POSITION PROFILE:

Artistic Director | Everyman Theatre | Baltimore, MD

OPPORTUNITY

Currently celebrating its 35th Season, Everyman Theatre seeks a positive, collaborative, and dynamic leader to serve as its second-ever Artistic Director, helping to shape the artistic footprint of this robust organization, its beautiful facility in downtown Baltimore, and its core Resident Company of Artists. Working in partnership with Everyman’s Managing Director and with an engaged Board of Directors, the new Artistic Director will build upon the compelling vision initiated by Founder Vincent M. Lancisi to further bold creativity from a place of financial stability and community engagement. The successful candidate will join a warm, supportive, and inclusive environment that truly seeks to serve artists and their creativity through all facets of operations. With the announcement of Lancisi’s retirement, Everyman has launched a nationwide search; Lancisi will leave the role in June of 2026. The right candidate will have demonstrated success in inspiring artistic teams, engaging audiences, and building relationships internally, locally, and nationally.

BACKGROUND

Everyman Theatre is a LORT-D theatre company focused on celebrating the actor with a Resident Company of Artists from the Baltimore/Washington, D.C. area. Founded in 1990 by Vincent M. Lancisi, the theatre leads with the values of people, community, and excellence at the core of its programming and operations. Everyman is dedicated to nurturing long-term, meaningful connections between artists and audiences both on-stage and off, while also creating opportunities to sustain local theatre professionals in the Baltimore/Washington, D.C. area.

Mission

Everyman Theatre provides transformative experiences through professional theatre that are welcoming, relevant, and affordable to everyone, featuring a Resident Company of Artists. Everyman Theatre also promotes its values through Everyman C.A.R.E.S. (Committee on AntiRacism, Equity, and Solidarity), an active committee of Staff and Board dedicated to reviewing all facets of the organization and implementing meaningful change.

Programming

Everyman currently presents an annual season of six plays, carefully chosen to feature members of the Resident Company. The theatre presents a mix of titles ranging from timeless classics to world premieres, and showcasing a broad range of human experiences. Diverse, equitable, and inclusive storytelling is vital to the theatre’s mission. Everyman Theatre’s education programs serve both the schools and the community at large through six programs for students from PreK through adults. Community classes utilize skilled teaching artists, often Resident Company Members, to engage students of all ages in a variety of subjects from Improvisation to Page-to-Stage programs for youth to professional-level training. Its signature education program is the High School Matinee program, entering its 28th year, providing up to 500 Baltimore City and County school students with a repeat exposure experience through field trips to at least four productions a year plus pre-and-post-show in-class visits completely free of charge. In addition, Everyman has a residency program in partnership with schools and community non-profits for in-depth arts programming on a variety of topics, including their “Your Story, Well Told” program, and a new University Observership program partnering with local universities to provide an immersion experience into a play’s full production process. The theatre is also committed to ensuring programming is accessible to all by removing barriers to entry – a vital component of living up to the name Everyman Theatre. From providing over 4,500 Pay-What-You-Choose (PWYC) seats each season, to assistive listening devices and hand-held closed-caption devices available at every performance, to affordability throughout programs, including a Childcare Matinee program with sliding scale access, student tickets, and tuition support for every onsite Education program, Everyman Theatre continues to find ways to invite and embrace all audiences.

Operating Model

Everyman Theatre is governed by a Board of Directors of 30 members, which includes the Artistic Director and Managing Director both as voting members. The current expense budget of $6M encompasses an annual season of six play productions, ongoing community and educational programming, a staff of 36 full-time employees, plus an additional roster of over 80 part-time employees including production and front-of-house staff and teaching artists.

The Everyman Theatre building was opened in 2013 after a successful $17.7M capital campaign. It consists of the beautiful and intimate 250-seat mainstage, a flexible rehearsal hall and multi-use performance space; welcoming lobbies spanning multiple floors; a classroom; scenic, costume, and prop shops; and office space.

There are exciting plans to transform the third floor, currently used for storage, into an expanded education, rehearsal, and office space. In line with Everyman’s people-first values, the theatre intentionally retained all permanent staff during the Covid-19 pandemic, which allowed the organization to focus on maintaining patron relationships and rebuilding audiences while continuing its commitments to high-production value and artistic vision. Through strategic investments in infrastructure, administrative support, target marketing, and philanthropy with a focus on cultivating and deepening patron loyalty, Everyman has seen significant revenue, audience, and donor growth in the last two years across multiple metrics, including ticket sales growth of 38% and individual contributed revenue growth of 47% as well as a subscriber retention rate above industry average at 81%. In the past season alone, single ticket audiences have grown in number by 21%.

