UPDATED 2020 Thousand Faces Festival: Call for Artists & Staff

The Thousand Faces Festival is seeking emerging artists to join our team this season.

For the past 10 years, The Thousand Faces Festival has celebrated the myths and stories at the roots of Edmonton’s many cultures through theatre, music, dance, and other artistic disciplines. We are committed to ensuring that our staff, crew, and artistic teams also reflect the diversity we see on our stages. We strongly encourage submissions from all artists and look forward to continuing our tradition of discovering what connects us all through art.

These positions are funded through the Canada Summer Jobs Program. Applicants must be between the ages of 15-30.

Please send a brief cover letter and your resume to thousandfaces.festival@gmail.com with the subject line indicating which position you are applying for. The Deadline to submit your application is listed under each position below

Position Title: Technician
Deadline: Sept 17
Start Date: September 28th, 2020
Term: 6 Weeks.

Technician Job Description:

We are looking for two experienced Technicians to assist in the dissemination of the Thousand Faces Festival’s virtual programming. Responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Will plan and execute all technical aspects of the Festival, both online and off
• Will run lighting and sound elements during performances as needed
• The setup and strike of all technical equipment for filmed performances
• Provide assistance during Virtual Classroom Visits
• Creatively troubleshoot technical issues as they arise in a flexible and enthusiastic manner
• Gear Maintenance and Repair as necessary
• Experience with projections is an asset

Technician Qualifications:
Must have a comprehensive understanding of and competence with lighting, sound, and video elements. Previous experience working with online theatrical content is an asset. The ideal candidate will have a flexible working style that can be easily adapted to contribute to a variety of scenarios and projects.

Job Title: Festival Co-Producer
Deadline: 17th of September
Start Date: To be Negotiated
Term: 6-8 Weeks

Co-Producer Job Description:

The Festival Co-Producer will work in collaboration with the Artistic Director, and Production Staff to create and implement a plan for the execution of the Thousand Faces Festival’s virtual content. Responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Artist liaisoning & contracting
• Planning and overseeing live broadcasted events with the support of our technical staff.
• Scheduling of events and personnel
• Creating the 2020 Festival program in collaboration with the Artistic Director
• Fund Development & Research
• Maintain and monitor the season’s budget through effective bookkeeping.
• Reporting to external agencies on grants
• Input into the hiring of other personnel
• Input into and monitoring of budgets and schedules
• Keeping track of all expenses and revenues and the necessary paperwork associated therewith.

Co-Producer Qualifications:
Previous Artistic Management or Producing experience is not required. We are looking for a self-motivated individual that has a keen interest and enthusiasm for celebrating stories at the roots of Edmonton’s many cultures through theatre, music, dance, and other arts. Facility with spreadsheets, good writing, and numerical skills, good communication skills, and out of the box thinking are all assets.

Job Title: Stage Manager – Urashima Taro Virtual Production
Deadline: Oct 1st
Start Date: October 19th
Term: 6 Weeks

Stage Manager Job Description:

The Stage Manager will work closely with the Project Director in the creation of a puppet play to be presented to schools across Edmonton through virtual classroom visits. Responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• The creation and distribution of Daily & Weekly Schedules
• Will serve as a point of contact for teachers before each virtual classroom visit
• Effectively manage virtual rehearsals
• Will troubleshoot when necessary the broadcast connection between each classroom and the performers
• Will run and maintain all artistic and technical aspects of the performance during each virtual classroom visit
• Provide daily show reports to the Artistic Director and Project Director

Stage Manager Qualifications:
Previous Stage Management experience at any level is required. We are looking for an individual who can effectively transfer the skill set of a Stage Manager into an online environment. Excellent communication skills and previous experience working with youth are assets. As this is a Tanzanian artist take on a Japanese legend BIPOC actors are particularly encouraged to apply.

Position Title: Performer – Virtual Puppet Production and Script Workshop Actors
Deadline: Oct 1st
Start Date: October 19th
Term: 6 Weeks.

Performer Job Description:

We are seeking to build a diverse ensemble of actors to perform in a dynamic virtual puppet production for schools. The Script is Edmonton Playwright Tololwa Mollel’s Urashima Taro, based on a Japanese Folk tale. Master Puppeteer Maralyn Ryan is Directing, and Master Puppeteer Randall Fraser is designing.

For six weeks the ensemble will participate in:

• 3 Weeks of Rehearsals
• The filming of the Urashima Taro Puppet Production
• 2 Weeks of Virtual Classroom Visits to schools across Edmonton providing workshops, talkbacks, and various other forms of live interaction with students
• A 1 Week Script development workshop on Tololwa Mollel’s new play Anthem of Life Part One, based on South African Poet Laureate Mazisi Kunene’s Anthem of the Decades: A Zulu Epic.

Performer Qualifications:
Submissions are encouraged regardless of your past educational or professional experience. Previous experience working with youth is an asset. BIPOC actors are particularly encouraged to apply.

Position Title: Production Designer
APPLICATION DEADLINE: SEPT 17th
Start Date: September 28th, 2020
Term: 6 Weeks.

Production Designer Job Description:

The Thousand Faces Festival is seeking a Production Designer to work on 3 Projects over the course of 6 weeks. These projects will include:

• Lighting Design support for a Fringe Livestream storytelling performance by Tololwa Mollel, and further recording of the same piece. This will be with a simple setup in a streaming studio, with approximately 16 instruments.
• Venue Designer for the virtual Thousand Faces Festival Broadcast. Will create a Festival floor plan and hang. Will work closely with festival artists to create unique compact designs for their performance.
• Assistant Designer for a filmed Puppet Production of Urashima Taro, a Japanese myth. The successful candidate will work with designer Randall Fraser.

Throughout this contract, the designer will be working with the same 2 technicians and will have the support of other members of the festival team. Applicants must be between the ages of 15-30. Please send your resume, a brief cover letter, and access to samples of your work to thousandfaces.festival@gmail.com. BIPOC creators are particularly encouraged to apply.