Bag&Baggage Productions Seeks
“The Problem Play Project” Project Manager
Bag&Baggage Productions, Hillsboro’s only professional theatre company, is seeking qualified applicants for a unique opportunity: Project Management of our ground-breaking Problem Play Project. The Project Manager is an independent contractor position, with significant flexibility, averaging about 80 hours per month for a 9 month period beginning in July of 2018 and ending in April of 2019. This is a contracted position at $1,500 a month for a total of $13,500 for the 9 month contract. Please note: this is an independent contractor position.
Our ideal candidate is:
- A person of color;
- Experienced with theatre and performing arts organizations and, preferably, has experience or knowledge of playwriting commissions and processes;
- Familiar with Hillsboro (and Washington County’s) diverse communities and/or the unique challenges of working in suburban or rural and agricultural regions;
- Experienced in project management and understands the challenges involved in managing an ambitious project on tight deadlines;
- Bi- or multi-lingual;
- Passionate about working to advance equity, diversity, and inclusion in the American theatre’s traditionally white, male, and non-inclusive infrastructure;
- An early career theatre/arts and culture administrator.
About The Problem Play Project:
Fully funded by a generous grant from the Meyer Memorial Trust, The Problem Play Project provides a $10,000 commission to an Oregon-based playwright of color to adapt one of William Shakespeare’s “problem plays” with a diversity/inclusion lens. Following the commission, the selected script will be given a full-scale production at The Vault Theater in Hillsboro in March of 2019, 2020, and 2021, featuring a combined cast of Equity and non-Equity performers.
Why “The Problem Play Project?”
B&B is turning to the classics as a way of addressing two very different problems: how to bring Shakespeare’s non-genre conforming works to life in a compelling way for Hillsboro’s diverse, and growing contemporary audiences and, in doing so, help address our iron-clad commitment to developing a more diverse artist and audience base. Our proposed approach involves creating new, blended work that is text-based, and that reaches out to the members of our community who rarely (if ever) see themselves and their stories on stage. The Problem Play Project is an expansion and deepening of our commitment to these important issues.
The first two commissions have already been announced: 2019 will see a production of The Island In Winter (or La Isla en Invierno) by Carlos-Zenen Trujillo, an adaptation of The Winter’s Tale which transports the action from Sicilia and Bohemia to Miami and Havana. This production will include bi-lingual elements in English and Spanish; 2020 will see a production of Measure for Measure adapted by Anya Pearson and focused on the unjust imprisonment of African-American men in the United States.
Overview of Job Duties:
- Oversee development of chosen script
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- Using contractual requirements, ensure that our playwright is working to deadlines, providing updates, and seeking/receiving support from B&B Artistic Staff
- Advise, support, and coordinate all communications with playwright throughout the process
- Manage workshops with cast and playwright
- As part of the Problem Play Project, we will host a 5 night “workshop” prior to the final submission date with local actors, B&B Resident Actors, invited artists, and the playwright
- Determine and implement workshop structure
- Coordinate dates, times, travel, accommodation, schedule for the workshop
- Seek and secure the involvement of outside artists
- Coordinate time and feedback processes for B&B Residents, Associates, and other affiliated artists
- Work with the playwright to ensure adjustments, rewrites, and feedback during the workshop
- Outreach to artists of color, including actors
- Dependent upon the final cast list, engage in outreach to Equity-actors and non-equity actors of color to audition for the final production
- Outreach to designers and production staff of color, arrange interviews, and ensure contracts and engagement details
- Outreach to specific communities of color, including readings/previews
- Working with B&B staff, and the cast of the production, engage in an outreach campaign to increase audience attendance by communities of color
- Where possible, arrange or engage personally in visits, readings, workshops, or other community engagement activities to connect our work to communities of color
- A focus on Hillsboro and Washington County is key; develop relationships, track those communications, and record interactions to ensure continued communication and connections with these audiences
- Work with B&B staff on translations, marketing materials, press releases, press interviews, photoshoots, video testimonials, and other outreach materials as possible
- Assist in oversight of production
- Participate in the rehearsal and production process as an advisor
- Coordinate talkbacks and other community engagement processes
- Oversee all talkbacks, interviews, lectures, and pre-or-post show activities during the performance schedule
- Add additional program materials, if possible, to the performance schedule (time and budget permitting)
- Engage in project assessment
- Using our assessment matrix (developed as part of the Meyer Memorial Trust grant process), provide assessment of the project
How To Be Considered:
Interested applicants should send an email with a covering letter detailing why you are the ideal candidate for this position, a copy of your resume, and two professional references to Scott Palmer, Founding Artistic Director of Bag&Baggage Productions, at scott@bagnbaggage.org or to 350 E Main Street, Hillsboro, Oregon 97123.
Deadline to submit applications materials is June 11th, 2018 at 5:00pm. Interviews for the position will take place the week of June 18th, with an expected start date of July 5th, 2018.
For More Information:
Contact Scott Palmer at scott@bagnbaggage.org and he can provide more detailed information on the position.
General Crew Opportunities
Paid crew positions available for productions may include: Stage Manager, Assistant Stage Manager, Run Crew, Head of Props, Light Board Operator, Sound Board Operator, Set Construction crew, and Front of House Manager.
To be considered for a paid crew position, you should have previous professional experience, access to reliable transportation (or ideally be based in Washington County), and be available and willing to attend rehearsals and work in Hillsboro. Preference will be given to applicants who posses either significant Educational Theatre experience at a college level and/or Professional Experience.
To be considered for a crew position, please send an electronic resume to our Managing Director Beth Lewis in PC format (.doc or .pdf), including references and contact information for your references (send to: beth@bagnbaggage.org). Please also be sure to indicate what crew position(s) most interest you. Applicants selected for consideration will be contacted to arrange an interview time. Hired crew members will be offered a competitive wage, based on the crew role and production.
Internships
Backstage Tech Internships
Any student who will be either a Junior or a Senior during the 2017-18 school year can apply for crew positions for any Bag&Baggage show by submitting a short letter of interest to Bag&Baggage Associate Artistic Director Cassie Greer via email at cassie@bagnbaggage.org. In the letter, please identify what area of production you are interested in learning, and what previous experience you have had working on theatrical productions with you school or other theatre groups. Interns who are selected may fill roles such as: run crew, light board operator, sound board operator, or set construction/installation crew. Preference will be given to students who live and/or attend a school in Washington County. Applicants (with the exception of those interested in set construction/installation) must be available during all technical rehearsals and performances. All interns are paid a small stipend. Required dates of availability and application deadlines for each show of the 2017-18 season are listed below.
The Farndale...Murder at Checkmate Manor - October 8-31, 2017; apply by September 25
Charles Dickens Writes A Christmas Carol - November 26-December 23, 2017; apply by November 13
Death and the Maiden - March 5-25, 2018; apply by February 20
Blithe Spirit - May 7-27, 2018; apply by April 24
Volunteer
Volunteer opportunities are available for those interested in ushering or assisting in other methods of support for the Company. Please send an email to info@bagnbaggage.org expressing your level of interest and availability for volunteer opportunities.
