Managing Director

Florida Studio Theatre’s production of NETWORK, byLee Hall based on the film by Paddy Chayefsky. Pictured left to right are Jason Pintar, Sheffield Chastain, and Rebecka Jones.

OPPORTUNITY

Florida Studio Theatre (FST) invites applications for its Managing Director, a role for individuals with strong talent for running complex, multi-venue producing operations. The new Managing Director will lead the day-to-day administration of an organization producing more than 1,600 performances annually across five stages, with three additional stages and expanded housing and campus operations coming online at the end of 2027 with the creation of the McGillicuddy Arts Plaza. In a newly conceived leadership structure that anticipates the retirement of FST’s long serving Producing Artistic Director, the Managing Director will report directly to the Executive Director, a role recently filled by FST’s long-serving Managing Director. The Managing Director will be the staff lead overseeing finance, marketing, development, and the full range of forward-facing customer service areas associated with the company’s self-produced theatre productions, cabaret performances, education, children’s theatre, new play development, improv and comedy series, and restaurant operations. As FST expands its physical footprint with the opening of The McGillicuddy Arts Plaza, the Managing Director will ensure that all facilities are well-maintained, staffed appropriately, and activated to their full capacity. Taking the lead from the Executive Director as FST’s visionary leader, the Managing Director will work closely with a new Artistic Director and other senior leaders to execute FST’s mission in a manner that invites audiences into accessible and meaningful live performance experiences.

BACKGROUND

Florida Studio Theatre was founded in 1973 by artist Jon Spelman as an alternative touring group, reaching out to isolated and underserved audiences in nursing homes, migrant farms, and prisons. When Richard Hopkins was named Producing Artistic Director in 1980, he founded FST's Mainstage Series with a modest 103 subscribers. Today, FST reaches over 45,000 subscribers and an annual audience of more than 225,000 across its diverse programs, making FST the largest subscription theatre in the state of Florida. Now in its 53rd Season, FST is proud of its reach and impact across its five stages and through over 20 professional productions each year.

FST’s Mission is:

To make theatre affordable and accessible to as many people as possible.

To present theatre that challenges with as much gusto as it entertains.

To create a public forum for the issues of our day that will foster positive change in our community and beyond.

To operate within and for the public trust.

FST’s campus is currently comprised of office, rehearsal, and production spaces and the following five performance spaces:

The Gompertz Theatre, FST’s largest performance space with 237 seats used for Winter and Summer Mainstage Series

The Keating Theatre, a 173-seat space used for Winter and Summer Mainstage Series and Children’s Theatre presentations

The Court Cabaret, a 100-seat venue also providing dinner service to patrons one hour before performances in the Cabaret Series

The Goldstein Cabaret, FST’s second 100-seat venue for Cabaret Series performances also offering dinner service

Bowne’s Lab, a 100-seat venue that serves as home to FST’s Stage III and Improv Series

The Green Room is also FST’s full-service restaurant and bar open to the public for preshow dining experiences.

FST takes a service-oriented approach to live performance. The company has consistently listened to audiences in the region, taking its cue from patron desires and building programming that reflects the hopes, wants, and needs of the Sarasota community. To fully execute on their Mission, FST currently supports the following programs:

Mainstage Series.

Now in its 53rd season, the Mainstage is FST's flagship program, producing the best in contemporary American Theatre by presenting plays that speak to a living, evolving, and dynamically changing world. Housed in the historic Gompertz and Keating Theatres, the Mainstage Series features seven annual productions that draw from new works, regionally produced works, and the latest off-Broadway and Broadway plays. The Mainstage Series embodies FST’s mission “to challenge with as much gusto as we entertain” by embracing a diverse range of contemporary plays and musicians. Through these challenging and entertaining works, the Mainstage Series provides a platform for contemporary issues and ideas both on stage and within the community. The Mainstage has a subscription base of over 11,000 Winter and 4,800 Summer Subs.

Cabaret Series.

Housed in the intimate Goldstein and Court Cabaret Theatres, the Cabaret Series was established to develop new audiences. Launched in 1996, this program celebrates the lyric poets of our age and presents social and political satire for today's audiences. Not simply a "chanteuse at a microphone," the FST Cabaret harkens back to its 19th Century Parisian origin - a rebellion against the institutionalization of theatre that confined artists instead of freeing them. The Cabaret Series has been integral in the creation of over 75 original musical revues. The Cabaret Has a subscription base of over 14,800 Winter subs and 7,100 summer subs.

