Stage Manager needed for Drink the Past Dry

Ghostlight Ensemble is seeking a Stage Manager for its March production of Drink the Past Dry written and directed by Ensemble Member Maria Burnham. Drink the Past Dry is a vignette-style, site-specific production set in a nondescript neighborhood bar in the middle of Chicago. It looks like every other bar in every other neighborhood in the city with a few regulars sipping drinks, making small talk, doing the things people always do in bars. But this bar has a secret. It can take you anywhere in time, but only once and only within the walls of the bar (so it turns out it’s not as popular a place as one might think). But there are some souls who still need to reach out to the past – or to the future – and this is where they come when they do.

Job Details:
The Stage Manager will attend all rehearsals and performances.

The Stage Manager will provide practical and organizational support to the director, actors and designers throughout the production process. They will also be the director's representative during performances, making sure that the production runs smoothly. While Ghostlight will have a company representative at each performance to manage the house, the Stage Manager will be responsible for the production elements of the performance.

Stage Manager will work side-by-side with the director during rehearsals, recording decisions about blocking and notes for the actors, keeping track of logistical and scheduling details and communicating what goes on in rehearsals to the rest of the team.

Key Dates:
Rehearsals will be 3-4 times/week on weeknight evenings and/or weekend days in April 2025. Final dates will be confirmed after review of cast conflicts.

Tech: Thursday, April 24 and rehearsals on Friday, April 25 in the evenings and Saturday, April 26 during the day.

Preview: Sunday, April 27 at 3 p.m.

Performances: 

• Friday & Saturday, May 2 &3

• Friday & Sunday, May 9 & 11

• Friday & Sunday, May 16 & 18

• Friday, Saturday & Sunday, May 23, 24 & 25

• Thursday & Friday, May 29 & 30

• Sunday, June 1

Thursday, May 29 is a designated understudy performance. There will be a put-in rehearsal for the understudies on May 27 or May 28, depending on availability. 

Performance take place at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. on Sundays. The performance will take place upstairs at Mrs. Murphy and Sons (3905 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60613)

Instructions to Apply:
To be considered, please send resume to Maria Burnham maria@ghostlightensemble.com

Pay Rate/Range:
$350 stipend

Production Manager needed for 'Alabama Story'

Ghostlight Ensemble is seeking a Production Manager for its fall production of Alabama Story by Kenneth Jones. Alabama Story is based on the true story in the 1950s about an Alabama State Librarian facing an effort to ban a children’s book about a white bunny and a black bunny who get married. This is a timely and moving story that weaves together historical occurrences with fictional characters to drive home the real-world implications of censorship and book-banning that we still face today.

Production Manager can work primarily virtually, with attendance at in-person designer run and select tech week rehearsals. Please note that this production will be at site-specific locations, so there will be fewer design and tech elements/roles to coordinate than in a traditional venue. There is an opportunity to combine this role with Stage Manager for an increased stipend.

Key Dates
Production Schedule:

Rehearsals in September 2024. 3-4 rehearsals/week on weeknights or weekend days, to be scheduled according to cast availability. Production planning will likely begin in August.

Tech week: Sunday,  September 22 in the afternoon and Monday, September 23 through Thursday September 26 in the evenings

Performances: show will run Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoon matinees from Friday, September 27 through Sunday, October 20, 2024, at site specific locations in Chicago.

Instructions to Apply:

To be considered, please send resume to Holly Robison, holly@ghostlightensemble.com

Pay Rate/Range*: $200 stipend

Organization Contact Name: Holly Robison

Organization Email Contact: holly@ghostlightensemble.com

Costume Designer needed for 'Alabama Story'

Ghostlight Ensemble is seeking a Costumer for its fall production of Alabama Story by Kenneth Jones. Alabama Story is based on the true story in the 1950s about an Alabama State Librarian facing an effort to ban a children’s book about a white bunny and a black bunny who get married. This is a timely and moving story that weaves together historical occurrences with fictional characters to drive home the real-world implications of censorship and book-banning that we still face today.

