For more information about each hiring department at Williamstown Theatre Festival, including a sample schedule, application recommendations, and more, see the descriptions below.
If you have more specific questions, you can email jobs@wtfestival.org.
The Audience Engagement Team is responsible for the overall patron experience at Williamstown Theatre Festival, encompassing the Box Office, Front of House Staff, and Ushers.
Department Overview:
The Audience Engagement Team is responsible for the overall patron experience at Williamstown Theatre Festival, from selling tickets and answering questions over the phone to greeting patrons as they arrive and making them feel safe and welcome. We pride ourselves on the unparalleled customer service each of our guests receive whenever they interact with the Festival—often making that important, indelible first impression!
The Players:
Director of Audience Engagement: Antonello Di Benedetto
Antonello has 20 years of fundraising and sales experience. Prior to joining WTF in 2017, he was the Director of Development at Second Stage Theater where he oversaw the $65M capital and endowment campaign to renovate the historic Hayes Theatre on Broadway. A native of Chicago, he started his professional career at the Illinois Shakespeare Festival while attending Illinois State University in the cornfields of central Illinois. Upon graduating summa cum laude, he moved to NYC to work for Manhattan Theatre Club. Six-and-a-half years and four fundraising positions later (most recently as Director, Special Events), he then moved to sunny San Diego to lead the individual giving efforts at La Jolla Playhouse. Antonello moved to bucolic Williamstown in 2017 with his partner Richard Duncan (who currently works in the HR Office at Williams College). He is the immediate past President of the Williamstown Chamber of Commerce and continues to serve as Chair of its Marketing Committee; he also serves on the Executive Committee for the Williamstown Cultural District, and on the steering committees for the 1Berkshire Creative Economy Cluster and ArtCountry. Antonello co-hosts the weekly television program, Window on the Weekend, on WilliNet TV about the various events going on in the Northern Berkshires on behalf of the Williamstown Chamber.
Administrative Operations Coordinator: Emma Whittum
Emma just completed her 5th (!!!) season with WTF. She started as an Audience Engagement intern with WTF in 2017, became the Assistant House Manager for the 2018 and 2019 seasons and then joined the year-round staff in September 2019 as the Administrative Assistant in the Williamstown office after graduating from Muhlenberg College. Emma is a Berkshires native and has worked with many organizations in the area, such as the Clark, Jacob’s Pillow, Williamstown Theatre Festival, and most recently for the Williams College Dance Department. In addition to working with WTF, she works with the Williamstown Chamber of Commerce as the Social Media & Office Assistant, acts as House Manager at the ‘62 Center for Theatre and Dance for the Williams College Theatre & Dance Departments, sits on the Board of Directors for Berkshire Dance Theatre (the studio she danced at for 14 years) and recently joined the team at The Print Shop Williamstown as the Financial Assistant.
The Schedule:
The schedule varies throughout the summer; the Audience Engagement team typically works six days a week (Tuesday through Sunday), with Mondays off unless there is a special event programmed.
Frequently Collaborates With:
Application Recommendations:
Do you love to talk about theatre? Are you an empathetic listener? Love making someone’s first experience at the theatre a memorable one? Then Audience Engagement may be right for you! We are looking for detail-oriented, personable people-people. Ideal candidates will possess clear communication/interpersonal skills, an amazing sense of humor, and an ability to gracefully balance competing priorities under pressure. Previous customer service experience and working knowledge of databases are a plus!
The Business office manages the financial operations of Williamstown Theatre Festival.
Department Overview:
The Director of Finance is responsible for the daily financial operations of the Festival, as well as budget tracking, payroll, any and all insurance claims, and contract fulfillment. Over the summer, the department also includes the Business Management Associate/Assistant(s) and Production Finance Assistant, who act as liaison between Production Management and the Business Office to handle seasonal purchasing.
The Players:
Director of Finance: Amy Russell
Amy first came to Williamstown in the fall of 2004 as a freshman at Williams College. While at Williams, she studied biology with a concentration in neuroscience and competed on the Williams Equestrian Team. It wasn’t until after graduation that she discovered the Festival as an audience member and she decided to pursue a career in theatre rather than neuroscience. Her first summer at the Festival was in 2011 as the Marketing and Development Assistant. After that summer, she moved to New York and spent some time interning at the Public Theater. She also worked with the Labyrinth Theater Company in a variety of different capacities. Following that, she was incredibly fortunate to have the chance to return to WTF where she first fell in love with theatre to join the year-round staff in February 2014. Outside of her work with the Festival, you will likely find her at the barn riding or spending time with her horses—Kabuki, Cara, and Pancake (who makes an occasional appearance at the Festival).
