Job Description

Artistic Director 

Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company | Washington, D.C. | $145,000–$160,000/year | Full-time 

Application Deadline: August 1, 2025

About the Herd

Woolly Mammoth produces courageous and invigorating new work to radically redefine theatre as a catalyst for an equitable, creative, and engaged society.

— Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company Mission Statement 

Tony Award-winning Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company (WMTC) creates badass theater that highlights the stunning, challenging, and tremendous complexity of our world. Founded in 1980 by Howard Shalwitz, Roger Brady, and Linda Reinisch, Woolly Mammoth has grown from impromptu workshops in church basements to a purpose-built, 265-seat courtyard theater in the heart of Washington, D.C. Today, WMTC occupies a unique position between the city's larger institutional theaters and its grassroots performance spaces. With an annual operating budget of approximately $5 million and a dedicated staff of approximately 25, it serves as an incubator for new theatrical voices while maintaining the production values and professional standards that attract both local audiences and national attention. For over 40 years, WMTC has maintained a high standard of artistic rigor while simultaneously daring to take risks, innovate, and push beyond perceived theatrical boundaries.

Woolly serves an essential research and development role within the American theater because it is one of the few theaters in the country to maintain a company of artists. Woolly’s programming centers on contemporary works that tackle social and political issues with unflinching honesty and artistic innovation. The theater specializes in world premieres and novel interpretations of recent plays, with a particular focus on works by emerging and established playwrights who bring diverse voices and perspectives to the American theater landscape. Plays premiered at WMTC have gone on to productions at hundreds of theaters across the country and the world. In addition, Woolly Mammoth productions have garnered more than 240 Helen Hayes Award nominations and 52 wins, culminating in a 2022 Tony Award for co-producing A Strange Loop . Building on WMTC’s reputation as "uniquely plugged in to the mad temper of the times," as heralded by the NY Times, WMTC’s commitment to aesthetic innovation and civic provocation continues to redefine theater.

Woolly Mammoth’s nationally acclaimed Connectivity Department, founded in 2009 links its artistic mission to its social, civic, and political work and rests on four pillars: community engagement, audience engagement, audience development, and learning. The Connectivity team at Woolly Mammoth curates wide-ranging, dynamic community and artistic events in partnership with Connectivity Core Partners Spit Dat, Black in Space, Miss Chief Rocka, Mary Phillips and other local artists and arts organizations such as Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company and Wolf Trap Opera. Connectivity’s role as a local arts incubator is front and center as we look to support and amplify the work of civically engaged artists in the DMV community.

Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company offers the platform, the community, and the appetite for bold experimentation necessary to redefine what American theater can be.

The Job  

The Artistic Director of Woolly Mammoth is the organization’s creative and cultural leader, responsible for defining and advancing a bold artistic vision that reflects the complexity of our world and pushes the boundaries of theatrical form. The AD curates the season’s programming, commissions and develops new work, and cultivates relationships with a wide range of artists to ensure that WMTC’s artistic work engages local audiences and inspires long-term loyalty, while remaining a national incubator for aesthetic innovation, radical inclusivity, and civic provocation.

The Artistic Director reports directly to the Board of Directors and co-leads the organization in partnership with the Managing Director. Together, they are responsible for setting strategy, guiding institutional planning, stewarding a collaborative staff culture grounded in Woolly’s core principles, and ensuring the organization’s artistic, operational, and financial health. The Artistic Director directly supervises key artistic personnel, including the Director of Connectivity and Associate Artistic Director, the Director of New Work, the BOLD Associate Producer, and the Director of Production, and works closely with the Managing Director and the Board to support governance and strategic direction.

In collaboration with the Managing Director and marketing team, the Artistic Director plays a central role in shaping the theater’s public identity and cultivating audience connection. Through intentional artistic strategy and participation in brand, communications, and engagement efforts, the AD will help grow and diversify the audience, deepen loyalty, and ensure that Woolly’s programming resonates while advancing the company’s values and aesthetic ambition.

The Artistic Director also serves as a key fundraiser and public ambassador for Woolly. The AD will engage donors, funders, and stakeholders in Woolly Mammoth’s mission, and work to ensure the financial health and long-term sustainability of the organization by raising contributed revenue, expanding networks, and activating community support for WMTC’s adventurous work.

Your Roles and Responsibilities

ARTISTIC VISION & PROGRAMMING

• Define, uphold, and champion the artistic vision and values of the organization.
• Curate the annual season, including productions, presentations, and co-producing opportunities, with a focus on driving audience engagement and loyalty.
• Commission and develop new work in alignment with the company’s mission and artistic vision.
• Build and sustain relationships with playwrights, directors, designers, performers, and other artists across local, national, and international communities.
• Advance Woolly Mammoth’s national profile by identifying emerging talent, deepening artistic partnerships, and positioning the theater as a home for bold new work.
• Ensure programming reflects a diverse range of voices, aesthetics, and lived experiences.
• Lead long-range artistic planning, including multi-year programmatic initiatives. 
• Lead a thoughtful exploration of the Company of Artists in alignment with Woolly’s evolving artistic vision.
• Serve as the final artistic authority on all productions and programs, including artistic and production staffing and casting.

CONNECTIVITY & CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

• Champion the theater’s civic mission in collaboration with the Connectivity Department and community partners.
• Collaborate with the Director of Connectivity to shape the artistic framing of community engagement and ensure alignment between programming and connectivity initiatives.
• Uphold the theater’s commitment to radical inclusivity and cultural responsiveness in all public-facing work.