Costumer will dress 6 actors and 5-6 understudies. Costumer will have access to costume stock of local college per a borrowing agreement.

Key Dates
Costumer will be available for anticipated 3-4 virtual production meetings, in-person designer run, tech week and wardrobe fittings in August-September. Dates confirmed according to cast and production team availability.

Production Schedule:
Rehearsals in September 2024 on weeknights and/or weekend days, with possible table work and/or fittings in August.

Tech week: Sunday, September 22 in the afternoon and Monday, September 23 through Thursday, September 26 in the evenings

Performances: show will run Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoon matinees from Friday, September 27 through Sunday, October 20, 2024.

Instructions to Apply:

To be considered, please send resume and portfolio/website link to Holly Robison, holly@ghostlightensemble.com.

Pay Rate/Range*: $300 stipend

Organization Contact Name: Holly Robison

Organization Email Contact: holly@ghostlightensemble.com

Stage Manager Needed for 'Alabama Story'

Ghostlight Ensemble is seeking a Stage Manager for its fall production of Alabama Story by Kenneth Jones. Alabama Story is based on the true story in the 1950s about an Alabama State Librarian facing an effort to ban a children’s book about a white bunny and a black bunny who get married. This is a timely and moving story that weaves together historical occurrences with fictional characters to drive home the real-world implications of censorship and book-banning that we still face today.

Stage Manager will attend all rehearsals and performances. There is an opportunity to combine this role with Production Manager for an increased stipend.

Key Dates
Production Schedule:

Rehearsals in September 2024. 3-4 rehearsals/week on weeknights or weekend days, to be scheduled according to cast availability.

Tech week: Sunday,  September 22 in the afternoon and Monday, September 23 through Thursday September 26 in the evenings.

Performances: show will run Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoon matinees from Friday, September 27 through Sunday, October 20, 2024.

Please note that performances will be held at two site specific locations: After-Words Bookstore Event Space, 23 E. Illinois, Chicago, IL 60611 (6 performances) September 27-29 and October 4-6 (6 performances) and Haymarket House, 800 W. Buena, Chicago, IL 60613 October 11-13 and October 18-20 (6 performances).

Instructions to Apply:

To be considered, please send resume to Holly Robison, holly@ghostlightensemble.com

Pay Rate/Range*: $300 stipend

Organization Contact Name: Holly Robison

Organization Email Contact: holly@ghostlightensemble.com

Dialect Coach needed for 'Alabama Story'

Ghostlight Ensemble is seeking a Dialect Coach for its fall production of Alabama Story by Kenneth Jones. Alabama Story is based on the true story in the 1950s about an Alabama State Librarian facing an effort to ban a children’s book about a white bunny and a black bunny who get married. This is a timely and moving story that weaves together historical occurrences with fictional characters to drive home the real-world implications of censorship and book-banning that we still face today.

Dialect Coach will be available for direct dialogue sessions with actors via zoom or in-person, as well as attend select in-person rehearsals as agreed upon with production manager and director.

Key Dates
Production Schedule:

Rehearsals in September 2024. 3-4 rehearsals/week on weeknights or weekend days, to be scheduled according to cast availability. Some dialect work may be able to be scheduled in August.

Tech week: Sunday, September 22 in the afternoon and Monday, September 23 through Thursday September 26 in the evenings

Performances: show will run Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoon matinees from Friday, September 27 through Sunday, October 20, 2024, at site specific locations throughout Chicago.

Instructions to Apply: To be considered, please send resume to Holly Robison, holly@ghostlgihtensemble.com

Pay Rate: $250 stipend

Contact Info:
Holly Robison: holly@ghostlightensemble.com

Job Type: Freelance/Contract/Temp
Compensation: $250 stipend

Seeking directors for Make/Believe short play festival for young audiences

Ghostlight Ensemble is seeking directors for its second annual Make/Believe festival for young audiences set to broadcast virtually in early June.

