Theatre House Manager

Job Description

Job Description

WHO WE AREArena Stage is the voice of American theater resident in our nation's capital. Focused on American artists, our productions are innovative and representative of stories from across the country. We nurture new plays and reimagine classics. We celebrate our democracy and diversity through a multitude of voices in our productions and community engagement programs to inspire people to action. WHAT WE VALUEA work culture that values experimentation and collaborationExcellence in all aspects of our workDiversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion throughout the organization and within our audiences and communitiesCommunity service through education and public engagementEffective partnerships and collaboration in the service of artists and arts professionalsA team-oriented approach to leadership, shared accountability, and mutual support POSITION SUMMARYArena Stage seeks a part-time House Manager ($22/hour, 25 hours/week) to support Audience Experience operations during performances and special events. The House Manager is responsible for ensuring a safe, welcoming, accessible, and well-coordinated experience for all audience members and serves as a primary Front of House authority during assigned performances.House Managers work as part of a collaborative Audience Experience team, partnering closely with fellow House Managers, the Associate Director of Audience Experience, the Senior Director of Community Engagement & Audience Experience and additional front-of-house staff to ensure consistency, communication, and shared standards across performances.This is a highly visible leadership role requiring sound judgment, calm decision-making, and clear communication in a live performance environment. The House Manager works in close coordination with Security, Box Office, Concessions, Facilities, and Production teams to support a seamless audience experience from arrival through departure. DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIESAudience Experience LeadershipLead Front of House operations for Arena Stage productions and events across all three theaters:Fichandler Stage (680 seats)Kreeger Theater (510 seats)Kogod Cradle (202 seats)Serve a primary on-site Front of House authority during assigned performancesSupervise ushers and other audience-facing staff on siteConduct pre-show Front of House briefings and assign staff positions and responsibilitiesManage late seating, re-entry, and audience flow in coordination with production needsCollaborate with fellow House Managers to ensure alignment on procedures, coverage, and audience experience standards Audience Experience & AccessibilityRespond to audience concerns, accessibility needs, and service recovery situations with care and discretionSupport the delivery of accessibility services and devices in alignment with Arena Stage standardsHelp foster an inclusive and welcoming environment for first-time attendees, subscribers, donors, community partners, and VIPs FOH Coordination & SafetyCoordinate in real time with Security, Box Office, Concessions, Facilities, and Production teamsConduct pre- and post-show walk-throughs of lobbies, theaters, restrooms, and exterior entryways to ensure readiness, cleanliness, and safetyServe a primary responder to Front of House incidents and emergencies in collaboration of the Associate Director of Audience ExperienceAssist with emergency response procedures, including evacuation or shelter-in-place as neededRespond to medical incidents and coordinate with emergency personnel as appropriateComplete incident reports and end-of-performance documentation Reporting & CommunicationComplete performance reports and share notable audience feedback, operational issues, and trendsCommunicate clearly with internal partners to support continuous improvement of Audience Experience operationsParticipate in regular communication and knowledge-sharing with fellow House Managers to support consistency, learning, and team cohesion MINIMUM REQUIREMENTSMinimum of 3 years of experience in front of house, audience services, hospitality, live events, or customer-facing rolesFamiliarity with ticketing systems; Tessitura experience preferredStrong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skillsExcellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to multitaskAbility to remain calm, professional, and audience-centered in fast-paced environmentsDemonstrated ability to work collaboratively within a team-based leadership structureAvailability to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as required by the performance calendarCPR/First Aid certification or willingness to obtainPassion for the arts, patron engagment and live performanceThe Washington Drama Society, Inc., Arena Stage does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations.If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to access job openings or apply for a job on this site as a result of your disability. You can request reasonable accommodations by contacting Human Resources at View email address on ziprecruiter.com or call View phone number on ziprecruiter.com.Offers of employment at Arena Stage are contingent upon a satisfactory criminal background check and/or professional reference check as allowed by employment law in the District of Columbia.