STAFF LEADERSHIP & ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE

• Co-lead the organization alongside the Managing Director, shaping strategic direction and aligning day-to-day decision-making with mission and values.
• Supervise artistic and programmatic staff, including Artistic, Connectivity, New Work, and Production. 
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, encouraging, and equity-centered work environment and participate in internal anti-racism work.
• Contribute to cross-departmental planning, ensuring integration of artistic, operational, and civic goals.
• Participate in internal anti-racism work and uphold accountability practices related to equity and justice.
• Set and uphold high standards for artistic excellence and organizational integrity.

FUNDRAISING & EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Serve as a primary fundraiser and relationship-builder for the organization in partnership with the Managing Director and Director of Development.
• Partner with the development team on donor cultivation, stewardship, and solicitation, including major gifts, institutional giving, and special campaigns.
• Serve as a public representative of Woolly Mammoth, building institutional visibility and cultivating relationships with peer organizations, funders, civic leaders, and national coalitions.
• Support board development and serve as a liaison to the Board of Directors on artistic matters.
• Sustain and expand Woolly Mammoth’s leadership in regional and national advocacy efforts, including active participation in the Professional Non-Profit Theater Coalition (PNTC) and related efforts to advance public funding and policy support for the field.

FINANCIAL & ADMINISTRATIVE LEADERSHIP

• Co-lead budget planning and oversight for artistic and production activities.
• Ensure artistic goals are aligned with available resources to support both quality and financial responsibility.
• Contribute to earned revenue strategy through programming that supports ticket sales, drives audience engagement, and builds long-term loyalty.
• Approve artistic contracts and participate in union negotiations as needed.

Who are we looking for? 

Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company seeks a visionary theater leader who combines artistic excellence with keen social awareness and an unwavering commitment to innovation and provocation. The ideal candidate brings significant experience in developing and producing contemporary works, with proven success identifying and nurturing new voices while maintaining the highest production standards. The AD will possess the courage to champion challenging, boundary-pushing material and the collaborative spirit to work effectively with our resident company of artists, our dedicated staff and board, and our extensive community partnerships. Woolly believes that artistic rigor and civic engagement are intertwined. Raising provocative, socially resonant questions is part of what defines excellence at Woolly. This leader will therefore understand that artistic excellence and social justice are inseparable. The AD will have experience managing complex artistic projects and/or institutions, building meaningful relationships with diverse communities, and using theater as a tool for social change. Finally, we seek someone who thrives in Washington, D.C.'s unique political and cultural landscape, who sees our proximity to power as an opportunity to amplify urgent voices and provoke critical conversations that extend far beyond our theater walls.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND CAPACITY

• Demonstrated capacity to curate and communicate an artistic vision that supports Woolly Mammoth's mission of creating provocative theater that challenges conventional thinking, engages audiences, and fosters deep community connections.
• Proven track record of directing and/or producing artistically excellent contemporary theater, with particular experience in developing new works and world premieres.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, and motivate artistic teams and administrative staff in a creative environment while fostering professional development and growth.
• Proven ability to cultivate artistic relationships and/or institutional visibility across local,  national, and international networks.
• Clear understanding of how artistic programming influences audience engagement, and a capacity to contribute meaningfully to strategies that rebuild and deepen audience connection.
• A firm grasp of the financial and fundraising realities of not-for-profit theater, including cultivating donors and articulating artistic vision in support of contributed revenue.
• Strong communication skills and a demonstrated commitment to civic and social engagement.

PERSONAL QUALITIES AND VALUES

• Collaboration and Partnership: Ability to establish a meaningful working partnership with the Managing Director, Board President, and senior leadership.
• Insatiable Curiosity: A lively curiosity and deep thoughtfulness that drives continuous learning, deep questioning, and artistic exploration.
• Radical Inclusivity: Consistent desire to interact with people of different viewpoints and heritage, as well as within a wide range of socio-economic strata.
• Community Engagement: Genuine belief that everyone in the WMTC community is worth engaging in conversation about how we make art and how our art intersects with the world.
• Creative Risk-Taking: High risk tolerance with enthusiasm for pushing creative boundaries and challenging conventional thinking.
• Mentorship and Development: Natural mentoring abilities with skills as a facilitator and teacher who develops others' potential.
• Authenticity: Authentic leadership approach that engenders trust and loyalty through genuine engagement and transparent communication.

We recognize that no single candidate will embody every qualification listed above, and we encourage all applicants who demonstrate many or most of these experiences and values to apply. WMTC thrives on diverse perspectives and unconventional paths; if you are passionate about using theater as a catalyst for social change and believe your unique background could contribute to our mission of creating badass theater that challenges the world, we want to hear from you.

Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company’s culture is driven by its stated core values of radical inclusivity, creative risk-taking, relentless inquiry & experimentation, and innovation. The theater expects both personal and collective accountability in how these values are applied to the work of each employee of WMTC. Learn more about the culture at WMTC here . 

Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, WMTC complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training. Woolly Mammoth seeks a broad spectrum of employees and is strongly committed to a diverse, inclusive, and equitable work environment. 

Compensation

Salary: $145,000–$160,000 per year. 

Benefits: An excellent benefits package for full-time employees includes medical, dental, and vision insurance; short-term disability coverage; and vacation, sick, and personal days.

Join the Stampede!  

Visit emcforward.applytojob.com/apply/ to submit your application. Your application should include:

• A resume highlighting your artistic engagements
• A link to, or portfolio upload of, your artistic work
• A statement answering the following question: 

How do you define the role of provocation in contemporary theater, and what would it look like for Woolly Mammoth to provoke (artistically, institutionally, and socially) under your leadership?

Applications are due no later than August 1, 2025.  

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