Casting Director/Artistic Producer

Washington Drama Society Inc; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Arena Stage in Washington, DC seeks a Casting Director/Artistic Producer to lead the casting of mainstage productions, readings, and workshops, and to serve as deputy to the Associate Artistic Director, supporting season planning and day-to-day producing.

You will own the casting process, coordinate auditions, work with directors and playwrights, manage budgets, and ensure inclusive casting practices reflecting community stories.

Qualifications

• Experience leading casting for mainstage productions, readings, and workshops.
• Ability to collaborate with artistic leadership, directors, playwrights, and creative teams.
• Experience developing budgets and tracking casting-related expenses.
• Overseeing auditions, callbacks, and related activities; coordinating materials and schedules.
• Building relationships with talent agencies, managers, and independent artists.
• Advocating for inclusive and accessible casting practices reflecting community voices.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coordinate, and manage the casting process for mainstage productions, developmental workshops, readings, and special artistic projects throughout the season.
• Collaborate with artistic leadership, directors, playwrights, and creative teams to identify artists who support the artistic vision of each production.
• Oversee all aspects of auditions, callbacks, work sessions, and self-tape submissions, including scheduling, communication, and coordination with creative teams.
• Develop character breakdowns, audition sides, and casting materials with directors and playwrights.
• Maintain relationships with talent agencies, managers, casting offices, and independent artists.
• Advocate for inclusive and accessible casting practices that reflect the communities and stories represented onstage.
• Collaborate with general management and production departments to coordinate artist onboarding, travel, housing, and scheduling needs.

Skills

Casting process

Artistic planning

Budget management

Auditions coordination

Artist relations

Inclusive casting

Scheduling

Job description

Job Type

Full-time

WASHINGTON, DC

Description

WHO WE ARE

Arena Stage is the voice of American theater resident in our nation's capital. Focused on American artists, our productions are innovative and representative of stories from across the country. We nurture new plays and reimagine classics. We celebrate our democracy and diversity through a multitude of voices in our productions and community engagement programs to inspire people to action.

WHAT WE VALUE

A work culture that values experimentation and collaboration.

Excellence in all aspects of our endeavor.

Diversity, Equity, Accessibility and Inclusion throughout the Organization and within our audience and the community.

Community Service through education and public engagement.

Lead effective partnerships and collaboration to serve artists and arts professionals.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

The Casting Director/Artistic Producer is Arena's Casting Director for all of its mainstage productions, readings, and workshops. Additionally, they serve as deputy to the Associate Artistic Director, serving as secondary producer for all Arena productions, readings, and workshops; supporting the season planning process. Your work brings organizational structure and artistic support to the day-to-day producing of Arena’s Associate Artistic Director. You own the casting process. Reporting to the Associate Artistic Director, the Casting Director/Artistic Producer works in close partnership with the Artistic, Community Engagement, Development, Finance, General Management, and Production departments and plays a meaningful role in Arena’s artistic identity, operations, and future.

Requirements

Arena Stage seeks a Casting Director/Artistic Producer to lead the casting of its productions and support the development and execution of its artistic programming. This role is for a collaborative, creative, and detail-oriented theater professional who understands that exceptional theatre is built through thoughtful artistic choices, meaningful relationships, and strong

administrative processes.

Major Responsibilities:

Casting & Artistic Planning

• Lead, coordinate, and manage the casting process for mainstage productions, developmental workshops, readings, and special artistic projects throughout the season.
• Collaborate with artistic leadership, directors, playwrights, and creative teams to identify artists who support the artistic vision and needs of each production.
• Oversee all aspects of auditions, callbacks, work sessions, and self-tape submissions, including scheduling, communication, audition materials, and coordination with creative teams.
• Develop character breakdowns, audition sides, and casting materials in collaboration with directors and playwrights.
• Maintain relationships with talent agencies, managers, casting offices, and independent artists.
• Advocate for inclusive and accessible casting practices that reflect the communities and stories represented onstage.
• Collaborate with general management, company management, and other departments to coordinate artist onboarding, travel, housing, and scheduling needs.

Artistic Producing & New Work Development

• Support the artistic producing process for mainstage productions, developmental workshops, readings, and other artistic initiatives.
• Collaborate with playwrights, directors, dramaturgs, and artistic leadership to identify the developmental needs and priorities of new theatrical work.
• Participate in season planning conversations, providing insight into casting feasibility, artist availability, creative team needs, and production logistics.
• Serve as an artistic resource to directors and playwrights throughout rehearsals and the development process.
• Support special artistic projects, institutional partnerships, and programming initiatives as needed.
• Develop, track, and manage casting-related budgets for productions, workshops, and special projects.
• Monitor artist compensation, casting expenses, and other associated costs in collaboration with artistic leadership and general management.
• Coordinate audition spaces, personnel, readers, accompanists, and other resources required for casting activities.

Qualifications:

• An experienced theatre professional with a strong understanding of the casting process, artistic producing, new work development, and theatrical union agreements, including Actors' Equity Association and LORT contracts.
• A creative thinker with strong artistic instincts, an eye for talent, and the ability to collaborate with directors, playwrights, and artistic leadership to bring creative visions to life.
• A skilled administrator with experience managing casting budgets, coordinating auditions, and overseeing complex artistic schedules and processes.
• A proactive collaborator with excellent organizational skills, clear communication, strong attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities.
• A relationship builder who values artist care and maintains meaningful connections with actors, agents, managers, casting professionals, and creative teams locally and nationally.
• A champion of new American work who believes artistic excellence, access, inclusivity, and collaboration are essential to the creative process.
• A problem-solver who can navigate the evolving needs of artists and productions while balancing artistic ambitions with institutional resources.
• Available to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as required by production and institutional needs.