Administrative Operations Coordinator: Emma Whittum
Emma just completed her 5th (!!!) season with WTF. She started as an Audience Engagement intern with WTF in 2017, became the Assistant House Manager for the 2018 and 2019 seasons and then joined the year-round staff in September 2019 as the Administrative Assistant in the Williamstown office after graduating from Muhlenberg College. Emma is a Berkshires native and has worked with many organizations in the area, such as the Clark, Jacob’s Pillow, Williamstown Theatre Festival, and most recently for the Williams College Dance Department. In addition to working with WTF, she works with the Williamstown Chamber of Commerce as the Social Media & Office Assistant, acts as House Manager at the ‘62 Center for Theatre and Dance for the Williams College Theatre & Dance Departments, sits on the Board of Directors for Berkshire Dance Theatre (the studio she danced at for 14 years) and recently joined the team at The Print Shop Williamstown as the Financial Assistant.
The Schedule:
The Business Office operates Monday-Friday, 10am-6pm.
Frequently Collaborates With:
Application Recommendations:
In the Business Office, we look for individuals who enjoy working with numbers, have great organizational skills and attention to detail, and who are comfortable handling confidential/sensitive information. Individuals working in the business office tend to be good problem solvers who take initiative and enjoy both working independently and collaborating as a part of a small/close team. Individuals working in the Business Office should be familiar with Excel and the Google suite. Individuals will also gain experience working with the following: Quickbooks Online, Filemaker, Pex (petty cash management), Paylocity.
COMMUNITY WORKS is Williamstown Theatre Festival’s year-round community-engaged theatre program that brings together hundreds of Berkshire area residents from all walks of life.
Department Overview:
COMMUNITY WORKS is Williamstown Theatre Festival’s year-round community-engaged theatre program that brings together hundreds of Berkshire area residents from all walks of life. These diverse constituencies are connected with professional theatre artists and with each other through workshops and professional-caliber presentations at the Festival.
The Schedule:
9:30-6, 6 days/week, plus some evening events. Some time is spent out-of-office, in the rehearsal room of any COMMUNITY WORKS-related productions or presentations, or on-site with our community partner organizations
Staff has one day off each week.
Frequently Collaborates With:
Application Recommendations:
When hiring for COMMUNITY WORKS, we are looking for individuals who have experience with the intersection of art and community and/or have spent time facilitating activities for youth or intergenerational groups. The ideal candidate is highly detail-oriented with strong organizational and communication skills, comfortable with performing a high volume of detail-oriented tasks at a computer, and has a passion for ensuring that theatre is an artform that belongs to EVERYONE!
Company Management is responsible for the behind-the-scenes elements of living and working at the Festival.
Department Overview:
Company Management is responsible for many behind-the-scenes elements of living and working at the Festival. Under a broad framework, Company Management arranges travel and housing for Festival artists, generates contracts for all seasonal staff, maintains WTF’s relationship with our hosts at Williams College, and provides a friendly face for all. Company Management exists to make sure all other components of WTF can focus on making our work the best we have to offer.
The Schedule:
Daily schedule is dependent on production schedules and the arrivals/departures of visiting artists. Activities on any given day might include:
While the office doors are open 10am-6pm during the summer, a representative of CoMo is on-call 25/7 to address emergent needs of any company member.
Frequently Collaborates With:
Application Recommendations:
In Company Management, we look for individuals who have excellent communication and listening skills, are people-oriented, and have the ability to work independently as well as part of a team. Company Management interacts frequently with everyone at the Festival including season artists, staff, and the Williamstown community at large. We address a wide-range of needs for the company that range from the planned to the unpredicted, and we look for those who enjoy thinking on their feet and taking quick action. The staff must be well-organized and detail-oriented, and a good sense of humor is a plus. Candidates with a valid driver’s license are strongly preferred.
The Development Department builds personal connections with donors and potential to generate revenue for the Festival through charitable contributions.
