Marquette, Auburn, Sherman
August 21 @10:30a
August 22 @10:30a
August 23 @10:30a
August 25 @5:30p
August 26 @5:30p
August 27 @5:30p
August 28 @5:30p
August 29 @10:30a
August 30 @10:30a (RAIN DATE HOLD)
September 1 @5:30p
September 2 @5:30p (RAIN DATE HOLD)
September 3 @5:30p (RAIN DATE HOLD)
September 4 @5:30p (RAIN DATE HOLD)
September 5 @5:30p (RAIN DATE HOLD)

Required Skills

Must be able to lift at least 25lbs.
Must have a valid driver’s license.
Must have experience working with children.

Pay

Stipend $1250
Reimbursement for any mileage if driving any props or scenic items to the parks

Instructions to Apply:

Any interested applicants should submit a resume and letter of interest to Production Manager, Miranda Taylor at Mirandataylor@kerfuffletvy.com.

About Kerfuffle:

Kerfuffle is an award-winning midwestern theatre and dance company devoted to creating aesthetically and emotionally engaging performances for children ages 0-6 years old. Founded in 2015, Kerfuffle centers young children as major creative partners in the development of new work and shares playful, multi-sensory performances in museums, libraries, parks, and other nontraditional spaces. Children’s imagination is at the center of Kerfuffle’s process. In order to understand what engages, delights, and surprises children, Kerfuffle’s plays are developed through creative drama workshops where young people create stories, characters, and worlds in collaboration with adult artists. Kerfuffle is a registered 501(c)3 organization and is the 2020 recipient of the Zeta Phi Eta-Winifred Ward Outstanding New Children’s Theatre Company Award through the American Alliance for Theatre and Education. Visit www.kerfuffletvy.com for more information.

About Rabbitfoot Puppetry:

Rabbitfoot Puppetry is a Chicago-based LGBTQIA+ puppetry collective composed of fabricators, performers, writers, and artists committed to creating bold, original puppet theatre. Rooted in spectacle and driven by imagination, our work fuses the technical precision of puppetry with the joy of play and experimentation. We create performances for audiences of all ages, centering accessibility, wonder, and meaningful engagement. Whether performing on festival grounds or in an intimate venue, we strive to craft shared experiences that are both thought-provoking and delightfully strange. Rabbitfoot Puppetry has been featured in the New Orleans Giant Puppet Festival, Puppet Paradise, Show of Hands Puppet Festival, and the Chicago International Puppet Festival, as well as at puppet slams and venues across the country. Our collective has also been commissioned for large-scale events including Electric Forest and Huluween. We are proud to be part of Chicago’s vibrant performance community, and remain dedicated to pushing the boundaries of puppetry through collaboration, innovation, and whimsy. Rabbit Foot Puppetry is always building, always performing, and always hopping forward. Learn more at instagram.com/rabbitfootpuppetry.