Assistant Stage Managers wanted for a summer Opera festival
Des Moines Metro Opera
United States, Indiana, Indianola
Posted on: Mar. 14, 2026
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Description:
DMMO is one of America’s boldest opera companies (as reported by the New York Times) and was nominated for its 2024 season for an International Opera Award. Join our team in this critical role to work on some of the most challenging, bold, intense, visually stunning, complex, and rewarding productions of your career!
DMMO utilizes three ASM positions represented under our CBA AGMA. The ASMs will rotate through the three productions and will be assigned and scheduled to productions by the PSM. Applicants should be experienced in opera stage management and ideally should have repertory experience; however, having repertory experience will not be our major deciding factor so long as applicants understand that the working schedule during onstage rehearsals and tech time can be intense.
This is a position requiring impeccable decision-making abilities, strong ethics, and a personality that inspires trust, calmness, professionalism, and confidence in others. ASMs are trusted with sensitive personal information and interact across nearly all production departments, artists, and staff at DMMO. The right candidate will understand that in our festival setting the workplace extends not only from theater and rehearsal room but also to anywhere else a member of the DMMO company may be, and should always behave in an appropriate manner when in the presence of others.
As an Equal Opportunity Employer, DMMO celebrates diversity and inclusion. We will not discriminate against any employee or job applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, creed, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, disability, age, veteran status, political affiliation, or philosophy. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply, and if you feel that you would be a great fit for DMMO but don’t meet every expectation listed below, we would still encourage you to apply – you may just have the right skills to fit with our team.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities
Assist the Production Stage Manager and Stage Managers in the preparation and running of all rehearsals and productions you are assigned to at the festival (this includes all rehearsals and sitzprobe).
Create paperwork and communicate the needs of the rehearsal room and stage to the technical staff.
Attend production meetings if required.
Call artists’ entrances and pertinent technical movements from a score.
Problem-solve and communicate with artists, crew, and management.
Temporarily run the rehearsal room if the Stage Manager is absent.
Attend onstage lighting sessions when not in conflict with another rehearsal.
Perform other duties and responsibilities normally associated with being an Assistant Stage Manager and as assigned by the Production Stage Manager and/or the Director of Production.
Comply with and participate in all safe workplace policies and procedures. Help identify potential issues and bring them to the attention of management. Employees are also encouraged to follow up to confirm that management is taking appropriate actions.
Compensation
As per the Collective Bargaining Agreement (currently in negotiations).
Compensation includes a base wage paid weekly as well as additional pay for overtime, span of day, and meal breaks.
Weekly base will be not less than $875/week (this is the final rate of the expired agreement, with an expectation to increase based upon ongoing negotiations. We will post the final rate once the CBA has been ratified).
Additional compensation includes:
A travel stipend or round-trip airfare (exact travel stipend is in negotiations)
Housing is provided (exact housing requirements are currently in negotiations)
Additional benefits provided as per the AGMA/DMMO CBA
Qualifications and Skills
Any combination of education and experience providing the required skill and knowledge for successful performance would be qualifying. Typical qualifications would be equivalent to:
3+ years of experience working in stage management
Ability to call cues from a score (music reading ability is required)
BA/BFA in Theatre or equivalent professional experience
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Proven leadership skills
Physical Requirements and Working Conditions
Ability to sit, stand, and safely traverse a working stage/shop environment. Work includes periods of standing, working in low light, climbing stairs/ladders, and may include moving quickly from location to location backstage during a performance.
Ability to wear a headset/beltpack.
Ability and willingness to wear PPE as required and instructed by DMMO. This may include, but is not limited to, hard hats, high-visibility safety clothing (vests), eye protection, hearing protection, and specialty clothing when needed.
Application Process
Submit a resume with three references and a cover letter via email with the subject line “OperaASM.”
Applicants may have their materials shared with members of the existing stage management team prior to any interviews being scheduled.
Unsuccessful applicants’ materials will be deleted/removed from DMMO systems.
The successful applicant will have materials retained as part of the HR records in accordance with the company’s document retention policies.
Visit
https://desmoinesmetroopera.org/employment/
for the complete posting.
Deadline
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Applicant screening will begin immediately.
References may be contacted at any time after the application is received.
Application Deadline:
May 15, 2026
Job Duration:
Open ended
Job/Audition Type:
Full Time
Job Category:
Technical/Show Support
Payment status:
Paid
Job Location:
United States,
Indiana,
Indianola
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