Resident Company

The Resident Company of Artists - a group of 25 artists including actors, designers, and other vital roles to theatre-making - is central to Everyman's mission and artistic vision. Each season is selected to feature Company Members while balancing a diverse representation across casts and creative teams. In addition, Resident Company Members are invited to participate in many staff functions including retreats, celebrations, and informative conversations about the overarching goals, objectives, and challenges for the organization as well as participating in community events, stewardship opportunities, and education programs. A member of the Resident Company is appointed to the Board of Directors as a voting member. Additionally, some members of the Resident Company also hold permanent staff positions with the organization including Producing Director, Production Manager, Costume Director, and Associate Artistic Director. While integration of the Resident Company Members into the organization is important, Everyman also seeks to support artists’ interests outside the company. During the pandemic, Everyman made dedicated fundraising efforts to directly support its Resident Company Members and was able to distribute $45,000 in relief payments.

Leadership

Marissa LaRose (she/her) joined Everyman Theatre as Managing Director in April 2020. Prior to joining Everyman, LaRose spent nearly 12 years at Arena Stage in Washington, DC in various roles including General Management and building operations, Production Management, bookkeeping, and Company Management. She also served as an Event Stage Manager and Teaching Artist for Arena Stage’s Education Programs. During her time in Washington, DC, LaRose was also an Event Manager for Turnaround Arts at the White House and Kennedy Center, Project Manager and Technical Director for the annual ice sculpture exhibit, Ice!, at Gaylord National Harbor, and Stage Manager for the annual Junior Theater Festival in Atlanta. She served as a member of the League of Resident Theatres (LORT) Board of Directors from 2020-2024, and on various committees since 2012, currently serving on the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee. See full bio.

Baltimore, MD

Well-named the “Charm City,” Baltimore is a multifaceted city of neighborhoods with an amount of personality, history, and culture that is difficult to capture simply. It is the largest city in Maryland, with a city population of 568,271 and a metro area of just under 3 million. Founded at the meeting point of the Patapsco River and the Chesapeake Bay about 40 miles northeast of Washington, D.C., Baltimore has a long history as an important seaport, major center of industry, and as a significant place in American history – including as the birthplace of “The Star-Spangled Banner” and the first U.S. commercial railroad, the B&O. Today, Baltimore is known for a rapidly growing tech sector, top medical technology, a flourishing food scene, and tourist attractions that include the National Aquarium and Inner Harbor area just a mile from the theatre.

There is also a rich arts and culture landscape in the city that encompasses internationally renowned institutions such as the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the Peabody Institute, the Baltimore Museum of Art, and the one-of-a-kind American Visionary Art Museum. A vibrantly creative theatre scene encompasses professional Equity actors, designers, writers, and directors as well as integrated community-driven productions alongside neighborhood arts festivals and local independent artists. The city also hosts national sports teams including the Baltimore Orioles baseball team and the Baltimore Ravens football team.

Everyman Theatre is located within the downtown Baltimore area, which encompasses about a one-mile radius from the Inner Harbor to the newly restored Lexington Market to the two sports stadiums. The area is currently in the midst of a significant $6.9 billion investment plan – learn more at Downtown Baltimore Rise. While pandemic recovery for area restaurants and retail is also ongoing, there are new opportunities for Everyman to engage with community partners. Baltimore is also part of the “DMV” region, encompassing the District of Columbia and parts of Maryland and Virginia, and Everyman draws upon the wealth of talent in this area. Philadelphia is also within an easy distance. Further information on Baltimore is available at the following: City of Baltimore, Visit Baltimore, Baltimore Chamber of Commerce, Baltimore Magazine, BmoreArt, Live Baltimore, Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance.

CURRENT ENVIRONMENT

The next artistic leader will encounter a current environment with the following opportunities and challenges:

• Everyman Theatre enjoys a strong reputation in the DMV region (Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia) for its high artistic quality, excellent production values, and beautiful facility. The next Artistic Director will be able to increase visibility for this work both locally and nationally.
• Everyman Theatre’s warm and supportive work culture places people first, yet there is also a broad understanding through all aspects of the organization (Board, staff, and Resident Company Members) to welcome and embrace audiences, artists, and patrons into its unique environment and all contributing to a culture of philanthropy.
• There is an eagerness to expand on community engagement work, both through the continued programming of captivating new titles as well as an increased focus on community partnership opportunities.
• As Baltimore continues to invest in its downtown area, there are opportunities for Everyman to be an active participant in shaping new partnerships.
• Like many nonprofit theatres at present, Everyman has been working to shape a sustainable financial model that can invest in robust programming, increase audiences, and secure new avenues of resources. That said, theatre and Board leadership have taken active steps to address this and have begun to enact a multi-year plan.
• The Resident Company of Artists is at the core of Everyman’s identity and is often referred to as the “secret sauce” of Everyman’s long-term success. Everyman cultivates an environment where artists form and nurture deep connections that allow them to support and challenge one another to deliver the highest caliber of work. There is an opportunity to build upon those ties to further the impact of the Resident Company’s artistry both at Everyman and as ambassadors in the field.

