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2025 Festival Season – Props Manager
Position Description
Opera Theatre of Saint Louis (OTSL) is seeking a conscientious Props Manager for its 50th Anniversary Season in 2025. OTSL is the premier opera company in the St. Louis region. Founded in 1975, our spring festival has drawn patrons from across the country and around the world for decades. By performing in repertory, patrons can visit for a few days and see all four operas on the same stage. This schedule creates unique opportunities for passionate problem solvers and curious minds to create the fantastic art we invite audiences to enjoy.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Props Manager, in collaboration with the Technical Director, oversees the production of all the props necessary for the four operas in the season. They are entrusted with managing the workflow in the Props Department by creating a schedule for the acquisition and/or construction of all props, budget tracking for each opera, managing props artisans and props carpenters, and keeping constant communication with the staging staff for each show. They must plan and assign labor and resources to best achieve the needs of each opera within the design and the allotted budget. In addition to managing the Prop Shop, the Props Manager will oversee and manage two Assistant Props Managers that each aid in the tracking and management for two the four operas in the season.
The Props Department researches each shows’ time period/ setting and prepares prop lists appropriate for each show. They are responsible for pulling props from stock, thrifting, purchasing, and fabricating to provide the set decoration, props and furniture needed for all four operas. In addition, they are responsible for providing rehearsal props as requested, transferring props between the warehouse, rehearsal halls, and theater, attending technical rehearsals, responding to notes, and maintaining show props throughout the season.
Skills, Experience, & Qualifications
We are looking for applicants demonstrating the following:
- Exceptional organizational skills,
- Attention to details,
- Experience with project management and multiple competing deadlines,
- Strong people and time management skills,
- Experience managing union and non-union professionals as well as interns,
- Experience managing multiple budgets,
- A keen eye for safety and cleanliness to maintain workspaces and tools,
- Strong interpersonal skills for communicating with directors, designers, staff and other departments,
- A valid driver’s license and reliable transportation,
- Experience with a variety of fabrication methods,
- A working knowledge of technical theater practices,
- Ability to understand construction and design drawings.
Compensation
$1,000.00 per week
Dates of Engagement:
March 24, 2025 – July 3, 2025
TO APPLY:
Applicants for the position are asked to submit one file including a resume, three references, and a cover letter that describes their interest in the position and outlines their relevant experience and qualifications.
At Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, we value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We are committed to being an equal employment/engagement opportunity workplace, and will not discriminate against employees or applicants on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, physical or mental disability, genetic information or characteristics, protected veteran status, or any other protected class under federal, state, or local law.
Please let us know if you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process.
About Opera Theatre of Saint Louis
Opera Theatre of Saint Louis (OTSL) is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization known for innovative productions featuring outstanding young artists. The company offers a festival opera season each spring which attracts ticket buyers from zip codes throughout the metropolitan area,
as well as visitors from nearly 50 states and multiple countries. As of 2023, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis has presented 37 world premieres and 28 American premieres, which may be the highest percentage of new work in the repertory of any American company. In addition to the spring Festival Season, Opera Theatre operates year-round education and community programs serving nearly 17,000 local children and adults. Opera Theatre of Saint Louis has a year-round artistic and administrative staff of approximately 45, which grows to more than 500 during the Festival Season. Several hundred volunteer members of the Opera Theatre Guild provide support for all aspects of Opera Theatre’s work and advocate for the company throughout the greater St. Louis community. The company’s annual budget size is approximately $12.5 million; contributed revenue represents more than 50% of budget.