Job Description

LOCATION: Chicago, IL
PAY RATE: $189.61/hour per show + $23.88/hour for Rehearsal
PAY CLASS: Part Time

About The Second City

Dedicated to entertaining, inspiring, and transforming through innovative live experiences, The Second City is the premier brand in improv and sketch comedy. With sold‑out shows playing on resident stages in Chicago and Toronto, Second City’s Touring Theatrical companies also entertain an additional one million theatergoers a year around the globe. The Second City Training Center is the largest school of improvisation‑based arts on the planet, with locations in Chicago, Toronto, New York and a virtual division offering accessible classes online worldwide. Second City Works, the B2B side of Second City, has brought award‑winning improvisation and audience‑driven techniques to over 600 Fortune 1000 companies, challenging businesses seeking a more collaborative culture to innovate through development programs, original digital and video content, campaign consultation, private events, and more.

For additional information on The Second City please visit:

Position Overview

The Stage Manager is responsible for ensuring that every element of the show runs smoothly on a nightly basis and that the director and ensemble’s vision of the show remains consistent throughout its run. The Stage Manager runs the lighting and sound consoles during performances. The Stage manager serves as a liaison between the ensemble and The Second City.

This is a union contract under the Actor’s Equity Association that is a Part‑Time Understudy Stage Manager position. The Stage Manager will be required to oversee execution of both devised and prewritten comedy shows both here in Chicago and at various venues on the road. This role is responsible for ensuring the safety of cast and crew on the road and ensuring the delivery of the show in a variety of venues across the country.

A Touring Stage Manager is a collaborative part of the devising process for the Touring Companies and is expected to maintain professional standards as the show is coming together while continuing to execute the show as it changes.

This is a Stand‑By Understudy position, and you will not be expected to be on the road every time the touring company is out of town. However, the ability to travel when requested is necessary.

Role Responsibilities

• Overseeing rehearsal process and supporting the devising process by doing things such as: ordering props, printing scripts, running lights in rehearsal, and gathering information to communicate to various departments among other tasks
• Working creatively with cast and director to create sketches in the room -Tracking information on venues collected, organized, and provided by the Production Manager
• Anticipating and communicating problems and working to solve them ahead of time
• Filing paperwork such as information on hours worked, receipt tracking, rehearsal and performance reports
• Ensuring contracts are executed by venues on site while on the road and maintain standards of performance from the cast on the road
• Running shows and light board both in Chicago and on the road
• Managing and either solving or escalating actor complaints and concerns within the company
• Consulting director on potential problems and working to solve them collaboratively
• Communicating and collaborating with Production Manager and Technical Director to anticipate and solve problems

Desired Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Professional Stage Management experience with live productions, in particular familiarity with sketch comedy, improv, and devised work is a major plus
• Proven ability to work under pressure
• Ability to stay organized and professional in a fast‑paced environment
• Ability to remain flexible and calm as needs change within production
• Familiarity with Actor’s Equity Association is a plus
• Qlab Programming and EoS programming a plus
• Additional experience in theatrical production such as stagecraft and lighting design is a plus

The Second City is an open, inclusive workplace and welcome applicants who bring along with them diverse life experiences, including every permutation of economic and cultural backgrounds, orientation, ethnicity and points of view. We strive to continue our efforts to work with people who may otherwise be marginalized or underrepresented in our business and around our community.

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