JOIN OUR TEAM: #Paprika22 Production Manager

Paprika Festival is hiring a Production Manager! This annual contract is an opportunity to lead the production planning of a week-long festival of live performances, created and performed by young and emerging artists. 

Application Deadline: Sunday June 26, 2022, 5PM
Contract Dates: August 1st, 2022 - June 30th, 2023 (5 hours of training to be scheduled in July 2022)
Position:
Production Manager
Fee:
$6000 (between 250-300 hours over the course of the contract)
Region: Downtown Toronto, ON
Term: Contract

Tech and Festival week will be May 8th - 21st, 2023 at the Native Earth Performing Arts' Aki Studio in Artscape Daniels Spectrum in Regent Park (585 Dundas St E). The Aki Studio Booth is not accessible to mobility devices.

The Production Manager also provides mentorship and support for Paprika participants as they bring their projects to life, facilitating a Technical Theatre Workshop, creating the festival tech schedule, creating the festival schedule in collaboration with the AP, working with our venue partner, assisting festival participants in hiring designers and stage managers, and providing resources for design and production. 

Paprika is a youth-led, youth-run theatre festival. We welcome learning on the job, and encourage applicants with no production management experience to apply for this role. If you are a stage manager, designer, arts administrator, director, producer, or technician interested in a career in Production Management, this opportunity is also for you!

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Lead production planning of the 22nd Annual Paprika Festival, including: scheduling of tech and festival week, management of technician hours/payment calculation, facilitation of all participant tech rehearsals and communication with participants leading up to the festival. 
  • Collaborate with Native Earth Performing Arts in-house Technician to ensure their needs are met, Paprika abides by all venue regulations and protocols, and that the spaces are set-up and returned to neutral.
  • Act as Production Stage Manager during the festival and tech weeks.
  • Participate in the hiring process for the Backstage Coordinator Position.
  • Act as the lead contact and mentor for Festival participants regarding production needs. This includes but is not limited to: organizing and sharing resources for set, props, LX, costume and sound design, assisting participants in building their Qlab bundles, advising participants on how to use and schedule their tech rehearsals, helping to connect participants with stage managers and/or designers if needed, and mentoring them in professional conduct in a festival setting.
  • Collaborate on the planning of and lead execution of a Technical Theatre Workshop (date TBD) in consultation with the Artistic Producer, Festival Lighting Designer and Design Lab Facilitator.
  • Lead the planning of and execution of a Festival Production Meeting for all participants (date TBD) in consultation with the Artistic Producer.
  • Participate in all 5 Training Days and in collaboration with the Artistic Programs Manager and Artistic Producer. Prepare and facilitate production-related activities and discussions with participants as needed. 
  • Provide technical support for online and in-person community events and #Hottopics (5-6 to be scheduled throughout the year).
  • Ensure all participants and staff understand the safety protocols of the festival venue.
  • Full presence and participation in tech week (May 8 - 14, 2023) and festival week (May 15 - 21, 2023).
  • A demonstrated dedication to accessibility and inclusion in your artistic practices and a passion to continuing to grow in these areas.
  • An interest in working with young people of all abilities from all cultural and economic backgrounds.

ABOUT THE PAPRIKA FESTIVAL:

For the past 21 years Paprika Festival has been a year-round youth-led performing arts organization celebrating the work of young and emerging artists. All of the programs include a strong focus on mentorship and training, and are guided by the four core values of accessibility, artistic development, community and youth leadership. Paprika’s educational programs include Creators Unit, Playwriting Unit, Directors Lab, Design Lab, Indigenous Arts Program and Creative Producers. These programs run between November and May, culminating in the annual Festival. For more information, please visit our website, www.paprikafestival.com.

HOW TO APPLY:

Please send us the following:

  • Resumé
  • Cover letter or short video (under 3 minutes) detailing why you would be a good candidate for this position
  • Example document showcasing your ability to organize and schedule for a production environment (a previous production schedule, production budget, crew costing, show report, calendar, etc.). Examples from work in different roles or school projects (design, communications, administration) are welcome. Please feel free to redact any confidential information from past projects as necessary.

Email your application to Julia Dickson, General Manager, via julia@paprikafestival.com with the subject line: “Production Manager - [YOUR NAME].”  

Applications are due by 5PM on Sunday, June 26, 2022.

ACCOMMODATION & ACCESS:

Please email if you require a short extension — our hard deadline for applications is 11:59PM Monday June 27, as applications will be reviewed the week of June 27, with interviews scheduled the following week.

You are welcome to email Julia (julia@paprikafestival.com) with any accommodations, requests, or questions about the application – we would be happy to accommodate any application process that showcases your capability, and interest in this role. 

Paprika is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. Paprika is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. Paprika will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on race, colour, religion or belief, sexuality, gender expression, family or parental status or any other legally protected grounds. Paprika accepts applicants of all ages. 

Paprika is a youth-led theatre festival. We prioritize applications from those under 30 and from equity-seeking communities.