Spring Musical — Musical Director

Co-Curricular Job Description: Music Director for the Spring Musical “Hadestown: Teen Edition”

Reports to: Hannon Theatre’s Music Director’s immediate supervisors are the Hannon Theatre Company’s producing Artistic Director Walter Wolfe in concert with Producer/Managing Director John Kuhl for the 2024/2025 school year. Both will oversee all things related to job performance/duties as well as all matters of an artistic nature. With regard to working in a school environment, and all the professional and legal concerns therein, the music director reports to the Hannon Theatre Company’s Executive Producer, the Assistant Principal for Student Life, Dr. Paul Jordan.

If a candidate is not a member of the Loyola faculty, they will be applying to become a member of the off-campus adjunct faculty/assistant coaching staff, for which the stipend amount is the only remuneration. The Director of Human Resources Kerry Katz works in tandem with the Assistant Principal for all matters regarding one’s employment in an academic environment, and therefore has a list of requirements the candidate must fulfill including but not limited to a Live Scan fingerprinting background check before HR can offer employment.

Approximated Time Commitment:
Auditions — January 11 or 12, 2025
Rehearsals
February through Mid-May
1. Research and Design Phase: February, hours as needed
2. 2 to 3 Rehearsals per week (exact personal schedule to be arranged in concert with producer, directors, and choreographer—Music Director proposes their schedule in order to achieve objectives. Times and days may vary week to week as MD needs)
February: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays 4:15 to 7:00.
Early March: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays 4:15 to 7:30.
Later March: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays 4:15 to 8:00
April 1 through April 16 — Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, 4:15 to various dismissal times posted in calendar.
April 17 through April 23: Spring Break — No rehearsals scheduled
3. All Technical Rehearsals: April 24 through April 29 (That includes a Saturday and Sunday, again negotiated as needs become apparent.)
4. Nine Performances (Including a Preview and a Pick Up) April 30, May 1, 2, 3, 4; 7, 8, 9, 10 (Flexibility may be possible. Involvement at each performance is determined by the level of complexity of the musical conducting with the pre-recorded orchestrations and the student technicians available to take over these needs.)
5. Strike: May 12, if needed.

Overview:
Responsibilities: The music director is responsible for working with the staging director in preparing a theatre production for public performance, including casting, teaching, and rehearsing the vocalists. The candidate must be willing and able to accompany performers during rehearsals. (FYI: We will use the digital accompaniment provided by the licensing agent for use during rehearsals when the music director is unavailable, and for use during the actual performance in lieu of a live orchestra.)

Expectations: The music director works in tandem with the staging director and choreographer to marry the artistic needs of the music, the staging, the dance movement, and the dramatic interpretation into a cohesive whole. It is essential that the production’s director, choreographer, and musical director have an ongoing and mutually supportive collaboration. The director communicates his vision of the show, and the music director uses their understanding of the show’s musical demands to help the team produce artistically satisfying results. The musical director works with the director each week in scheduling rehearsals which will accomplish certain musical benchmarks. These decisions include which cast members will be called to be in attendance on specific dates. The Music Director sets realistic accomplishment expectations for the available rehearsal time.

Stipend: The position is paid in one lump sum – usually the first week of April. The amount is based on taking the amount the school’s administration paid a full-time faculty member who held the position for 15 years, and adding in some compensation for travel and the inconvenience of being an off-campus co-moderator of a school activity. The amount the school administration authorized is $7500 for the run of the rehearsal and performance periods.

Tasks:
1. Planning
a. Audition the singers and make casting recommendations to the director based on vocal ranges and perceived abilities during Audition Camp on January 11 or 12, 2025.
b. Work in conjunction with the staging director to identify a production’s musical needs and determine any requirements to the picturization and/or choreographic elements in order to succeed in completing the production’s musical objectives.
c. Schedule weekly music rehearsals in collaboration with the director, choreographer and stage manager. The music director is typically available for three of the weekly four rehearsals after school for a total of nine hours minimum for each week.
d. Be available during the scheduled rehearsal days and times:
February: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays,, and Thursdays, 4:15 to 7:00.
Early March: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, 4:15 to 7:30.
Later March: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, 4:15 to 8:00
April 1 through April 16 — Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesday, and Thursdays, 4:15 to various dismissal times posted in calendar.
April 17 through April 23: Spring Break — No rehearsals scheduled
All Technical Rehearsals: April 24 through April 29 (That includes a Saturday and Sunday, again negotiated as needs become apparent.)
Nine Performances (Including a Preview and a Pick Up) April 30, May 1, 2, 3, 4; 7, 8, 9, 10 (Flexibility may be possible. Involvement at each performance is determined by the level of complexity of the musical conducting with the pre-recorded orchestrations and the student technicians available to take over these needs.)
Strike: May 12, if needed.
2. Teaching
a. Serve as the rehearsal pianist or accompanist as needed during run-throughs.
b. Instruct students in the safe and proper manner in which to warm-up their voices and keep themselves vocally healthy for rehearsals and performances.
c. Coach cast members to understand and synthesize the rudiments of their music and harmonies.
d. Guide students in acquiring the needed vocal techniques to successfully fulfill the musical requirements of the production.
e. Oversee student progress in learning the stylistic requirements of their musical numbers.
f. Direct the cast to consider the individual and collective interpretations of phrasing and dynamics required for superior story-telling.
g. In conjunction with the sound designer/director lead music rehearsals for principals, chorus and orchestra, including the annual “Sitzprobe” rehearsal which traditionally
occurs before technical rehearsals begin using the performance tracks.
e. Attend production meetings as needed TBD. (We have yet to figure out a production meeting schedule, but the Music Director may only be needed two or three times during the planning and rehearsal period for the show.)

3. Managing
a. Coordinate rehearsals with staging director, choreographer, and orchestra conductor for time management.
b. Work in conjunction with conductor in setting final rehearsals with cast and sound designer/director.
c. Consult with the sound designer/director to coordinate the overall audio effects used in the show with the music and the digital orchestrations.
(We are going to use the digital performance tracks available, rather than hire an orchestra to play the shows live this year)
d. Help run microphone check before each performance.

4. Legal and School Obligations
a. Successful candidate will need to fill out a complete Loyola High School application packet, including any and all state requirements such as Life Scan and Tuberculosis testing. Any costs for these requirements incurred by any applicant would be reimbursed.
b. Successful candidate may be required to meet with the Human Resources Director and Assistant Principal for Student Life and any other interested members of the Administration team.

Other incidental items:

1. We rehearse in several spaces at the same time. In our “Berendo Music Building” we have use of the Black Box, classrooms, a Green Room, and an additional classroom. Therefore, the music director might be working with one group of cast members in the classroom space while the director is blocking in the Green Room, and the choreographer is setting a dance in the Black Box. We often, then, have at least an extended period of time during every rehearsal where we all meet in the Black Box to put things together.

Salary: $7,500

Benefits: n/a

Education requirements: Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree

Deadline to apply: December 1, 2024

Documents required to apply:

How to apply: Email resume and references to John Kuhl (producer): jkuhl@loyolahs.edu