Theater Manager Jobs
Theater Manager jobs are open across live performance venues, cinema chains, performing arts centers, and regional theater companies, at every level from assistant manager to executive director, with specializations in operations, production management, and venue programming. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Showing 5 of 15+ Theater Manager jobs
General Description of the Position
The Manager of the Schwartz Center for the Arts provides operational leadership for the venue, overseeing production, technical operations, programming, scheduling, and fiscal management. Reporting to the Vice President, Government Relations and External Affairs, the Manager collaborates with DSU departments, community partners, and other key stakeholders to coordinate performing arts programming, supervise front-of-house operations and staff, and manage venue finances, marketing, and contracts.
Essential Functions & Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Programming & Scheduling: Collaborate with DSU departments, community organizations, and stakeholders to plan and schedule performing arts events; maintain the master calendar of productions and rentals; and manage facility use and access in accordance with University policy.
- Production Management: Maintain theater equipment, stage, and backstage areas to ensure safety and functionality; coordinate with production and technical staff to support productions and meet advanced technical needs.
- IT & Technical Support: Serve as primary contact for IT/audio-visual support and facilities maintenance; provide hands-on technical support for events, including guest Wi-Fi access, projection and monitor setup, and microphone connections; troubleshoot technical issues in a fast-paced performance environment.
- Financial & Contract Management: Manage the operating budget, ticket sales, and rental revenue; prepare financial reports. Draft, negotiate, and administer facility rental agreements in coordination with the appropriate University offices.
- Patron & Event Operations: Manage front-of-house activities, including ushering, box office and ticketing, cashiering, and audience services; serve as primary contact for food and beverage concessions and catering.
- Marketing & Student Engagement: Promote events through digital and web channels, and develop student experiential learning and engagement opportunities.
- Staff & Safety Oversight: Recruit, train, schedule, and supervise staff, student workers, and volunteers while ensuring a safe, accessible, and welcoming venue in compliance with campus safety, occupancy, and accessibility requirements.
- General Operations: Pursue sponsorships, partnerships, and grants as appropriate; maintain a flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends; and perform other duties as assigned.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Technical & Operational Expertise: Strong understanding of theater management, production processes, technical operations (including audio-visual and IT support), and venue safety standards.
- Financial Acumen: Working knowledge of budgeting, cash handling, box office systems, and basic accounting practices.
- Communication & Interpersonal Skills: Exceptional verbal, written, and visual communication skills, with strong creative abilities and the ability to collaborate with diverse students, faculty, staff, and community stakeholders at all levels.
- Project Management: Ability to work independently, troubleshoot and problem-solve in a fast-paced environment, and manage multiple projects under tight deadlines.
- Software Proficiency: Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) and ticketing/box office software.
- Schedule Flexibility: Ability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, and holidays as required by the event calendar.
Qualification Standards
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in Arts Administration, Theater, or a related discipline.
- Experience: Preferably 5 years of experience in theater operations, production management, or performing arts venue administration, including front-of-house, box office, and financial oversight.
Performance Standards & EEO Statement
The criteria for evaluation in this position include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Effectively managing theater operations, productions, technical support, and venue scheduling.
- Demonstrating knowledge of the DSU Fundamentals.
- Producing compelling, articulate content for university publications and digital platforms.
- Meeting or exceeding key performance indicators (KPIs), such as ticket sales, rental revenue, event volume, and audience engagement.
- Bringing creativity and energy to all work products to compete successfully in the marketplace.
EEO Statement
Delaware State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The University does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, religion, age, national origin, color, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship or disability, veteran or military status, gender identity or genetic information. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. The University is committed to the policy of equal employment opportunity in recruitment, hiring, career advancement, and all other employment practices.
Equal opportunity employer/program'' and “auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities''.
General Description of the Position
The Manager of the Schwartz Center for the Arts provides operational leadership for the venue, overseeing production, technical operations, programming, scheduling, and fiscal management. Reporting to the Vice President, Government Relations and External Affairs, the Manager collaborates with DSU departments, community partners, and other key stakeholders to coordinate performing arts programming, supervise front-of-house operations and staff, and manage venue finances, marketing, and contracts.
Essential Functions & Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Programming & Scheduling: Collaborate with DSU departments, community organizations, and stakeholders to plan and schedule performing arts events; maintain the master calendar of productions and rentals; and manage facility use and access in accordance with University policy.
- Production Management: Maintain theater equipment, stage, and backstage areas to ensure safety and functionality; coordinate with production and technical staff to support productions and meet advanced technical needs.
- IT & Technical Support: Serve as primary contact for IT/audio-visual support and facilities maintenance; provide hands-on technical support for events, including guest Wi-Fi access, projection and monitor setup, and microphone connections; troubleshoot technical issues in a fast-paced performance environment.
- Financial & Contract Management: Manage the operating budget, ticket sales, and rental revenue; prepare financial reports. Draft, negotiate, and administer facility rental agreements in coordination with the appropriate University offices.
- Patron & Event Operations: Manage front-of-house activities, including ushering, box office and ticketing, cashiering, and audience services; serve as primary contact for food and beverage concessions and catering.
- Marketing & Student Engagement: Promote events through digital and web channels, and develop student experiential learning and engagement opportunities.
- Staff & Safety Oversight: Recruit, train, schedule, and supervise staff, student workers, and volunteers while ensuring a safe, accessible, and welcoming venue in compliance with campus safety, occupancy, and accessibility requirements.
