Theatre of Western Springs is a community theatre supported by a dedicated staff, artists, educators, and volunteers. We are always interested in connecting with people who are interested in contributing to our work.
Staff Opportunities
Current staff openings will be posted below as positions become available.
Current Openings
Production Manager - The Children's Theatre
The Children’s Theatre Production Manager (“PM”) provides support to the Children’s Theatre in the following ways: communication, liaison to parent volunteers, backstage management, supervising students, and stage management. The PM reports directly to the Children’s Theatre Director and is a part-time, year around position. During the school year, the PM monitors rehearsals for our mainstage musical productions. During the summer, the PM oversees the K-8th grade camps during the day.
About the Children’s Theatre of Western Springs’ Productions and Camps:
The Children’s Theatre of Western Springs (CTWS) runs semester-long classes, 6 productions per year, and extensive summer camp programs, all for students in grades K-12. Each semester, enrolled students in classes can participate as cast or crew for the productions. CTWS is overseen by our Children’s Theatre Director, and assisted by the CTWS Assistant. The Children’s Theatre Production Manager (PM) oversees production-related activities at the Theatre. The Technical Director oversees the creation of the set and larger props for each show.
Qualifications
- Experience working in theatre production, stage management, youth theatre, or a related performing arts environment.
- Strong communication and attention to detail, with the ability to work effectively with children, parents, volunteers, artists, and staff.
- Commitment to creating a welcoming, collaborative, and positive experience for young performers and their families.
Primary Responsibilities:
The PM is primarily responsible for being the on-site supervisor for rehearsals; communicating with parents and volunteers about all matters related to productions; training parent crew chairs and being the first-line source of information and support to them; providing support to the production’s director; managing crew chairs and backstage; training student crews.
Duties may include:
- Communication
- Drafting and sending weekly communication updates to parents. This may include rehearsal schedules, performance updates, or volunteer needs.
- Responding to parent questions via email or phone. PM will be given a staff email account and business cell phone to utilize.
- Following up with parents about production-related issues.
- Managing student behavior at rehearsals, and communicating issues to families as needed.
- Crew Training
- Assigning parents and students to crew areas including props, costumes, set, lights, sound, front-of-house, and stage management.
- Training parents to be backstage crew members, designers (“crew chairs”) and other volunteer roles using personal knowledge, industry standards, and CTWS provided materials.
- Answering parent questions and providing knowledge and support to them as needed.
- Facilitating mentorships between new volunteers and experienced ones.
- Training student crew members in roles as stage managers and ASMs.
- Organizing volunteer days (painting, building, light hang, etc) for parents and students. Some of these days may be overseen directly by the PM.
- Production
- On-site supervisor for production rehearsals including arrival/dismissal of students, medical needs, and general office support.
- Stage Management duties during rehearsals alongside the student ASMs. Duties may include assistance with prompt book creation, board training, running music tracks, and rehearsal reports.
- Assisting with the run of auditions and casting process for mainstage productions.
- Providing production support to directing teams.
- Main go-to and in charge of backstage during tech and run-of-show. On-site supervisor for performances.
- Coordinates our “Backstage Brigade” crew for grades K-4th grade with fun backstage crafts and activities.
- Helps maintain the theatre’s costume and props storage.
General Hours
Approximately 15-20 hours per week average; closer to 10 during slower months, closer to 30 during performance months. Around 12 of those hours will be during rehearsal times (typically Mondays 7pm-9pm, Wednesdays 4pm-7pm, and Saturdays 9am-1pm). In the summer, hours will change to Monday-Friday mornings, with some afternoons, to coincide with our performance summer camps. The rest of the hours may be spent meeting with crews, pulling production elements from storage, office prep work and organization, etc. Hours are tracked by the PM and submitted for payroll monthly. Some duties may be done remotely.
Important 2026-27 Season Dates
Audition Weekends: September 19-20, January 16-17
Tech Weeks: November 2-6, November 9-12, November 28-December 3, March 8-12, March 15-18, April 10-15
Performances: November 6-8, November 13-15, December 4-13, March 12-14, March 19-21, April 16-25
Summer Camp Dates: June 7-August 8, 2027
Instructions to Apply
Please send a brief cover letter, work resume, theatrical resume (if applicable) and 3 references to Nick Corpora Brandt, Children’s Theatre Director, at cd@theatrewesternsprings.com by August 26. Applications will be reviewed by August 30. Candidates will be contacted for interviews the week of August 31. Start date for the position will be on or around September 14.
Pay Rate: $20/hour
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Sound Designer for Working the Musical
Theatre of Western Springs is looking for a sound designer to design the sound enhancement and mix the shows for its fall production of the musical Working. Designing sound effects are not part of the position. The theatre owns lavalier mics and all necessary equipment. There is a cast of 10 and a small pit.
Required dates for rehearsals are Oct 6, 16, 18, 19, 20, and 21. Performances are Oct 22 – 25, and Oct 29 – Nov 1. Performance schedule is Thurs and Fri, 7:30, Sat 2:00 and 7:30, and Sun 2:00.
Experience is required.
Instructions to Apply
Please send a resume and other pertinent information to Greg Kolack, Artistic Director at AD@theatrewesternsprings.com.
Pay Rate: $1250 stipend.
Teaching Opportunities
Children’s Theatre of Western Springs welcomes resumes from teachers and theatre educators interested in future teaching, directing, or other educational opportunities.
To be considered for future positions, please send your resume and a brief introduction to our Children’s Theatre Director, Nick Corpora Brandt at cd@theatrewesternsprings.com. Please include any relevant teaching or theatre experience and the age groups you are interested in working with.
We will keep your information on file and reach out when appropriate opportunities become available.
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers are an essential part of Theatre of Western Springs. There are many ways to get involved, both onstage and behind the scenes.
View Current Volunteer Opportunities
Perform With Us
Theatre of Western Springs takes a different approach to casting. Rather than holding traditional auditions, anyone interested in performing at TWS begins with Studio, a three-week program designed to introduce performers to our theatre and the process of performing and volunteering here.
Completing Studio is the first step toward becoming part of TWS’s casting pool. Studio participants also become part of the larger community of volunteers who help bring our productions and programs to life behind the scenes.
