Lead Casting Director & Artistic Producer

Arena Stage; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Arena Stage, based in Washington, DC, seeks a Casting Director/Artistic Producer to lead casting for mainstage productions, readings, and workshops, and to support the Associate Artistic Director in season planning.

This collaborative, detail-oriented theater professional will manage auditions, casting materials, and artist onboarding while coordinating with departments to realize the artistic vision across the season.

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.

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 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.
• 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.

Skills

Casting process

Artistic producing

New work development

Union contracts

Talent scouting

Accessibility & inclusion

Budget management

Artist relationships

Job description

Arena Stage, based in Washington, DC, seeks a Casting Director/Artistic Producer to lead casting for mainstage productions, readings, and workshops, and to support the Associate Artistic Director in season planning.

This collaborative, detail-oriented theater professional will manage auditions, casting materials, and artist onboarding while coordinating with departments to realize the artistic vision across the season.