Department Overview:
The Development Department supports WTF’s mission by generating revenue in the form of charitable contributions. We do this by making personal connections and telling a compelling institutional story, firmly aligned with Artistic Director Mandy Greenfield’s vision, WTF’s core values, and the Festival’s 66-year legacy of excellence.
The summer Development Assistant arrives in early June and helps to set up the summer Development office and Bar Devo and assists in the execution of early-summer cultivation events. The Development team arrives in mid-June and begins getting to know our donors and prospective donors through research activities. Throughout the summer, the Development Department greets and entertains donors and prospects at shows and events. The Development Department communicates with donors throughout the summer in-person, through the mail, via phone, via email, via text, and through our website and social media. The team’s goal during the summer is to educate and connect donors and prospective donors with WTF’s art, artists, and programs and get to know them better in the process.
The Players:
Director of Development & Communications: Josh Martinez-Nelson
Development Coordinator: Billy Issertell
The Schedule:
Early June until Season Begins: 10am-6pm
Once Season Begins: The Development Office is open from 10am-6pm. The Donor Lounge (Bar Devo) is open from one hour before curtain until after intermission.
Staff gets one day off per week, staggered among them.
Frequently Collaborates With:
The Literary Department works closely with the Artistic staff to support the programming and developmental endeavors of the Festival through managing artist residencies and the reading process for the L. Arnold Weissberger New Play Award, among much more.
Department Overview:
The Literary Department works closely with the WTF Artistic staff to support the programming and developmental endeavors of the Festival in alignment with the Festival’s New Play and Musical Development Initiative.
The tentpoles of the Literary Department include*:
*All “tentpoles” listed here are subject to change, as WTF remains committed to compliance with federal, state, and local guidance in light of COVID-19.
The Schedule:
Office hours are 9:30am-6pm during the season, plus occasional evening commitments (i.e. post-show talkbacks).
Seasonal staff gets one day off per week.
Frequently Collaborates With:
Application Recommendations:
In Literary, we are looking for individuals who love to read, write, think, and talk about new plays and dramaturgy, and who are able to balance strong opinions and point of view with an open mind. Ideal candidates are detail-oriented with strong organizational and communication skills. They are strong writers and critical thinkers who have a broad knowledge of both canonical texts and living playwrights.
The Marketing Department is responsible for designing, building, and implementing all communications materials for the Festival.
Department Overview:
The Marketing Department is responsible for designing, building, and implementing all communications materials for the Festival, including e-blasts, print and digital advertisements, season programs, and supplementary season artwork. The Marketing Department is also the liaison between the Festival and the local and national press outlets. They coordinate press tickets, manage press opportunities (interviews, features, etc), and write press releases. The Marketing Department manages the Festival social media channels during the summer, including building and distributing Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube content. Finally, the Photo/Video team within the Marketing Department oversees the recording/documentation of most Festival events and performances, as well as the gathering of promotional assets, ranging from donor event photography, to behind-the-scenes photo/video, to internal archival video recording of all productions.
The Players:
Director of Development & Communications: Josh Martinez-Nelson
Director of Audience Engagement: Antonello Di Benedetto
Antonello has 20 years of fundraising and sales experience. Prior to joining WTF in 2017, he was the Director of Development at Second Stage Theater where he oversaw the $65M capital and endowment campaign to renovate the historic Hayes Theatre on Broadway. A native of Chicago, he started his professional career at the Illinois Shakespeare Festival while attending Illinois State University in the cornfields of central Illinois. Upon graduating summa cum laude, he moved to NYC to work for Manhattan Theatre Club. Six-and-a-half years and four fundraising positions later (most recently as Director, Special Events), he then moved to sunny San Diego to lead the individual giving efforts at La Jolla Playhouse. Antonello moved to bucolic Williamstown in 2017 with his partner Richard Duncan (who currently works in the HR Office at Williams College). He is the immediate past President of the Williamstown Chamber of Commerce and continues to serve as Chair of its Marketing Committee; he also serves on the Executive Committee for the Williamstown Cultural District, and on the steering committees for the 1Berkshire Creative Economy Cluster and ArtCountry. Antonello co-hosts the weekly television program, Window on the Weekend, on WilliNet TV about the various events going on in the Northern Berkshires on behalf of the Williamstown Chamber.
The Schedule:
Office hours are 10am-6pm during the season, plus occasional evening commitments (i.e. post-show talkbacks, celebrations, press performances, etc)
Marketing staff uses a staggered day-off schedule, allowing for one day off per week for each staff member.
