Florida Studio Theatre (FST) is seeking a talented theater professional to lead the planning and execution of the organization’s core programming as Artistic Director. This newly conceived role will be part of a reimagined leadership team as FST’s long-serving Producing Artistic Director transitions into retirement and top leadership of the organization transfers to an Executive Director, a role effectively defined as a chief executive officer leading a team that includes the Artistic Director and an incoming Managing Director.
The purview of the Artistic Director will be to shape the programming for the plays and musical offerings that annually define FST’s Winter and Summer Mainstage Series (seven productions), Stage III (three productions), Children’s Theatre (four productions), and New Play Development. The Artistic Director will be skilled in creating seasons that respond to and extend FST’s mission, engaging artistic and production talent to create in full alignment with FST’s aesthetic focused in authentic and engaging storytelling that does not rely on outsized production spectacle.
The Artistic Director will participate in the artistic life of FST through their own artistic practice as a stage director, actor, designer, or other individual artistic practice, but will fully understand that the primary responsibilities of the role are to serve as the overall producer of FST’s principle theatrical offerings. Working closely with FST’s Executive Director, the Artistic Director will balance artistic ambition with responsiveness to audience needs. Florida Studio Theatre has engaged Management Consultants for the Arts to lead the search, and interested candidates may apply for this position by visiting this link: https://www.mcaonline.com/searches/artistic-director-fst
FST hopes to make a hiring decision by Spring of 2027, with the selected candidate transitioning into the position sometime in the Fall of 2027. The salary range starts at $160,000 annually and includes a full benefit package. FST is an equal opportunity employer that celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Any offer of employment will be conditional upon satisfactory completion of a background check and reference conversations.
Florida Studio Theatre was founded in 1973 by artist Jon Spelman as an alternative touring group, reaching out to isolated and underserved audiences in nursing homes, migrant farms, and prisons. When Richard Hopkins was named Producing Artistic Director in 1980, he founded FST’s Mainstage Series with a modest 103 subscribers. Today, FST reaches over 45,000 subscribers and an annual audience of more than 225,000 across its diverse programs, making FST the largest subscription theatre in the state of Florida. Now in its 53rd Season, FST is proud of its reach and impact across its five stages and through over 20 professional productions each year. More about Florida Studio Theatre can be found at https://www.floridastudiotheatre.org/