Literary Manager

Literary Manager

Organizational Summary:

Playwrights Horizons is a writer’s theater committed to the advancement of bold and visionary playwrights. We carry out this mission through the development and production of daring new work, and the education of future theatermakers.

Reports to:

Associate Artistic Director (AAD)

Supervises:

Artistic Fellow

Basic Job Function:

The Literary Manager manages the administrative and dramaturgical work of the Literary Department (including PH’s literary magazine Almanac), proactively solicits scripts, reads and evaluates scripts, and advocates for ideas, plays, and artists. The Literary Manager also manages annual playwright commissions, administers the annual Weissberger Award, and runs the Financial Literacy program.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Identifies and develops relationships with emerging and established playwrights and musical writers; supports the development of new plays and musicals in the New Works Lab and in the PH season; maintains play submissions processes; participates in season planning.
• Reads and evaluates 5-10 scripts weekly.
• Manages the Almanac editorial process both in digital and print publication; contributes dramaturgical essays on season productions; and works closely with contributing artists on each of their pieces.
• Manages artists’ individual Financial Literacy meetings with our financial advisor Ari Teplitz, and facilitates the wide distribution of Financial Literacy resources and tax help to the theater community.

Script Submissions and Relationship Cultivation (40%)

• Oversee the in- and out-flow of scripts through the office.
• Oversee the maintenance of the database and script library.
• Read and evaluate script submissions.
• Solicit prospective scripts for development and production.
• Schedule and lead regular meetings for literary/artistic staff to discuss and exchange scripts.
• Administer the annual The Weissberger/Harris Award process by soliciting nominations, training additional readers, and managing the process of identifying a recipient and two runners-up.
• Represent Playwrights Horizons by attending productions and readings, to scout talent and to support artists in PH’s orbit, in NYC and sometimes nationally.
• Track developmental readings and productions at peer theaters, locally and nationally, and respond to invitations.
• As a representative of Playwrights Horizons, meet and generally maintain regular correspondence with playwrights, musical writers, and their agents.
• Foster and develop relationships with early-career and emerging playwrights and musical writers (particularly from members of historically oppressed communities) whose work merits consideration for future development, commission, production, and other programming.
• With AAD and Assistant General Manager, offer and manage commissions.

Productions, Programming, and Dramaturgical Support (25%)

• Assist AAD in curation of New Works Lab (NWL).
• Assist Artistic Director and AAD in play/musical selection and season implementation.
• For the first week of each production’s rehearsal process, or as appropriate per production, act as a day-to-day point person for the playwright and director.
• Provide dramaturgical support for NWL workshops and season productions, as needed.
• Collaborate with the development and marketing departments to provide copy for grants, fundraising materials, as well as season blurbs and brochures.
• Stay aware of relevant conversations rising up in the industry, city, state, and/or country.

Almanac (literary magazine) (25%)

• Manage internal editorial processes and timelines, and external communications with artists.
• Assist AAD in curation of Almanac content.
• Navigate editorial feedback to contributing artists.
• Contribute dramaturgical essays for season productions.

Financial Literacy Program (10%)

• Coordinate and equitably distribute discounted and/or fully subsidized completion of tax returns and/or facilitate tax-related financial guidance to theater artists with Ari Teplitz.
• Facilitate artists’ individual personal financial planning sessions.
• Encourage relationship-building with Ari Teplitz for all season artists, PHTS faculty, staff, and more.

Desired Experiences and Qualifications:

• At least three years of literary management or relevant experience.
• Strong understanding of PH’s artistic point of view and allergy to cliché, particularly as represented in recent programming.
• Knowledge of PH’s production history, the new play landscape and industry discourse, and the artistic process of developing and producing a new play or musical.
• Sense of curiosity about the theatrical form and artistic expression, with a big appetite for the innovative and the unknown. A sharp eye for emerging talent, and a finger on the pulse of new theater and the broader art scene. Genuine passion for supporting and creating opportunities for artists from historically oppressed communities.
• Skilled proofreader and copyeditor.
• Detail-oriented, organized, and responsible, with administrative precision and a knack for problem-solving. Able to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines. Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Adaptable and agile in a rapidly-changing field, able to pivot quickly as organizational needs shift. A confident and independent thinker who values meaningful collaboration.
• Proficient with the Google Suite, including Gmail, Drive, Docs, and Sheets. Experience with departmental budgeting; experience with Slack, Airtable, and Asana is a plus.
• Comfortable with a hybrid work environment, working at least 3 days per week in midtown Manhattan office.

Compensation

Playwrights Horizons offers a comprehensive benefits package including 10 days (two weeks) of vacation, four personal days, and 10 sick days. Employees have access to individual medical, dental, and vision coverage, with various plan options available through Oxford Health Plans. Playwrights Horizons partially subsidizes health and dental insurance and provides vision insurance at no charge to employees. Our benefits package further includes life insurance policy, a 403b retirement plan, and flexible spending accounts for medical, dental, and dependent care expenses. Other perks include a health reimbursement account, Transitchek for transportation expenses, and complimentary and staff-rate tickets to our productions.

Salary: $70,000

Values Statement:

Playwrights Horizons is committed to building a more just future for everyone -- particularly those from historically oppressed communities, by employing a broad spectrum of voices that will enrich the quality and vitality of our work. Playwrights Horizons is an equal opportunity employer that has a strong institutional commitment to uprooting all systems of oppression by demonstrative equitable and inclusive practices. The organization is interested in receiving applications from people of all races, sexual orientations, gender identities, ages, classes, religions, and people with disabilities. The facilities at Playwrights Horizons are fully accessible and ADA compliant.

To Apply:

Please submit your application materials to our portal HERE. No phone calls please.