- General Operations: Pursue sponsorships, partnerships, and grants as appropriate; maintain a flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends; and perform other duties as assigned.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Technical & Operational Expertise: Strong understanding of theater management, production processes, technical operations (including audio-visual and IT support), and venue safety standards.
- Financial Acumen: Working knowledge of budgeting, cash handling, box office systems, and basic accounting practices.
- Communication & Interpersonal Skills: Exceptional verbal, written, and visual communication skills, with strong creative abilities and the ability to collaborate with diverse students, faculty, staff, and community stakeholders at all levels.
- Project Management: Ability to work independently, troubleshoot and problem-solve in a fast-paced environment, and manage multiple projects under tight deadlines.
- Software Proficiency: Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) and ticketing/box office software.
- Schedule Flexibility: Ability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, and holidays as required by the event calendar.
Qualification Standards
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in Arts Administration, Theater, or a related discipline.
- Experience: Preferably 5 years of experience in theater operations, production management, or performing arts venue administration, including front-of-house, box office, and financial oversight.
Performance Standards & EEO Statement
The criteria for evaluation in this position include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Effectively managing theater operations, productions, technical support, and venue scheduling.
- Demonstrating knowledge of the DSU Fundamentals.
- Producing compelling, articulate content for university publications and digital platforms.
- Meeting or exceeding key performance indicators (KPIs), such as ticket sales, rental revenue, event volume, and audience engagement.
- Bringing creativity and energy to all work products to compete successfully in the marketplace.
EEO Statement
Delaware State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The University does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, religion, age, national origin, color, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship or disability, veteran or military status, gender identity or genetic information. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. The University is committed to the policy of equal employment opportunity in recruitment, hiring, career advancement, and all other employment practices.
Equal opportunity employer/program'' and “auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities''.
See All 15 Theater Manager Jobs
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Find Theater Manager JobsTheater Manager Job Market
Who's Hiring
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in theater manager jobs.
- Three or more years of venue operations or performing arts management experience
- Demonstrated ability to manage front-of-house staff and coordinate with production teams
- Experience with ticketing systems such as Tessitura, Spektrix, or comparable platforms
- Budget oversight and financial reporting experience, including revenue reconciliation
- Bachelor's degree in theater management, arts administration, or a related field
- Knowledge of ADA compliance, fire safety regulations, and public assembly venue requirements
Tips for Your Theater Manager Job Search
Tailor your resume for venue type
A resume built for a multiplex cinema won't land at a regional nonprofit theater. Adjust your bullet points to reflect the specific venue context, whether that's box office revenue, subscription season management, or live event turnaround, so hiring managers see relevant experience immediately.
Quantify operational scope on your resume
Theater hiring managers want to see scale. Replace vague phrases like 'managed staff' with specifics tied to seat count, annual productions, or event volume. Numbers tied to real operational outcomes are what separate a theater manager resume from a generic venue coordinator one.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists theater manager openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Filter by nonprofit versus commercial venues
Nonprofit performing arts organizations and commercial venues have entirely different hiring priorities. Nonprofit roles often require grant reporting experience or board communication skills, while commercial venues prioritize revenue and throughput. Narrow your search by org type so your application actually speaks to what the employer needs.
Prepare a scenario answer for safety incidents
Interviewers for theater manager roles almost always ask how you've handled an emergency, whether a patron injury, a technical failure mid-show, or a weather cancellation. Have a specific, structured example ready that covers your decision-making process and the outcome.
Negotiate start dates around production cycles
Most theaters run on seasonal or subscription calendars. If you're offered a role, negotiating your start date to align with the season's opening weeks rather than mid-run shows you understand operational realities and reduces onboarding disruption for the hiring team.
Theater Manager Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most theater managers?
The companies hiring the most theater managers right now include Alamo Intermediate II Holdings, ActionLink, and BRCC, with the largest share of openings in California, Texas, and Delaware, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Openings are distributed across nonprofit performing arts organizations, commercial multiplex chains, and municipal venue operators.
How many theater manager jobs are remote?
About 100% of theater manager openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting that most roles require on-site presence for show nights, staff supervision, and emergency response. The sub-areas most likely to offer partial remote work are programming coordination, grant writing, and marketing oversight within larger arts organizations.
How do you become a theater manager?
Most theater managers start in front-of-house roles such as box office supervisor or house manager, then move into assistant manager positions where they gain budget and staffing responsibility. A degree in arts administration or theater management strengthens your candidacy, and hands-on experience running productions or managing venue operations is often weighted more heavily than credentials alone.
Can you get hired as a theater manager with little experience?
Yes, especially at smaller community theaters or independent venues that prioritize organizational skills and passion for live performance over formal credentials. Building experience through volunteer stage management, front-of-house coordination, or event production roles helps close the gap. Applying to assistant manager or operations coordinator titles first is a practical path into a full theater manager role.
What does the theater manager interview process look like?
Most theater manager interviews run two to three rounds. The first is typically a phone or video screen focused on your operations background and venue experience. A second in-person round often includes a facility walkthrough and scenario-based questions about staff conflict, safety incidents, or budget shortfalls. Some employers add a final conversation with artistic or executive leadership before extending an offer.
Where can I find and apply to theater manager jobs?
You can find and apply to theater manager jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Search for roles that match your venue experience and seniority level, then apply directly to each listing that fits your background.
See All 15 Theater Manager Jobs
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