Assistant Director of Vienna Youth Players (Part-Time) chez Town of Vienna, VA

About the Department

Seasonal Position/Production- May-August

The Assistant Director of Vienna Youth Players will support the creation of a musical theatre production every summer for teens ages 10-18 as an opportunity for them to learn theatrical skills, build a passion for the art and create a nurturing community. The Assistant Director will collaborate with an artistic team including the Director, Choreographer, Music Director, Stage Manager, Sound Engineer, Light Designer, Set Director, Scenic Charge, students and volunteers to build a vision and turn it into a reality. The Assistant Director’s focus will be supporting the Director, artistic team, actors and technicians in completing the responsibilities of their respective roles. The Assistant Director will ensure a high-quality production that simultaneously enhances student growth and passion for theater. 

The assistant director works independently under supervision of the Vienna Youth Players Director.

Work Hours: The assistant director will be expected to attend about 3 rehearsals a week and dedicate 10 hours a week toward planning and meetings. The division of rehearsal time/planning time may be adjusted with the Director. As needed the Assistant Director is expected to run rehearsal independently.

The hours listed below are for rehearsals. The director is responsible for scheduling tech days and planning outside of these rehearsal times. The director may also add additional rehearsal times outside of these hours. Annual work start and end dates will be determined by the director in coordination with the Recreation Program Coordinator I.

7:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, June and July 

2026 Production Dates: July 18, 19, 23, 24, 2, 26

All new employees must satisfactorily complete a background check. A conditional offer of employment may then be made contingent upon the successful completion of drug and TB tests.

Position Duties

The functions listed below are those that represent the majority of the time spent working in this position. Ultimately it is the director’s responsibility to complete tasks needed to produce the show so additional tasks may be required. 

Essential Functions:

Assist with Auditions

• Assist with organization of auditions and callbacks.
• Provide feedback to the Director and Music Director on casting. 
• Support students emotionally and logistically. 

Prepare for Rehearsals, Production, and Cast/Crew Bonding Activities

• Attend meetings with the artistic team to prepare performance and technical aspects for the rehearsals and performances. 
• Help the Director plan blocking as needed. 
• Provide ideas for solutions for challenges as they arise. 
• Complete logistical tasks as needed to keep the cast and crew organized and connected. 
• Analyze the script and its characters to identify the play's central themes, character relationships, mood, and style. Collaborate with the Director to ensure your expectations for each aspect are aligned.
• Help coordinate special events such as the cabaret night, the picnic poster party, and the restaurant dinner the week of the show. 

Collect Materials for the Production

• Connect with local theater companies and high schools to borrow set pieces, costumes and props. Collaborate with the Director on which schools you both connect with.
• Pick up props, set pieces, and costumes from local schools and organizations. 
• Help the stage management team label each costume, prop and set piece and create an organized document that charts out the division of each item.
• Assist with the cleaning (if applicable) and return of these items after strike. 

Assist with Rehearsals

• Arrive to rehearsals about 15 minutes early to help set up. 
• Stay after rehearsals to help pack up and ensure that each student is picked up by their ride. 
• Lead rehearsals in the absence of the Director. 
• Teach blocking as instructed by the Director.

Collaborate with the Artistic Team

• Share concepts for lights, sound, choreography, set, costumes, props, hair, make-up, publicity, stage management and house with the artistic team that support the Director’s vision of the show.
• Ensure that everyone on the team has the information and supplies they need to complete their responsibilities. 
• Communicate changes and updates to the artistic team. 
• Verify that each team member is working towards the agreed upon vision.
• Share cue sheets to each team member, cast and crew as needed. 

Support Actors

• Catch up actors on material they have missed or coordinate with the correlating teacher (i.e. music director, choreographer, or director) or another student that knows their material to ensure that they are caught up. 
• Track blocking for actors and share with students as needed. 
• Track who is missing what days and what material they missed and communicate that with the director, music director or choreographer depending on what they missed. 
• Guide actors through their roles and lines, helping them develop a deeper understanding of their characters, motives, and challenges. Encourage their development and passion for the art of theater. 
• Notify actors of changes, reminders and tasks as needed.