POSITION AND RESPONSIBILITIES

These are the primary roles and responsibilities of the Artistic Director:

• Foster an exciting artistic vision that aligns with Everyman’s mission and values and inspires artists, audiences, donors, staff, Board, and the wider community.
• Serve as a primary fundraiser and ambassador for the organization, telling its story to external stakeholders, fostering/stewarding community relationships, and inspiring people to support Everyman’s mission and initiatives.
• Oversee the Resident Company, making sure to prioritize its artistic health and growth in programming choices.
• Oversee season planning and artistic team selection as well as all production processes, from design meetings through performances, ensuring that the artistic work is of the highest quality and that processes are in alignment with the organization’s values.
• Maintain Everyman’s artistic pipeline, actively scouting plays, productions, and artists and building the company’s visibility in the wider field. Seek out and support new voices in playwriting to broaden our storytelling and contribute to new play development in the American theatre.
• Oversee the Artistic Team and co-lead the Everyman staff. In all management, maintain Everyman’s people-centered “culture of kindness,” inspiring the best work from Everyman artists, staff, and Board.
• Foster a productive partnership with the Managing Director; lead jointly and by example.
• Collaborate with the Managing Director and the Everyman staff and stakeholders to develop actionable long-range vision for the organization that keeps it vibrant, relevant, and sustainable.
• Alongside the Managing Director, become an active member of the Baltimore community, seeking partnerships, collaborations, and perpetuating good stewardship as a leader of one of the city's major arts organizations.
• Work with the Managing Director, staff, and Board to strengthen Everyman’s fiscal foundation and culture of philanthropy, including support of fundraising activities, earned revenue generation, and budget discipline.
• Foster Everyman’s efforts to develop an ever more equitable and inclusive workplace.

QUALIFICATIONS AND SPECIAL TRAITS

With that in mind, these are the key attributes of a strong candidate for this position.

• Artistic vision and history as a highly creative theatre artist. While the Search Committee is open to candidates of other backgrounds, experience as a theatre director is a plus.
• Passion and enthusiasm for the Everyman mission and a deeply held commitment to working with the Everyman Theatre Resident Company; prior experience working with Everyman or with other resident acting companies is a plus.
• Strong fundraising experience, or at least exceptional potential; someone with dynamic public presence who will inspire the Board, staff, and public to support the theatre’s artistic work and organizational vision.
• Excitement about immersing in and connecting with the Baltimore community and a desire to build a strong relationship with Everyman’s present and future audiences.
• Experience managing teams toward their best work and a collaborative, people-centered, communicative leadership style. Prior roles in non profit theatre organizations preferred.
• A strategic thinker, able to develop visionary, realistic long-range plans in collaboration with the Managing Director and steward the organization in a sustainable manner.
• Wide knowledge of the theatre canon (classic and contemporary) and strong connections within the theatre industry.
• Unwavering commitment to EDI and to creating a welcoming and inclusive workplace for a diverse community.
• Satisfaction in facilitating the best work in others.
• Integrity, truthfulness, and ethics.

COMPENSATION AND START DATE

The annual salary range for the Artistic Director starts at $175K and includes a full benefit package including:

• Everyman Theatre provides 100% medical coverage for medical, dental, vision, and life insurance including both full premium coverage and full deductible coverage.
• 401k plan with pre-tax contribution eligibility and 3% employer match after six months of service.
• Paid time off includes vacation, holiday, sick, and personal days. Employees accrue vacation at the rate of 15 days per year in the first year.
• Everyman Theatre employees receive complimentary and discounted tickets to performances and discounts to all classes for employees and families. Everyman has engaged Management Consultants for the Arts to facilitate this search; Emily Knapp and Shruti Adhar are the Consultants. The hiring decision will be made by a search committee with representatives from Everyman's Board, staff, and Resident Company. They hope to make a final decision in Q4 of 2025, with the new Artistic Director onsite in Baltimore in July 2026, potentially with some transition work in advance.

HOW TO APPLY

Interested and qualified candidates should submit the following items for consideration:

• A current resumé
• Cover letter (no more than 1 ½ pages)
• Four professional references
• Salary expectation

All documents should have the candidate’s name as part of the file name. The cover letter should describe your background and your approach to leadership and should also address: Why this specific role is so exciting to you and what makes you a particularly compelling candidate for the position. All documents should be in .pdf format and have the candidate’s name as part of the file name.

Submissions should be made through Management Consultants for the Arts’ website at: https://www.mcaonline.com/searches/artistic-director-everyman

Management Consultants for the Arts, Inc | www.MCAonline.com | Phone: 203-353-0722

Questions about this search may be submitted to [email protected] with “Everyman Theatre Artistic Director Search” in the subject line