The Badlands Amphitheatre is looking for an Assistant Director – Crowd for our 2025 production of The Badlands Passion Play in Drumheller, AB. The Badlands Passion Play tells an epic story of faith, hope & love based on the life of Christ. It is performed on Canada’s largest outdoor stage, with a company formed of professional and semi-professional actors (supplemented by volunteer actors), working with a professional crew.
Job Description:
The Assistant Director – Crowd collaborates with the rest of the directing team to help execute the Lead Director’s vision for the show. They will primarily direct the flow and movement of large and small groups onstage to create dynamic scenes across our 8 acres of playing space. They are also in charge of any movement related choreography in the show. It is acknowledged and respected that every member of the directing team has their own responsibilities, but it is expected that they will ultimately work together for the production.
Duties:
– Meeting and liaising with the members of the directing team to actualize and sustain the artistic vision of the show.
– Assisting with cast morale by ensuring each performer feels that they are important within the world of the play and the production as a whole.
– Planning crowd blocking and movement choreography, and presenting these ideas to the directing team to collaboratively bring the scene to life.
– Assisting with assigning roles by assessing performer mobility and skill level, dividing the cast into small groups to create the crowd in each scene, and collaborating with the directing team on the casting of villagers in speaking roles.
– Leading daily group warm-ups.
– Leading the crowd with confidence and directing the performers in a clear and concise manner.
– Directing specific scenes, sequences, or components of scenes as designated by the Lead and First Directors.
– Assisting Stage Management in tracking the overall blocking of crowd performers. This includes providing and collaborating on detailed maps and spreadsheets of crowd entrances, exits and onstage blocking.
– Serving as liaison between the individual performers of the crowd and the other members of the directing team by addressing questions or relaying them to the Lead Directors at an appropriate time.
– Ensuring the safety of the cast, crew and audience throughout the process.
Qualifications/Requirements:
– Previous directing experience is required. Previous experience directing large-scale performances, outdoor performances, crowds, or site-specific work is an asset.
– Previous experience with volunteers is an asset.
– Comfortable working in an active job that will require you to be moving around the amphitheatre during rehearsals.
– Knowledge in choreographing or directing physical movement, especially in non-traditional, expansive spaces is an asset.
– Able to address logistical challenges unique to outdoor performances and adapt to changing conditions (weather, terrain, audience interaction).
– Ability to effectively communicate with performers, stage management and the production team in order to execute a shared vision.
– Can organize, document, and track various kinds of information effectively.
– Comfortable working closely with a large number of people daily.
Important Information:
– Compensation is a contract amount starting at $5700.00
– This is a contract position from May 27 – July 6 (6 weeks).
– The amphitheatre is an outdoor venue. We rehearse and perform in all kinds of weather, and on all kinds of terrain.
– The work week is six (6) days long with Tuesdays off, hours vary from day to day.
– Accommodation options available.
– Meals are provided every Saturday (dinner) and Sunday (brunch).
To Apply:
Please send your resume to the Production Coordinator Laura Cheverie: [email protected]
More About The Badlands Amphitheater:
The Badlands Amphitheatre is a non-profit arts and culture venue located in the Canadian Badlands. Home to Canada’s largest outdoor stage, our 2,500-seat outdoor amphitheatre and indoor Badlands Arts Centre hosts the renowned Badlands Passion Play; the Canadian Icons Concert Series; Roots, Blues, & Barbecue; Lightfest: Winter in the Badlands; outdoor opera and much more.
With our spectacular natural setting, unique in the world, we create sustainable community through performance events (with economic, cultural, social, and environmental outcomes), increase awareness and skill in the arts, and encourage tourism by creating significant cultural attractions. The Badlands Amphitheatre has a mandate to produce, create, and host events; enable arts education, and promote tourism – all based on our values of community, creation and celebration.