Frequently Collaborates With:
Application Recommendations:
The Marketing Department looks for individuals who can see a project from concept to completion and who can work on predetermined schedules and deadlines. We look for individuals with a keen eye for detail, a creative aesthetic, and a passion for the performing arts. Experience with the Google Suite (Drive, Docs, Sheets, etc.) is required for all positions. Experience with the Adobe Creative Suite is required for Photo/Video and Design positions, specifically Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and Premiere. Experience with social media management, and knowledge/awareness of press outlets and procedures strongly preferred. Experience with copywriting, proofreading, and editing is also a plus.
The Producing office liaises between all departments at the Festival to ensure they are working toward the goal of making WTF’s summer season a reality.
Department Overview:
The Line Producer is the coordinating force behind creating the Festival. On a basic level, the Line Producer ensures that all departments are talking to one another and working toward the goal of making WTF’s summer season a reality. Once in Williamstown, the Line Producer makes sure each production maintains its artistic integrity while adhering to the budget set at the beginning of the season.
Frequently Collaborates With:
Application Recommendations:
In the Producing Department, we are looking for a passion for creating and producing theatre, and a penchant for organization! And most importantly: a positive attitude.
The Production departments (Production Management, Scenery, Props, Lighting, Sound, Costumes, and Run Crew) work very closely together to support the design and technical aspects of all Festival productions and operations.
Department Overview:
The production departments at Williamstown Theatre Festival (Production Management, Scenery, Props, Lighting, Sound, Costumes, and Run Crew) work very closely together to support the design and technical aspects of all Festival productions and operations. Each department is helmed by a Department Head who is responsible for overseeing the scheduling and implementation of their department’s equipment, staff, and resources, under the guidance of the Director of Production. Members of each department work with guest directors, designers, and other creative personnel to implement their creative vision within the scope of budget, schedule, and safety.
The Schedule:
Schedules vary depending on the department and production schedule. Generally, the aim is a 6-day workweek in support of each production’s rehearsal, load-in, tech, and performance process. The workload can be challenging and may require long hours at times, depending on the needs of the production. The Department Head for each department is responsible for setting the schedule of their respective staff, under the supervision of the Director of Production.
Frequently Collaborates With:
Application Recommendations:
For all departments, the ideal candidates are motivated, organized, have dependable follow-through, and are adept at finding unique solutions to production challenges. The nature of the Festival requires strong time management and multitasking skills as multiple projects are often in production simultaneously. We look for individuals who have a dedicated interest in their specialization, may have already had some training in their field of study, and are interested in honing their skills further through hands-on production assignments and educational opportunities. Individuals in production departments should be comfortable working as a part of a larger team, voicing suggestions and concerns as related to production logistics, supporting the artistic goals of the season, and interested in participating in the educational environment of the Festival.
As we generally hire early career professionals, your cover letter is especially important to get a sense of any skills or personality details that are not explicitly mentioned in your resume. Due to the high volume of applications, please limit your cover letter to a couple of paragraphs. Legibility is key, resumes that are easily printed in black-and-white are appreciated.
Hiring for production positions generally occurs between January and March by each department’s respective Department Head. Subsequently, the timeline can vary by department.
The Stage Management department serves as the communication hub for all productions and their interaction within the Festival’s organizational structure.
Department Overview:
The Stage Management department serves as the communication hub for all productions and their interaction within the Festival’s organizational structure. Stage Management works to support guest artists including directors, designers, and cast members in the production process, and serves as a liaison to the Festival’s production offices in communicating and executing notes. The Stage Management department is key in maintaining the schedule and artistic integrity of productions as assigned.
Frequently Collaborates With:
Application Recommendations:
The ideal candidates for the Stage Management department are extremely organized and effective and tactful communicators. Individuals in the Stage Management department should be adept at leading large groups of people (cast members, run crew, etc.) and working on a team to support the production. As Williamstown Theatre Festival often produces new plays/musicals, it is important that members of the Stage Management department are comfortable working with playwrights and directors to maintain an accurate script and log of script changes. Individuals should be well versed in Microsoft Word and Excel, Final Draft is a plus.
By Phone: 413.458.3200
By Email: wtfinfo@wtfestival.org
By Snail Mail: PO Box 517
Williamstown, MA 01267