THEATER ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Meet your instructor and familiarize yourself with the overall course structure. Gain insight into the assignments and final project expectations and identify an industry-wide challenge you want to solve.

• Meet your instructor
• Course structure
• Assignments and final project overview
• Q&A
• Breakout room #1: Share one inspiring theater experience and one structural challenge you want to fix in the industry

Explore how American theaters operate across regional, Off-Broadway, and Broadway models, and learn how mission, scale, contracts, and leadership shape artistic success. Gain a practical understanding of where different companies fit within the national ecosystem.

• Types of missions
• Contracts, unions, & staffing structures
• Size and budget/space
• Role in national ecosystem, new trends & commercial “arm”
• Case study #1: Comparison between The Guthrie Theater, City Theater Company, and Manhattan Theater Club
• Breakout room #2: Discuss Play #1 with a lens towards what type of theater it would be best suited for and why

Assignment #1: Landscape Analysis
Research three theaters, compare their structures, and select one company to lead throughout the course.

Discoverwhat it takes to become an Artistic Director by examining real career pathways, leadership structures, and required skills. Assess your own strengths and identify the experience gaps standing between you and the top seat.

• Director & artist path
• Management & producer path
• Production & line producer path
• Different staff structures and functions
• Transferable skills into management
• Workshop #1: Compare the discussed job descriptions to your own skills and experiences, and give each requirement a ‘stop light’ rating. In groups, take one or two of your “red” areas and brainstorm ways you could improve your skills

Build a mission, vision, and values framework that can guide programming, hiring, fundraising, and long-term strategy. Discover how successful theaters turn bold statements into daily decision-making tools.

• Mission vs. vision vs. values
• Creating mission, vision, and values
• Case study #2: Alley Theater, Mixed Blood Theater, Barrington Stage Company
• Centering mission, vision, and values
• Evolving mission, vision, and values
• Breakout room #3: In groups, create a list of 3 elements of mission, vision or values and a specific and practical decision or practice it might affect

Assignment #2: The Manifesto
Create a mission, vision, and values statement for the theater you selected.

Learn how strong leaders create healthy workplace culture, hire effectively, and manage key relationships with boards and Managing Directors. Dive into how values become visible through communication, systems, and team behavior.

• Hiring
• Working with staff/creating culture
• Working with Managing Director
• Working with board
• DEIA & ‘respect” rule set
• Breakout room #4: Brainstorm ideas for DEIA and positive culture in your theater. What practices, principles, culture “norms” would you want to bring to a company as a leader?

Discoverhow Artistic Directors champion the organization externally by inspiring donors, energizing audiences, and unifying the public message. Practice turning artistic vision into compelling pitches that attract support.

• Partnering with development and marketing
• Articulating need and dream
• Unified brand messaging, cultivation, and solicitation
• Case study #2: A Doll’s House
• Demo: Quick live demo on a play
• Breakout room #5: In pairs, conduct an interview for a major newspaper about either play #1 or #2

Assignment #3: The Case for Support
Write or record a donor pitch that connects a play to your theater’s mission and vision.

Explore the operational side of artistic leadership by learning how productions move from concept to opening night. Balance creative ambition with budgets, timelines, and practical execution.

• Design and pre-production planning
• Budgets and production deadlines
• Managing vision vs. resources
• Rehearsal and tech support
• Giving constructive notes
• Breakout room #6: Discuss play #3 and identify three challenges you might find in realizing this play. Provide a proactive mitigation strategy for each

Learn how to build exceptional creative teams and casts that serve both the production and the organization’s values. Discover how to navigate union rules, representation, and hiring strategy with confidence.

• Identifying key collaborators
• Matching skills to shows
• Diversity in teams
• Unions, agents, agreements
• Casting

Assignment #4: The Dream Team
Create a full creative team and casting vision for one of the selected plays.

Discover how theaters deepen impact beyond performances through education, outreach, and audience experience design. Build programs that expand access, loyalty, and community relevance.

• Education and student matinees
• Community outreach
• Additional revenue sources
• Case study: Digital resources
• Enhancing the experience
• Breakout room #7: In groups, design a 3-part community engagement series around Play #3 that partners with a local non-arts organization

Learn how to curate a compelling season that balances mission, audience interest, finances, and artistic ambition. Explore how new work development and literary strategy feed long-term programming success.

• Commissioning writers & developing work
• Script pipelines & dramaturg role
• Cost saving & revenue generating models
• Co-productions, rolling world premieres, “book-ins”
• Audience analytics
• Season slots and calendar planning

Assignment #5: Create a season
Build a three-play season that supports your theater’s mission and audience goals.

Master the art of making smart resource decisions under pressure. Learn how to budget a season, respond to crises, and protect artistic integrity while navigating real financial constraints.

• Season budgeting and scheduling
• Forecasting revenue and expenses
• Crisis management, world events, mid-year correction
• Informed decision making
• Workshop #2: Review budget planning documents with a lens towards informed estimation of expense
• Breakout room #8: Take the season you have created and cut three elements from it as a cost-saving measure

Prepare for the next stage of your career by building networks, navigating searches, and presenting yourself as a leadership candidate. Learn how to approach interviews, mentors, and long-term career growth strategically.

• Finding a mentor and building a network
• Joining search firm databases
• The AD interview and search committee process
• Mock interview questions
• Work/life balance and art/admin balance
• Introducing final project

Assignment #6: Pitch a Season (Rough Draft)
Prepare your presentation notes and structure for your final boardroom season pitch.

Present your artistic vision with confidence by combining mission, programming, staffing, engagement, and budget logic into one persuasive board-ready pitch. Refine your delivery through practice and feedback.

• Demo #2: Pitching a season
• Breakout room #9: Practice live presentations of "Pitch a Season"
• Wrap up and course overview

Assignment #7: Final Project - Pitch a Season
Deliver a polished presentation that sells your theater season to a mock Board of Directors.