Stage III.

Dedicated to the presentation of socially significant productions, the Stage III Series stimulates attendees by presenting challenging content in a unique format. Featuring plays with grit, verve, and drive, FST’s Stage III Series brings provocative work to the Sarasota contemporary theatrical landscape and is a home to all things experimental. The Stage III Series includes three productions in FST’s Bowne’s Lab Theatre. Stage III has a subscription base of over 2,700 subs.

Children’s Theatre.

The anchor of FST’s Children’s Theatre programming is its award-winning WRITE A PLAY (WAP) arts-in-education program, which engages more than 36,000 students in grades K–12 each year, with special emphasis on underserved youth throughout the State of Florida. More than 5,000 original plays are submitted to FST annually, with winning plays selected to be brought to life by professional theatre artists each spring and celebrated at the annual Young Playwrights Festival. Building on this foundation, FST’s Children’s Theatre Family Series presents four professional productions from October through May, reaching approximately 5,000 children and their families through weekend performances each year. Together, FST’s Children’s Theatre programs reach more than 40,000 young people and families annually.

FST Improv.

Founded in 2001, FST Improve has expanded into one of the region’s most vibrant and innovative year‑round improv programs. Offering never‑before‑seen performances every week of the year, FST Improv highlights the full spectrum of improvisational disciplines. Performances go beyond traditional game‑based short‑form to include long‑form improvisation, musical improv, and sketch comedy. In addition, FST is home to the Sarasota Improv Festival. Held in July, this multi‑day event, brings the best in improvisation from across the country and around the world and is the premiere festival of its kind in the Southeast.

Education.

Founded in 1982, FST School offers classes year‑round for students of all ages in acting, music, dance, theatre writing, and improvisation. Led by FST’s teaching staff of theatre professionals. FST School is also home to both on campus and satellite programs including FST’s VIP Program for students with behavioral, emotional, and developmental special needs, and the Haven program for adults with developmental special needs. Furthering FST’s mission “to make theatre as accessible and affordable to as many people as possible,” our Scholarship Program offsets the cost of enrollment for 15% of FST students.

New Play Development.

New Play Development is the creative lifeblood of FST. The company is committed to nurturing new plays by established and emerging writers. New Play Development is a year‑round endeavor that is fully integrated into each of FST’s diverse artistic programs. Over the course of our 52-year history, FST has produced more than 45 world premieres and more than 60 regional premieres. FST's approach to new work focuses on developing the work for production on one of FST’s 5 stages and supporting the continued life of the work.

In addition to these signature programs, FST presents special events, symposiums, and community gatherings for members of the Sarasota community.

FST employs year‑round professional staff of over 60 full‑time administrators, artistic, and production staff and brings in over 200 guest artists annually. The work of the professional staff is augmented by over 40 part‑time workers, Interns, Apprentices, and Fellows in FST’s Professional Training Program. Florida Studio Theatre operates on a LORT D contract and works with members of Actors Equity Association (AEA), American Guild of Variety Artists (AGVA), United Scenic Artists (USA), and the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers (SSDC). FST’s annual operating budget is approximately $11 Million, with approximately a 70/30 ratio between earned and contributed revenue. FST’s Board of Trustees is composed of 11 members, civic leaders within the Sarasota community. To learn more about Florida Studio Theatre, please visit:

THE FUTURE

After an extraordinary run as FST’s Producing Artistic Director, Richard Hopkins has initiated a transition plan for new leadership. The organization will change its senior leadership team with the addition of this Managing Director role and an incoming Artistic Director role. Both of these new roles will be onboarded by the Fall of 2027 as Hopkins winds down his duties as the head of the company and FST’s current Managing Director, Rebecca Hopkins, assumes the new role of Executive Director.

This new infrastructure also anticipates the need for more senior management coverage as FST moves into the creation of The McGillicuddy Arts Plaza. This new building project will significantly expand FST’s campus in downtown Sarasota and increase FST’s ability to produce work with the addition of three new stages. This exciting new venture will also include gracious housing for FST guest artists and affordable housing options for local artists. FST is nearing completion of a $57 Million campaign for McGillicuddy Arts Plaza and construction has commenced with an eye to completion of Phase I which includes the housing, hotel, and garage occupancy by the end of 2027. Phase II is the completion of the two new Cabaret Theatres and the opening of the new Mainstage in Summer of 2028.

