Senior Artistic Consultant, Court Theatre

Department
 

AI Court Theatre

About the Department
 

Court Theatre is a Tony Award-winning professional theatre company located in the Hyde Park neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago. Founded in 1955, Court benefits from the University of Chicago’s financial support and from its community of scholars and artists, while retaining artistic independence.

Court Theatre interprets classic theatre to illuminate our current times, and defines classic theatre as texts from any culture, tradition, or era that resonate throughout time and speak to our present moment. Court Theatre seeks to present an array of theatrical styles and periods and develops new work on classic themes with different forms of classic staging. In remaining fresh and fostering excellence, Court explores a broad range of topics. Whether through works composed several millennia in the past or works that have been adapted from contemporary graphic novels, Court remains relevant, exciting, engaging, and ready to cross boundaries.

The University of Chicago was founded in 1890 and is one of the world’s leading research universities, celebrated for its faculty, students, graduate programs, and role in advancing Chicago communities. Home to over 3,100 faculty and with more than 18,000 students, the University is a center for educating, inspiring, and supporting academic and artistic operating units. A variety of museums, professional performance spaces, institutes, and academic departments support the artistic endeavors of students and faculty, while fostering UChicago’s cultural and artistic life on campus. Among the arts organizations hosted by the University are the Court Theatre, Logan Center for the Arts, University of Chicago Presents, Smart Museum of Art, Neubauer Collegium for Culture and Society, Renaissance Society, Gray Center for Arts and Inquiry, six galleries, and the nation's largest academic press, which promulgates scholarship on the arts.

Job Summary
 

The Senior Artistic Consultant (SAC) will report to the Executive Director at the Court Theatre. The SAC will direct two productions at Court during the 2024-2025 season. The SAC will also assist, as needed and as directed by the Executive Director, on high priority matters for Court including fundraising and identifying opportunities for co-productions with theatre companies around the country. The Senior Artistic Consultant at Court Theatre is a one-year position beginning July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025.

Responsibilities

• Directs two productions at Court Theatre and participates in audience engagement programs connected to them.
• Participates in leadership development programs across the University.
• At the direction of the Executive Director, participates in fundraising planning and meetings.
• Available to the Executive Director for advice about artistic projects and planning.
• Prepares for and participates in monthly meetings with the Executive Director on progress of assigned projects.
• Develops long and short-term programs to lead art performance and theatre management, including operations, and organizing music/dance/theatre productions for university events. Manages the artistic and production resources necessary to implement programs.
• Oversees stage productions and artistic teams. Leads the planning of auditions and selection of music/dance/theatre productions.
• Researches, identifies, secures and reviews scripts. Creates comprehensive research materials for actors. Provides script support, including translation/adaptation assistance and text alterations as needed.
• Works independently to research and provide literary support to directors/artists during pre-rehearsal and rehearsal periods. Uses best practices and theatre knowledge to improve season planning.
• Uses breadth of theatre knowledge to manage the submission and evaluation of new adaptations and translations. Writes articles and acts as a resource to staff/interns preparing literary content for playbills.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications
 

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

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Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

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Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Advanced degree in a related field.

Experience:

• Familiarity with the City of Chicago and the University of Chicago
• Higher education experience.
• Demonstrated experience working successfully with donors, community leaders, performing artists, educators, and the theatre’s Board to strengthen the theatre.
• Background in fundraising.