Apprentice Stage Manager

Apprentice Stage Manager

Fixed Term Contract: February – December 2027
Work Hours: In alignment with Stage Management hours in the CTA (Canadian Theatre Agreement)
Location: Niagara-on-the-Lake
Salary: $925/per week

About the Shaw Festival
Inspired by the spirit of Bernard Shaw, the Shaw Festival is one of North America’s finest repertory theatres. Nestled in the heart of the historic town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, located on the banks of Lake Ontario, The Shaw is twenty minutes away from Niagara Falls, and typically less than a two-hour drive to Toronto.

The Shaw Festival is a place where people who are curious about the world gather to share the unique experience of live theatre and to create a deeper human connection with the artists, the beauty and abundance of Niagara and with each other.

Job Summary
Stage Management is part of the Creative Management department and reports directly to the Production Stage Manager (PSM), Associate Production Stage Manager (APSM), and Producer. The Apprentice Stage Managers fulfill office duties as members of the Production Stage Management Team, which consists of the PSM, APSM, and two Apprentice Stage Managers. In the capacity of the Apprentice Stage Manager, the position will support stage management functions on 1-3 shows throughout the 2027 season and may be assigned understudy stage management duties.

Duties & Responsibilities
The Apprentice Stage Manager will support the Creative Management Department by:
• Providing support to the PSM and Stage Management teams
• Creating and distributing the daily schedule in collaboration with the Production Stage Management team
• Liaising with wardrobe, wigs, and coaches to determine scheduling needs for fittings and classes
• Participating in assigned rehearsals/performances as a member of the stage management team
• Serve as stage manager for one intern director’s projects
• Maintaining rehearsal halls, callboards, and supplies; including first aid and office supplies
• Other stage management and office duties as assigned

Skills & Qualifications
• Minimum of 3 CAEA apprentice credits, not including educational credit
• Minimum of 1 year out of post-secondary training program, or equivalent experience
• Strong communication skills: both written and verbal
• Strong organizational skills
• Demonstrated ability to quickly build and maintain relationships in a professional environment
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects with competing priorities and deadlines
• Demonstrated experience successfully responding to high pressure situations while maintaining a supportive, professional and welcoming environment
• Demonstrated ability to adapt to and work as part of a team
• Openness to working in a learning environment and receiving feedback and mentorship
• Strong computer skills and comfortable learning new software; experience with Microsoft Office Suite is required

The successful candidate must be willing to reside in the Niagara area for the duration of the contract. If applicable, the Shaw Festival will assist in securing housing in Niagara-on-the-Lake for the artist for the length of the contract. Rental costs are solely the responsibility of the artist.

Interested applicants should submit your cover letter and CV by 5:00pm, June 30, 2026 to:

Lisa Russell: lrussell@shawfest.com
Subject Line: Apprentice Stage Management Application

We thank all who apply, however, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Thank you for your interest in the Shaw Festival

Discover more about working at the Shaw Festival by visiting our Welcome Website at welcome.shawfest.com

As one of the world’s leading theatre companies and Niagara’s 20 largest employers, The Shaw is dedicated to an ongoing process of increasing diversity and inclusion in our audiences, our programs, and in all of our hiring for staff, artists, and in the recruiting of board members. The Shaw is committed to a future when our theatres joyously draw on and include all peoples, fully reflective of the world around us. As such, the Shaw Festival is an equal opportunity employer committed to a barrier-free recruitment and selection process. We encourage and invite applications from applicants who identify as Indigenous, Black or as persons of colour (IBPOC), the LGBTQ2+ communities and those identifying as gender fluid. In accordance with Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), and in keeping with our wish to ensure a fully inclusive environment, please advise Human Resources if you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process. We will be happy to assist.

We acknowledge and honour the land upon which we gather as the historic and traditional territory of First Nations peoples. In particular we recognize and thank the Neutral Nation, the Mississauga and the Haudenosaunee for their stewardship of these lands over millennia.