Reinforce Technical Crews

• Take on the role of tech head for crews without student leaders unless the Director decides to take it on.
• Support the stage manager in maintaining communication between technical crews and ensuring that each crew complete their respective tasks.
• Assist technical crews with their responsibilities as needed. 
• Collaborate with the Director, run crew, and stage management team to ensure quick and safe scene transitions.

Oversee Performances

• Support the stage manager in ensuring that all tech crews and actors are prepared for the performance including running or delegating warm-ups, preparing set and prop pieces, and completing any other pre-show logistics. 
• Choose at least one show night to provide an uplifting and encouraging pre-show speech. 
• Collaborate with the house crew and stage manager to build an inviting intermission space in which the students and volunteers will sell snacks, tickets, and fundraise if applicable.
• Quickly address any issues that may occur onstage or backstage if the stage manager needs assistance.
• Monitor safety backstage before and after the show. 

Assist with Strike

• Ensure that all props, costumes and set pieces are organized and distributed back to their original owners. 
• Confirm that tasks delegated to the technical crews are completed in an efficient and timely manner. 
• Guarantee the cleanliness of the stage and backstage area post strike. 
• If needed, help return items to their original owners. 

Create a Safe, Encouraging and Organized Environment

• Continually communicate with and share production details with the stage manager. Assign tasks as needed to ensure they can build an organized experience for the entire cast and crew.
• Collaborate with the director, musical director and stage manager to organize a rehearsal schedule, keeping in mind the absences of everyone involved in the production.
• Build opportunities for students to connect and form authentic friendships with one another. 
• Create a space where students can take risks comfortably, make artistic choices, and push the limits they thought they had.
• Monitor and do what you can to ensure the safety of everyone involved in the production.
• Set expectations with students and staff for code of conduct and care for all props, costumes, tools and technology used for annual production
  
  

Connect with the Community

• Help host an interest meeting in the early winter for any students who wish to learn more or encourage others to participate.
• Publicize the show via measures like updating the website description at viennava.gov/theatre, sending flyers to local high schools, posting on social media, and posting flyers at local companies.
• Communicate with parent volunteers to ensure that they have what they need to complete their assigned tasks and answer questions. 
• Serve as a Town of Vienna/VYP Ambassador with a positive attitude when dealing with the Vienna Community Center staff, parents, students.

Build and Adhere to the Budget

• Assist the Director in building and adhering to the annual production budget. 
• Track purchases and send receipts to the Recreation Program Coordinator II, Events for reimbursements.
• Complete vendor forms for yourself if you intend on making purchases to get reimbursed.
• Collect tax exempt forms from the Recreation Program Coordinator for stores you intend to shop at. 
• Fundraise if needed through events such as face painting at Chillin’ on Church and Independence Day Celebration. 
• Coordinate with the Director and Recreation Program Coordinator II, Events to collect sponsors from local businesses. 

Qualifications

• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, orally and in writing. 
• Ability to give, understand, and carry out oral and written instructions. 
• Ability to provide effective VYP staff and student coordination. 
• Ability to resolve disputes with firmness and impartiality. 
• Ability to operate a personal computer using program applications appropriate to assigned duties. 
• Knowledge of first aid practices and techniques. 
• Ability to demonstrate professional work habits including reliability, dependability, punctuality, adaptability, creativity, and enthusiasm for the job. 
• Ability to fulfill all duties with ethical conduct, individual initiative, creative problem solving, and responsive service. 
• Ability to interact professionally and cooperatively and establish and maintain effective working relationships with customers, coworkers, supervisors, participants, the general public, and all those encountered in the course of work.
• Proven experience with Google Sheets and Google Drive

Minimum Qualifications

2-4 years of experience in youth theater education or comparable discipline.

Preferred: bachelor’s degree in theater, dance, education, or related field. 

Special Certifications and Licenses:

Must hold or be able to obtain CPR and First Aid certifications. The Town of Vienna will provide training opportunities if needed.  

Other Qualifications

Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance

The Town of Vienna is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  ADA requires the Town of Vienna to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are encouraged to discuss ADA accommodations with management.