Pine Tree Players is seeking an experienced independent contractor to lead the development of a comprehensive Production Operations Manual for our community theatre organization.
The manual will help Pine Tree Players:
– Standardize production processes, roles, and expectations;
– Improve organizational clarity, efficiency, and accessibility;
– Embed neuro-inclusive practices throughout the production process; and
– Support volunteer learning and development from onboarding through post-production.
The successful applicant will combine knowledge of theatre or arts management with strengths in process design, research, and accessible documentation. The selected contractor will work with Pine Tree Players to agree on a work plan and allocation of hours that delivers the required outcomes within a total contract budget of $10,000. The anticipated contract period is August 24 to December 31, 2026.
Working with Pine Tree Players’ board, members, and production volunteers, the contractor will:
– Review existing production documents, templates, practices, and strategic materials;
– Research production manuals, tools, and leading practices used by community theatre and arts organizations;
– Consult with peer organizations and relevant sector resources;
– Document the full production cycle, including planning, auditions, rehearsals, technical and dress rehearsals, performances, and post-production;
– Clarify responsibilities, expectations, and competencies for key production roles;
– Develop skill-development pathways to support volunteer learning and progression;
– Create or refine standardized production templates and tools;
– Embed accessible and neuro-inclusive practices, including clear expectations, accessible communication, sensory-aware planning, structured feedback, check-ins, community agreements, and psychological-safety guidelines;
– Define accountability practices, including post-production reporting, issue-escalation pathways, and volunteer behavioural expectations; and
– Develop an implementation plan and support initial training and rollout.
The contractor will be responsible for producing:
– A best-practices summary report;
– Draft and final versions of the Production Operations Manual;
– A standardized template suite, including production and rehearsal schedules, props lists, costume plots, rehearsal reports, show reports, and post-production reports;
– Competency frameworks for key production roles;
– An implementation roadmap covering rollout priorities and change-management considerations; and
– Initial training or orientation sessions to support adoption of the manual.
We are interested in contractors with experience in several of the following areas:
– Theatre production or arts management;
– Process design, documentation, and systems development;
– Researching and synthesizing best practices;
– Working with volunteer-led, nonprofit, or community organizations;
– Developing practical manuals, procedures, templates, or training resources; and
– Embedding inclusive practices in processes.
Application deadline is 11:59pm on August 7, 2026.
Please apply here: https://pinetreeplayers.com/production-manual-application/
Or by emailing a cover letter and resume to [email protected].
