Work with Us

Metropolis Performing Arts Centre is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace, and provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

FULL-TIME OPPORTUNITIES

Metropolis Performing Arts Centre is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located in the heart of downtown Arlington Heights, just 25 miles from Downtown Chicago.

Entering its 25th Anniversary Season, Metropolis has become one of Chicagoland’s leading venues for quality entertainment and professional theater, captivating over 70,000 patrons annually. Metropolis’ programming includes a thriving Main Stage subscription series, an extensive collection of concerts, comedy, and cabaret, and enriching educational productions and performances by its revered School of Performing Arts.

The School of Performing Arts educates over 2,500 students annually and offers group classes, individual voice and instrumental instruction, seasonal camps, and theatrical productions. MPAC’s Community Engagement initiatives bring the arts to seniors and individuals with special and different needs.  

In 2005, the Village of Arlington Heights purchased the Metropolis Theater, the classrooms, and administrative offices. As a partner and leading voice in the community’s cultural landscape, MPAC remains committed to its mission of providing professional theater, quality entertainment, inspirational arts education programs, impactful community engagement initiatives, and arts accessibility to people of all ages.  This position is eligible for a comprehensive benefits package.

About the Opportunity

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Artistic Director works to accomplish MPAC’s artistic goals of producing quality theater and entertainment programming for the community, curating enriching arts education curriculums for students of all ages, providing engaging community outreach programs, and fulfilling organizational mission objectives as set forth by the Board of Directors.

Artistic Leadership Responsibilities:
Manage 4-5 Main Stage productions per year, Metropolis Presents concerts, and collaborate with the School of Performing Arts in programming.

  • Collaborate with the Board of Directors and Executive Director to create a cohesive, diverse, and engaging season of shows and performances within budgetary parameters.
  • Create, manage, and reconcile all production budgets and expenses.
  • Assist in establishing the annual theater calendar.
  • Interview, hire, and supervise teams of artistic staff, designers, directors, and technical teams and ensure a collaborative, safe, and vibrant workplace of inclusivity, communication, and excellence.
  • As lead producer, ensure programmatic and production excellence, operational sustainability, and create new strategies for expanding audiences.
  • Advocate for and commit to advancing organizational diversity, equity,  inclusion, and belonging initiatives and demonstrating MPAC values
  • Complete other duties as assigned

Fundraising and Audience Development:
Successfully collaborate with donors, patrons, actors, artists, designers, community leaders, educators, students, and parents to strengthen relationships and build a lasting foundation for the theater and community.

  • Serve as an organizational leader in the community and at performances by engaging with existing and potential donors, sponsors, village trustees, and other Metropolis stakeholders.
  • Work closely with the Board of Directors, Development staff, and Executive Director to establish and implement strategies that cultivate new funding sources.
  • Regularly attend shows, deliver curtain speeches, participate in all Metropolis events and fundraisers, and regularly engage with current and potential donors to advance organizational fundraising objectives.

Financial:
Create, manage, and report on all Main Stage and Metropolis Presents budgets.

  • Work with the Finance Director to build sales of shows and report on the profitability of produced and presented shows
  • Collaborate with Safety Manager and Production team to ensure a safe environment for staff, actors, students, and patrons

Desired Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree preferred
  • Strong local relationships in Chicago’s theater community.
  • 5+ years of experience in successfully planning, producing, and directing primarily musical theatrical productions with advanced working knowledge in all aspects of the production process including casting, scenic, and technical aspects.
  • Demonstrated management in a theater or performing arts organization known for artistic excellence with strong ties in and around the arts community.
  • Experience working in an arts education environment as a teacher and/or leader.
  • Demonstrated ability to work with talent of all ages, backgrounds, and ability levels.
  • Demonstrated ability to forge mutually beneficial relationships with artists, actors, directors, designers, crews, and other arts leaders in and around the community.
  • Exceptional interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively and collegially with a broad and diverse team of staff, performers, and stakeholders.
  • Strong commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
  • Demonstrated ability to interact effectively with a Board of Directors
  • Demonstrated ability to lead, manage, support, train, and develop new and existing staff

To apply, please click here.

Metropolis seeks a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an established organization in a thriving arts community that places a high value on quality, storytelling, training, and ideas that spawn intellectual engagement. Metropolis encourages local and regional candidates to apply as no relocation expenses will be provided. Metropolis Performing Arts Centre is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace, provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment, and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. All offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a background check.

PART-TIME OPPORTUNITIES

Metropolis Performing Arts Centre is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located in the heart of downtown Arlington Heights. It houses a 329-seat professional theater, as well as a full school of performing arts that includes drama, dance, and music lessons. Our mission is to provide professional entertainment and arts education, enriching our community. We strive to do this by creating an artistic, educational and collaborative home for performers, students and audiences members, making the arts accessible to our broad and diverse community, and cultivating a lifelong appreciation and involvement in the arts for our students, artists and community members.

We recognize that cultural fit is important when searching for new opportunities. Our culture supports a collaborative and innovative approach to teamwork. We are constantly striving to better ourselves so that we can provide the best performing arts experience for our patrons and students. We are focused on bringing diversity, equity and inclusion into every aspect of our organization. If you are a dynamic, customer-service focused individual with a growth mindset, you would be a great fit for our team!

Summary of Position

The Education Administrator manages The School of the Performing Arts office during evening hours and on Saturdays, ensuring steady operations and safety for all students and faculty; providing clear communication and administrative assistance to the school, faculty, and families.

Responsibilities

  • Acts as main point of contact for private lesson and group class families
  • Manages registration process for private lessons and group classes for each semester:
  • Manually processes registrations, coordinates schedules between instructors and families, sends out communication to instructors and families about deadlines, etc.
  • Oversees private lesson schedules to ensure that proper attendance is being taken by instructors
  • Facilitates scheduling of trial lessons and private lessons for new students in conjunction with instructors
  • Sets up payment plans and processes payments in billing system
  • Answers the main Metropolis SOPA phone and returns voicemails when in the office
  • Aids in sales inquiries for prospective students
  • Maintains a clean, educational, and welcoming environment within the school including updating bulletin boards, posting marketing materials for upcoming events, occasional vacuuming and sweeping, etc.
  • Works with school team to constantly strive to improve the level of student services, student retention, and participates in work plans as an active team member
  • Will be cross-trained in other SOPA areas in order to fill-in with miscellaneous administrative tasks when needed (camps, productions, community engagement, etc.)
  • Participates in training and professional development activities
  • Assists with SOPA special events as necessary (recitals, showcases, community events, etc.)
  • Other duties as assigned by the Education Director

Key Skills and Competencies

Strong customer service, communication, organizational, time management skills; comfortable working and communicating with staff and faculty, students, and families; ability to meet deadlines; proficient in Microsoft Office and/or G Suite and ability to learn new software through training; comfortable using Facebook and/or Instagram is a plus. Experience in nonprofit, the performing arts or as a teaching artist is a plus.

Pay Range

$18 per hour

Hours

  • Monday-Thursday 4:00PM-8:30PM;
  • Saturday 9:00AM-1:00PM (approx. 20-25 hours per week)
  • Occasional additional nights and weekends for School events or office coverage as needed
  • On-site position

If you do not meet all of the above required skills, but you feel you have equivalent experience to perform this role, please apply.

To apply: Email tgates@metropolisarts.com with your resume and a paragraph telling us about yourself.

Metropolis Performing Arts Centre is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace, and provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

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