These changes in infrastructure and FST’s physical plant are the next iteration of the organization's plan to execute fully on its mission to serve Sarasota as a premiere cultural destination, and the company is fully committed to continuing to produce in its own distinctive style, focusing first on dynamic storytelling that eschews overly elaborate production elements so audiences can focus on the spark of connection that comes from a celebration of words, ideas, and world‑class artists.

SARASOTA, FL

The North Port–Bradenton–Sarasota Metropolitan Statistical Area is one of Florida's most dynamic and fastest‑growing regions, with an estimated population of nearly 935,000 residents across approximately 1,300 square miles. Its five largest racial and ethnic groups are White (Non‑Hispanic) (74%), Hispanic or Latino (14%), Black or African American (Non‑Hispanic) (6%), Two or More Races (4%), and Asian (Non‑Hispanic) (2%). (Source: censusreporter.org ) Census Reporter Data USA

Known as Florida's Cultural Coast®, Sarasota County is home to a remarkable concentration of arts and cultural offerings, including 13 performance stages within a one‑mile radius of downtown and one of the nation's largest community theatres. Anchor institutions such as the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, the Sarasota Orchestra, Asolo Repertory Theatre, The Hermitage Artist Retreat, and the Sarasota Opera form the foundation of a storied arts culture that ranks among the finest in Florida. The region also supports a vibrant visual arts community, an internationally recognized film festival, and a celebrated culinary scene shaped by its coastal setting and growing cultural diversity. Several colleges and universities call the Sarasota area home, including the Ringling College of Art and Designand New College of Florida. Click here for more information:

POSITION AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Managing Director will report directly to FST’s Executive Director. Primary responsibilities and priorities of the Managing Director are:

Team Management and Oversight

Serve as the primary manager for all administrative operations, deeply involved with marketing, development, and financial oversight.

Support staffing plans to ensure a high level of excellent service to FST’s patrons and donors.

Maintain, document, and develop systems to allow FST to operate with maximum efficiency and the ability to continue its growth.

Represent the organization at fundraising events, donor meetings, and in fundraising materials

Establish and maintain a record of policies and procedures that support and uplift FST’s Mission, Vision, and Values.

Financial Planning and Oversight

Work with FST’s outgoing Producing Artistic Director and Executive Director on the creation of FST’s annual operational budget and take ownership of oversight of financial tracking of operations functions.

Work closely with FST’s finance team on accurate and timely reporting of FST’s financial position.

Participate in financial planning discussions with FST’s senior management and Board leadership and be schooled in FST’s long‑term investment strategy.

Work with Marketing and Development teams to set annual goals for earned and contributed revenue, always pushing FST to lean into entrepreneurial ideas.

Facilities and Operations Oversight

Develop a functional master plan for all of FST’s physical spaces through the supervision of a skilled facilities team.

Be well‑versed on FST’s campus‑wide service contracts, receiving appropriate updates from department level staff directly managing service providers relationships.

Ensure FST is compliant with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations.

Support of Artistic Initiatives

Develop strong relationships with industry partners through groups like LORT and other resources that provide insight into best practices and information sharing.

Serve as a liaison to FST artistic and production leadership, particularly in budgetary matters and issues related to human resources and staffing.

With other senior leadership, ensure that resources are ready and available for the creation of all of FST’s programmatic work.

Qualifications

• A high degree of emotional intelligence.
• Experience operating multi‑venue producing environments with restaurant or hospitality components.
• Operating fluency with LORT D contracts and the labor unions FST works with.
• Experience opening, activating, or significantly scaling a campus or facility.
• Capacity to invest in mentoring a sizable Professional Training Program as both a pipeline and a meaningful early‑career experience.
• Demonstrated talent for finance and planning.
• An approachable and accessible personality, someone who commands respect by treating people with dignity and care.
• Understanding of non‑profit management and the opportunities and challenges inherent in that structure.
• An ability to pivot when necessary to take advantage of opportunities and address challenges.
• A love of the theatre audience‑goer, the Sarasota community, and an appreciation for its mix of year‑round and seasonal residents.

COMPENSATION AND START DATE

FST hopes to make a hiring decision by Spring of 2027, with the selected candidate transitioning into the position sometime before the Fall of 2027. The salary range starts at $160,000 annually and includes a full benefit package. FST is an equal opportunity employer that celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Any offer of employment will be conditional upon satisfactory completion of a background check and reference conversations.

Jonathan West and Carlton Ford are the consultants from MCA facilitating this search.