Audio Designer – Little Women $3,500.00 – $4,000.00 per gig Musical Theatre West Long Beach, CA Creative & Directing

Playwright Co; Long Beach (CA); Hybrid; USD 25,000 - 31,000; Full time

Job summary

Musical Theatre West seeks an experienced Audio Designer for Little Women at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach, CA. This replacement designer position joins an established production team and will lead audio design from advance planning through opening.

The role involves assessing the venue, coordinating with A1/A2 and musicians, designing for a 12-person cast with live orchestra up to 15, and delivering full documentation.

Qualifications

• Professional regional theatre, touring, or comparable audio design experience preferred.
• Experience with amplified musical theatre and live orchestras is a plus.
• Familiarity with wireless microphone systems and RF coordination.
• Knowledge of digital audio consoles and theatrical signal flow.
• Ability to design, tune, and troubleshoot audio systems.
• Ability to prepare clear, comprehensive audio paperwork.
• Ability to work collaboratively with A1s/A2s, music departments and venue staff.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the overall audio design for Little Women.
• Collaborate with the Director, Music Director, Production Manager, A1/A2, and others.
• Assess venue audio and determine rentals or supplemental gear.
• Design for a 12-person cast with live orchestra up to 15 musicians.
• Lead system tuning and balance with music staff and team.
• Oversee RF coordination for wireless mics with A1/A2 and venue.
• Identify rental needs, provide specs, and work with PM on quotes.
• Work within an established $12,000 budget for production audio.
• Coordinate advance needs with MTW and CPAC personnel.
• Oversee installation, setup, tuning, and troubleshooting during load-in/tech.
• Provide complete audio documentation and backups for A1/A2 handoff.
• Remain reachable by phone through load-out for audio questions.

Skills

Amplified musical theatre

Live orchestras

Wireless microphone systems

RF coordination

Digital audio consoles

System design

Production paperwork

Collaboration with A1/A2

Tools

Digital audio consoles

Job description

AUDIO DESIGNER – LITTLE WOMEN

Musical Theatre West — Long Beach, CA
Position: Audio Designer
Production: Little Women
Compensation: $3,500 flat design fee
Required Onsite Dates: October 29–November 7, 2026
Local candidates preferred; experienced out-of-area candidates considered

Musical Theatre West is seeking an experienced Audio Designer for our upcoming production of Little Women at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach, California.

This is a replacement designer position joining an established production team. The production's A1 and A2 are already contracted, along with the local stage crew. We are seeking a designer who can step into the existing process, collaborate with the team, and lead the audio design and implementation from advance planning through opening.

The production features a cast of 12 and an orchestra of up to 15 musicians.

About the Venue & Production

Little Women will perform at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center, an approximately 900-seat performing arts venue in Long Beach, CA.

The Audio Designer will work with CPAC's in-house audio personnel as well as MTW's A1, A2, Production Manager, Music Director, and locally hired production crew. MTW's production crew is non-IATSE.

The production has an established audio production budget of approximately $12,000, separate from the designer fee. The designer will work with Musical Theatre West to determine the most effective use of the venue's existing system, supplemental rentals, and other audio resources within that budget.

Scope & Responsibilities

The Audio Designer will:

• Develop and execute the overall audio design for Little Women
• Collaborate with the Director, Music Director, Production Manager, A1/A2, and other members of the creative and production teams
• Assess the venue's existing audio system and determine supplemental equipment and rental needs
• Design and implement an appropriate system for a 12-person cast and live orchestra of up to 15 musicians
• Lead system tuning and establish the production's final vocal/orchestral balance in collaboration with the Music Director, A1, and creative team
• Develop and/or oversee RF coordination for the production's wireless microphone system in collaboration with the A1/A2 and venue audio team
• Identify supplemental rental needs, provide specifications, and work with the Production Manager on vendor quotes and approved rentals
• Work within the established approximately $12,000 audio production budget
• Coordinate advance needs with Musical Theatre West and Carpenter Performing Arts Center personnel
• Oversee audio system installation, setup, programming, tuning, and troubleshooting during load-in and technical rehearsals
• Collaborate with CPAC personnel and MTW's locally hired stage crew during installation and tech
• Provide complete and current audio documentation, including system diagrams, patch/input lists, RF documentation, equipment/rental lists, console/show files and backups, and other paperwork necessary for the A1/A2 to maintain the design
• Complete a thorough handoff of the production to the A1/A2 team following opening
• Provide appropriate documentation for load-out and remain reasonably accessible by phone for audio-related questions through load-out

The Audio Designer is not expected to mix the performance run following opening.

Schedule

Load-In: October 29–30, 2026
Tech: October 31–November 5, 2026
Preview: November 6, 2026
Opening: November 7, 2026

The Audio Designer is expected to be onsite from load-in on October 29 through opening on November 7.

Advance design work, production meetings, rental coordination, and other preparation will take place prior to load-in. Advance meetings may be conducted remotely as appropriate.

Following opening, the production will be handed off to the A1/A2 for the remainder of the run. The designer will provide all necessary documentation and remain reasonably accessible by phone for questions through load-out on November 23, 2026.

Qualifications

Professional regional theatre, touring, or comparable musical-theatre audio design experience is strongly preferred.

Ideal candidates will have demonstrated experience with:

• Amplified musical theatre
• Live orchestras
• Wireless microphone systems and RF coordination
• Digital audio consoles and theatrical signal flow
• System design, tuning, and troubleshooting
• Preparing clear and comprehensive audio paperwork
• Working collaboratively with A1s, A2s, music departments, venue personnel, and local stage crews
• Designing effectively within an established production budget

Strong communication, organization, advance planning, and troubleshooting skills are essential.

Compensation & Travel

$3,500 flat design fee

The approximately $12,000 audio production budget is separate from the designer fee and is intended for approved equipment, rentals, and other production audio expenses.

Southern California–based applicants are preferred. Musical Theatre West is also open to experienced out-of-area candidates whose background is a strong fit for the production. Out-of-area applicants should include their current location and anticipated travel/housing needs with their application.

Musical Theatre West is a professional regional musical theatre company producing at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach, California.