Executive Director - Emelin Theatre, Mamaroneck, NY

BACKGROUND:
The Emelin Theatre, located in Mamaroneck, New York, and founded in 1972, is the oldest continuously operating performing arts theater in Westchester County. Its mission is to bring the best in live performing arts, films and other events to Westchester and other nearby communities and to promote a cultural life that entertains, educates, and invigorates. The Emelin, well-known for its high-quality and affordable programs, is one of the few performing arts venues in this region which offers a broad mix of entertainment appealing to all ages and tastes and attracts diverse audiences throughout Westchester County and beyond. Due to its strategic location in central Westchester, the Emelin also attracts theatergoers from New York City, New Jersey, and lower Connecticut.

Improving Quality of Life: Key Accomplishments

While the theatre's board and staff take great pride in the company's longevity and 36 years of experience in achieving its goals, the Emelin is constantly evolving, growing, and experimenting with new art forms, new ideas, and emerging artists. Among key accomplishments, the Emelin:

• Serves nearly 33,000 patrons from Westchester County and beyond.
  
• Hosts almost 280 performances.
  
• Brings a broad array of great programming, performances and entertainers to Westchester, this past season, artists such as Idina Menzel, Karen Akers, Christine Ebersole, Billy Stritch and Richard Shindell were featured. Among the other artists who have appeared on the Emelin stage: Isaac Stern, Richard Goode, Richie Havens, Jon Faddis, Stanley Turrentine and Odetta, to name only a few. Among the artists scheduled to appear in the upcoming season: Paula Cole, Dar Williams, Duncan Sheik, Ann Hampton Calloway, Jill Eikenberry & Michael Tucker, Edwin McCain, Bo Bice, Lesley Gore, Janis Ian and Lari White.
  
• Keeps ticket prices affordable.
  
• Attracts nearly 13,000 children and devotes one third of its programming to children and families, which establishes it as a leading presenter of live children's theater and workshops in Westchester.
  
• Enables over 4,000 children from nearly 40 different schools in the region to experience culturally diverse theater arts programming through reduced price or free tickets offered as part of its School Outreach Program.
  
• Over the last several years, has staged three of its own dramatic productions each year, including original works and classic plays
  
• Presents a highly successful, sellout Film Club series which screens independent films before their general release and features discussions with directors, actors, and producers associated with the films. This popular series has more than tripled the theatre's subscription base.
  
• Plays a vital community role by providing the use of its facilities for various civic events.
  
• Provides extra revenue to the local economy through event-related spending and enhanced real estate values.
  

The theatre operates on an annual budget of approximately $1.7 million, deriving approximately 40% of its income from ticket sales and rental income with the balance provided by fundraising. The theatre employs a full-time administrative and operations staff of 5 plus 5 part-time employees and more than 40 volunteers. The theatre is governed by a 17-member board of directors representing a cross-section of area residents including community leaders and executives of local corporations.

POSITION AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Executive Director will:

• Be the chief executive officer of the theatre, reporting to the Board of Directors, and be responsible for directing all aspects of the theatre's operations;
  
• Provide creative and innovative leadership for the continued enhancement of the theatre's programmatic, educational, and community development activities consistent with its mission;
  
• Provide thoughtful and accessible leadership and mentoring for the theater's professional staff, encouraging and developing opportunities for professional development and enhanced training within the theatre's operating departments.
  
• Effectively represent and position the theatre in successful relationships with existing donors, local and state government, corporations, foundations, and the public to maintain and enhance community support that will secure the theatre's future;
  
• Serve as an innovative thinker and leader in identifying ways of reaching new audiences, securing financial resources, developing wide-ranging successful programs, and directing the theatre's growth;
  
• Develop and maintain business policies and procedures that ensure the efficient and professional operation of the theatre, including maintenance of the physical plant;
  
• Identify annual program objectives and develop capital and operating budgets that will allow for the financial and artistic success of the theatre;
  
• Create an environment that allows the theatre to continue to attract the highest quality entertainment and maintain a high level of artistic excellence while providing the community with a wide variety of performances and programs;
  
• Enhance the theatre's visibility by building strong relationships with appropriate cultural and civic organizations, government officials, and community leaders: including participating in high profile community activities, speaking engagements, and social events;
  
• Effectively develop and manage relationships with board members that allow for the open communication of ideas, policies and procedures, development initiatives, and other operational matters that are vital to the theatre's success;
  

QUALIFICATIONS:
The chosen candidate will have significant experience in leading a not-for-profit, community-based organization. The position requires the ability to successfully manage a performing arts center, to select or oversee the selection of programming for community audiences, to cultivate community partnerships, and to guide and inspire board members and staff. The desired candidate will demonstrate strong business acumen and will exhibit highly effective organizational skills, solid interpersonal skills, including a track record for leading, managing and developing a team/staff, as well as a firm understanding of management processes and proactive community building skills.

The ideal candidate will also:

• Have a track record of successful experience in a senior leadership position in the performing arts, including experience in selecting, or overseeing the selection of, programming;
  
• Be an entrepreneurial leader who demonstrates the passion, motivation, and vision required to accomplish the mission of the theatre;
  
• Have significant experience, skill, and personal enthusiasm for fundraising to provide leadership and direction for the contributed and sponsorship income needs of the theatre;
  
• Exhibit strong management, financial, inter-personal, and communications skills;
  
• Be a sensitive, thoughtful, and assertive leader; capable of understanding and supporting the needs and expectations of board, staff, artists, and community supporters; and, be especially effective as a diplomat and decision-maker helping to guide the theatre's successful articulation of its mission and implementation of clear and effective operational and programming policies;
  
• Have a strong commitment to education and community outreach and an understanding of how to successfully integrate such projects as part of the theatre's mission within the community;
  
• Have a professional, mature and confident presence and image, excellent written and verbal skills, and the ability to relate well to community, corporate, and governmental leaders.
  

SALARY & BENEFITS:
Salary will be competitive with other venues of similar size and scope. Appropriate benefits will also be provided.

START DATE:
An interim producing director is currently in place. The Board wishes to fill the position by late fall of this year.

PROCEDURE FOR APPLICATION:
Submit resume, three work-related references, a salary history, and a brief cover letter describing interest, relevant qualifications, and experience in confidence to the consultants engaged by the Emelin Theatre's Board to manage this search. The Emelin Theatre is an equal opportunity employer.

Referrals of qualified candidates are also welcome.

Management Consultants for the Arts
132 East Putnam Avenue
Cos Cob, CT 06807
Attn: Len Alexander, Partner
Fax: 203-661-3938 / Email: mgtconarts2@aol.com (preferred)

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