Artistic Director

Summary

Nashville Repertory Theatre | Nashville, Tennessee

Position: Artistic Director

Reports to: Board of Directors

Status: Full-time, Exempt

Co-leads with: Executive Director

Position Overview

Nashville Repertory Theatre (Nashville Rep) is seeking a visionary, collaborative, and strategic Artistic Director to co-lead the organization at a pivotal moment in its evolution. The Artistic Director will be a bold and inclusive artistic leader who is deeply passionate about theatre’s role in shaping culture and community. They will provide the creative vision for Nashville Rep, curating an annual production season that is both artistically vibrant, community-centered and fiscally responsible, while sharing organizational leadership with the Executive Director.

This role offers the opportunity to shape the artistic future of one of Nashville’s most established and respected arts institutions. The Artistic Director will report to the Board of Directors and will oversee the creative and production operations, including season planning, education strategy, community engagement, and partnership development.

Key Responsibilities

Artistic Vision & Season Planning

• Conceive and curate a dynamic, inclusive, and mission-aligned annual production season.
• Select all productions, directors, designers, actors, and key artistic collaborators. It is expected that the Artistic Director will direct a minimum of two productions per season.
• Provide creative leadership and strategic oversight for the Ingram New Works program, nurturing the development of new plays and playwrights while integrating the program into the broader artistic identity of the organization.
• Collaborate with and engage the Board Artistic Committee.
• Champion artistic excellence and innovation while reflecting and engaging the diverse voices of Middle Tennessee.
• Ensure the season plan aligns with organizational values, community needs, and financial sustainability.

Organizational Leadership & Team Management

• Serve as a co-leader with the Executive Director, contributing to strategic planning, internal culture, and institutional vision.
• Supervise the production and education teams, including directors, designers, teaching artists, and technical staff.
• Promote a culture of collaboration, inclusion, accountability, and artistic integrity across the organization.

Budgeting & Fiscal Responsibility

• Partner with the Executive Director and staff to develop and manage artistic budgets.
• Ensure fiscal accountability for all productions and artistic programming.
• Make programmatic decisions that balance artistic ambition with financial sustainability.

Education & Community Engagement

• Develop and guide strategy for Nashville Rep’s education and outreach programs.
• Expand meaningful partnerships with schools, educators, and community organizations.
• Promote accessibility and deepen community participation in artistic programs.

Fundraising & Advocacy

• Actively participate in fundraising and donor engagement efforts in partnership with the Executive Director and Board.
• Represent the organization publicly, cultivating relationships with donors, patrons, artists, and community leaders.
• Advocate for the role of the arts in education, civic dialogue, and regional identity.

Qualifications

• A minimum of 5–7 years of professional experience in strategic artistic leadership or equivalent roles in regional theatre or similar performing arts institutions.
• A significant professional theater directing resume, including professional productions, musical and non-musical, of similar size to those of Nashville Repertory Theatre.
• Demonstrated success in season planning, artistic programming, and artist recruitment. A demonstrated ability to translate artistic needs and values into strategies and plans.
• Experience with the development of new works.
• Proven ability to lead diverse teams and manage staff in artistic and production departments.
• Strong understanding of budgeting, financial planning, and resource allocation in a nonprofit environment.
• A deep commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and access (EDIA) in all aspects of artistic and organizational life.
• Skilled communicator with the ability to inspire artists, staff, donors, and community members alike.
• Comfortable and competent in fundraising, public speaking, and donor cultivation.
• Experience working in partnership with an Executive Director and a Board of Directors.

Preferred Attributes

• A bold and creative artistic vision rooted in the belief that theatre can transform individuals and communities.
• Experience working in or a strong connection to similar nonprofit, regional theatre ecosystems.
• Interest or experience in developing new work and supporting emerging artists.
• Knowledge of education program design and community-based arts practices.
• Demonstrated resilience, adaptability, and a collaborative spirit.
• Working knowledge of labor practices, union regulations (e.g., AEA, SDC, IATSE), and contracting processes for professional theatre artists and technicians.

About Nashville Repertory Theatre

Founded in 1985, the mission of Nashville Repertory Theatre is to entertain and inspire by creating exceptional theatre that explores the diversity of human experience.

Nashville's award-winning regional theatre company presents musicals, hot new plays, and reimagined classics. In addition, Nashville Rep is home to the Ingram New Works Project, a nationally recognized new play development program established in 2009. Annually, over 30,000 members of the local community experience a Nashville Rep production, special event, or outreach program.

As one of the three resident companies of the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, along with the Nashville Ballet and the Nashville Opera, Nashville Rep performances are primarily held in TPAC’s Johnson Theater, a 260-seat black box venue, or its Polk Theater, a 1000-seat proscenium house. Administrative offices are located off-site, along with several other nonprofit organizations, in the Nashville Public Television building.

The annual budget is approximately $3 million with a year-round staff of 16. The production season runs from September through May, and the company operates primarily under LORT/LOA contracts, with occasional AEA SPT-7 contract.

For over 35 years, Nashville Repertory Theatre has been a cornerstone of the city's cultural scene, producing compelling, high-quality theatrical productions that reflect and challenge the community we serve. Nashville Rep is committed to telling diverse stories, investing in local talent, and ensuring theatre programming remains accessible and relevant to all Nashvillians. We are currently embracing a new era of artistic exploration and community impact and invite visionary leaders to join us on that journey.