Michigan Theater and State Theater | A New Era of Production and Innovation

The Michigan Theater (opened in 1928) and the State Theater (opened in 1942) are two of Ann Arbor’s most iconic cultural landmarks and the core of Marquee Arts. As the organization moves from a rental-house model toward producing approximately 35 live shows each year, both theaters are poised for an exciting transformation. Each venue has its own history, personality, and devoted audience—but together they anchor a renewed vision for live events, film, community programming, and creative expression.

To support this next chapter, Marquee Arts seeks a visionary, technically skilled, and people-centered Technical Director to modernize production systems, elevate the technical standard of all events, and lead our team into the theater’s next century.

Why This Role Matters

The Michigan and State Theaters are places where history and innovation meet. As Marquee Arts expands its artistic footprint, the Technical Director becomes the architect of a new production era—one that honors the past while building the technical foundation for the future. The modernization work undertaken in this role will shape how our community experiences live performance, film, and creative events for decades to come.

Position Overview

The Technical Director oversees all technical operations for the Michigan Theater, the State Theater, and the Screening Room. This includes supervising IATSE and non-union crews, supporting visiting artists and touring productions, ensuring exceptional film presentation, maintaining historic systems, and guiding a multi-year modernization plan for both venues.

This role requires a leader who is equally comfortable with historic preservation and cutting-edge production technology, who thrives in live event environments, and who can communicate clearly with artists, donors, and production teams. The Technical Director will help transform our theaters into future-ready spaces capable of supporting an expanding slate of concerts, talks, festivals, and in-house productions.

Key Responsibilities:

Production Leadership and Live Event Support

• Plan, advance, and execute all live productions across both venues.
• Serve as the primary technical representative during all stages of event activity.
• Review technical riders, coordinate with vendors, and collaborate with artists, tour managers, and community groups.
• Determine, schedule, and supervise technical staffing, including IATSE crews.
• Provide a professional and welcoming backstage experience, including VIP and donor engagement when appropriate.

Film Presentation

• Ensure superb film projection and sound quality in the Michigan Theater, State Theater, and Screening Room.
• Support hybrid events integrating live components with film.

Infrastructure Modernization and Capital Improvements

• Lead the upgrading of AV, lighting, sound, projection, rigging, and backstage systems.
• Partner with contracted professionals on design and implementation.
• Create and execute a multi-year modernization roadmap aligned with programming growth and production needs.

Operations, Safety, and Maintenance

• Oversee safe operation of all technical systems during rehearsals and events.
• Maintain staging, lighting, sound, and AV equipment at both theaters.
• Manage budgets for equipment, maintenance, and supplies.
• Complete payroll for stage personnel and participate in technical staff evaluations

Supervisory Responsibility: This position will help to supervise the Associate Technical Director, Head Projectionist, House Technician, Relief staff and Stagehands.

Working Conditions:

• A full-time, regular hourly position (2,080 hours annually, inclusive of paid time off)
• Overtime must be approved in advance and will be compensated at time and a half for hours beyond eight in a day.
• Reasonable work hours and meal breaks are expected and supported.
• Office equipment and required software will be provided.

Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. This role also regularly requires reaching, bending, kneeling, stooping, crouching, crawling, and climbing stairs, ladders, and/or scaffolding, and walking and standing for extended periods of time. Extended computer use is required. The employee will regularly lift, push, pull and/or move items that weigh up to 75 pounds.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Extensive experience in both historic theaters and modern live-event technical environments.
• Expertise in AV systems, lighting, sound, staging, rigging, and film projection (35mm and digital).
• Demonstrated success modernizing technical infrastructure and managing capital projects.
• Strong leadership experience with IATSE or similar union crews, including knowledge of work rules and collaborative scheduling practices.
• Background in production management and supporting in-house programming as well as touring shows.
• Excellent interpersonal and hospitality skills, comfortable interfacing with artists, agents, creative teams, and donors.
• Clear communicator capable of explaining technical concepts to non-technical audiences, including board members and funders.
• Strong project management, budgeting, documentation, and operational planning skills.
• Commitment to safety, training, and workforce development.
• Creative, adaptable, and excited by organizational transformation and the opportunity to build new systems from the ground up.

Additional Eligibility Qualifications: An active and good standing membership with IATSE 395. (Can participate in the membership process upon hire if currently not a member)

Compensation and Benefits Information:

• This is a full-time, non-exempt hourly position
• Pay Rate: $38.54
• Benefits: Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance, Employee Assistance Program, Paid Time-off: Holidays, Vacation and Health Leave, Annuity Plan, Training Trust Plan, Free Movie Admission & Concessions/Merchandise Discount

Candidates who are inspired by legacy, motivated by innovation, and eager to help guide two beloved historic theaters into their next century are encouraged to apply.