The festival will feature six short plays written by playwrights from around the country. A summary of the scripts is available here.

In particular we are seeking Filipino-American, Black and Latinx directors, but encourage all BIPOC, LBGTQIA+ and non-binary directors to apply.

The pieces will be pre-recorded and presented virtually. Directors will receive a $25 stipend.

Interested directors should submit a resume and a statement of interest with any additional relevant experience to Maria Burnham at maria@ghostlightensemble.com. Please use the following format in the email’s subject line: Nightlight Festival - [director’s name]

The deadline for submissions is March 25.

Introducing the cast of The Princess Without Pots

Pearl Paramadilok as Princess Sweet Pea (left) and Brian Barber as Brax (right) in rehearsals for The Princess Without Pots.

In June, we're bringing young audiences a new tale of a fighting princess and her parents' frustrating quest for a storybook romance in The Princess Without Pots.

Saturdays and Sundays in June this world-premiere production will take place at Laugh Out Loud Theater in the North Center of Chicago (3851 N. Lincoln Ave.)

The play is written and directed by Ensemble Member Maria Burnham and stars Pearl Paramadilok as Princess Sweet Pea and Brian Barber and Isa Ramos as her would-be suitors Brax and Miguel with Norman J. Burt, Jessica Casillas, Sydney Ray, Josh Razavi, Kayla White and understudy Sean Hendrickson.

The production team includes: Jean E. Burr (Assistant Director), Carrie Campana (Costume Designer), Dave Gonzales (Fight Designer), Carolyn Minor (Production Manager) and Chad Wise (Props Designer).

Tickets are $10 adults, $5 children 12 and under or $25 family of four and are on sale now.
 

Production jobs listed for this summer's 'Princess Without Pots'

Ghostlight is seeking a Fight Choreographer, Scenic Painter and Stage Manager for its feminist fairy tale production of The Princess Without Pots. The production is geared toward young audiences.

To apply for any of the jobs listed below, submit resume and a brief description of what 'fight like a girl' means to you to Production Manager, Carolyn Minor at carolyn.minor@gmail.com. Please put the job you are applying for in the subject line.

Fight Choreographer
While this is a fight-heavy show, it is also a show geared toward young audiences, so we're seeking an artist who can design believable fights that are, at the same time, not hyper violent. The fights are short, but range from hand-to-hand combat to a sword fight with a spoon to more traditional weapons. Help sourcing weapons will also be appreciated.

Stage Manager
In addition to the usual duties, the stage manager will be required to act as light/sound board operator for performances.

Scenic Painter
We're looking for a scenic painter to help us create the look of a fairy tale castle (inside and out) as imaged by children. More details about the director's vision for this are available upon request.

Schedule Details
Rehearsals will begin in late-April/early May. 
Performances run June 9 to July 1 at 11 a.m. on Saturdays and 1:30 p.m on Sundays at LOL Theater in the North Center neighborhood in Chicago.

Stipend
Small stipends for each position to be negotiated with experience

Scenic Designer Needed for An Ideal Husband

Ghostlight Ensemble is seeking a designer to enhance the scenic dressing and practical lighting of our site-specific spring production of An Ideal Husband.

The designer may also be asked to aid in sourcing a small amount of hand props. If so, the stipend will be adjusted accordingly.

The performance space is The North Mansion/ Gunder House in Berger Park (6205 N. Sheridan Rd., Chicago, 60660), which provides the perfect backdrop for this production. As such, there will be minimal scenic elements and lighting fixtures for each setting.

Schedule Details
Load-in: April 2, during the day
Tech: Evenings April 2-5
Preview: April 6
Performances: April 7-28 Friday night and Saturday 2:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m., with an additional performance on Monday, April 9

Stipend
Small stipend to be negotiated with experience

To Apply
Please send resume and cover letter to Production Manager Janette Bauer at bauer.janette@gmail.com.