PT House Manager

STEPPENWOLF THEATRE COMPANY

Part-time House Manager

 

Steppenwolf’s Audience Services team is seeking an attentive and engaging part-time House Manager to lead nightly front-of-house operations across our three-theater campus. The House Manager ensures seamless performance execution while maintaining rigorous safety and accessibility standards.

Understanding the Schedule: This is a variable part-time role tied directly to our production calendar. Additionally, this position is covered under the IATSE Local 750 Collective Bargaining Agreement

 

Due to schedules revolving around production runs, candidates should expect weekly hours to fluctuate:

·       During Performance Runs: Expect a consistent schedule of 15-30 hours per week.

·       Between Productions: There may be dark weeks with little to no scheduled hours between the closing of one show and the opening of the next.

·       Requirements: Per the IATSE Local 750 Collective Bargaining Agreement, staff must maintain a minimum availability of three shifts per week, with a primary focus on evenings and weekends.

 

This position reports directly to the Front of House Supervisor.

 

Front-of-House Operations
·       Serve as the primary onsite manager for all patron and staff issues while lobbies are open to patrons. Execute rapid, creative solutions for seating disputes, technical failures, and medical emergencies, ensuring minimal disruption to the performance timeline.

·       Conduct the pre-show process by coordinating house counts, usher ticket pickups, and accessibility requirements. Maintain real-time communication with FOH, Food & Beverage, and Stage Management to synchronize lobby calls and curtain times

·       Create a seamless experience for patrons with accessibility needs, managing the distribution and troubleshooting of assistive listening devices, and overseeing physical navigation throughout the campus.

·       Onboard and supervise a nightly group of 2–10 volunteer ushers. Provide technical training on scanning systems and implement contingency plans for ticket verification during technology outages.

·       Manage the physical environment of all three theater spaces, including the coordination of stuffing program inserts and ensuring the accuracy of all lobby signage, specifically when casting adjustments must be made.

·       Complete comprehensive nightly  house reports for senior  leadership, documenting operational successes, conflicts and strategies for adjustment moving forward.

 

Onsite Staff Supervision and Union Compliance
·       Supervises a part-time roster of 20+ Audience Services Front of House (FOH) Associates, who are also covered under the IATSE 750 Collective Bargaining Agreement, responsible for real-time delegation of duties and maintaining a balanced workload across the team.

·       Act as the designated Steppenwolf representative for all performance-related front-of-house operations.

·       Maintain accurate documentation of staff performance and lead coaching interventions in coordination with the Front-of-House Supervisor, maintaining Steppenwolf’s high standard of service while ensuring workplace duties remain in full compliance with the union contract.

 

Successful candidates will:
·       Bring 2+ years of front of house experience required, preferably in a live performance setting

·       Demonstrate strong oversight skills, including effective task delegation, real-time performance coaching, and the ability to manage a team within a union framework.

·       Maintain a professional, de-escalating demeanor in high-pressure situations, with a calm pace and clear communication.

·       Exhibit sound judgment and swift decision-making when addressing “live” operational challenges, from interpersonal conflicts to emergency response.

·       Thrive in a high-density, fast-paced environment, maintaining positive and productive interactions with a diverse range of personalities.

·       Foster an inclusive environment using gender-inclusive language, cultural sensitivity, and a steadfast commitment to accessibility

·       Commit to a consistent 15–30-hour weekly schedule (evenings and weekends specifically) and is able to lift up to 50 lbs.

·       Exemplify high-level organizational and time-management skills to ensure all pre-show timelines and reporting requirements are met with precision.

 

Benefits:
Include dental, vision insurance, employee assistance program, and Ventra transit benefit program.

 

NO PHONE CALLS OR EMAILS PLEASE
Steppenwolf Theatre Company is the nation’s premiere Ensemble Theater with 49 members who are among the top actors, playwrights and directors in the field. Thrilling, powerful, groundbreaking productions – from Balm in Gilead and Grapes of Wrath to August: Osage County, Downstate and The Brother/Sister Plays – have made this theatre legendary. Founded in 1976, Steppenwolf started as a group of teens performing in the basement of a church. Today, the company’s artistic force remains rooted in the original vision of its founders: an artist-driven theatre, whose vitality is defined by its appetite for bold and innovative work. Every aspect of Steppenwolf is rooted in its Ensemble ethos, from the intergenerational artistic programming to the multi-genre performance series LookOut, to the nationally recognized work of Steppenwolf Education and Engagement which serves nearly 15,000 teens annually. While grounded in the Chicago community, more than 40 original Steppenwolf productions have enjoyed success nationally and internationally, including Broadway, Off-Broadway, London, Sydney, Galway and Dublin. Steppenwolf also holds accolades that include the National Medal of Arts, 12 Tony Awards, and more. Led by Artistic Directors Glenn Davis and Audrey Francis, Executive Director Brooke Flanagan and Board of Trustees Chair, Keating Crown – Steppenwolf continually redefines the landscape of acting and performance.

 

Steppenwolf’s Mission:
Steppenwolf strives to create thrilling, courageous, and provocative art in a thoughtful and inclusive environment. We succeed when we disrupt your routine with experiences that spark curiosity, empathy, and joy. We invite you to join our ensemble as we navigate, together, our complex world. steppenwolf.org, facebook.com/steppenwolftheatre, twitter.com/steppenwolfthtr and instagram.com/steppenwolfthtr.