Director of Education and Community Engagement – Ogunquit Playhouse; via TOC Arts Partners

About the Opportunity

Ogunquit Playhouse, a cornerstone of American regional theater, seeks a visionary and experienced leader to serve as Director of Education and Community Engagement. This leadership position offers an exceptional opportunity to advance Ogunquit Playhouse’s educational mission during a transformational period in the organization’s 90+ year history. The successful candidate will provide strategic leadership in developing and implementing educational programs that align with Ogunquit Playhouse’s mission to entertain, inspire, and educate while fostering creativity, accessibility, and community connection.

The Director of Education and Community Engagement reports to the Managing Director, working in close partnership with Ogunquit Playhouse’s senior leadership team, Board of Directors, education staff, teaching artists, and cross‑departmental colleagues. The role encompasses strategic planning, financial oversight, program development, and team leadership of the Arts Academy and community engagement initiatives. Central to this position is collaboration with senior leadership on the Manhattan Colony redevelopment project, a historic initiative to restore and reimagine the original artist retreat as a new cultural campus featuring a permanent Arts Academy facility, dedicated rehearsal spaces, and an intimate performance venue.

Ogunquit Playhouse, established in 1933, stands as one of America’s most respected regional theaters, presenting world‑class productions in the heart of coastal Maine. The institution’s commitment to artistic excellence has earned national recognition, with productions regularly transferring to Broadway and launching careers of theater luminaries. The Playhouse maintains an economic impact that extends throughout Southern Maine while preserving its intimate, community‑centered character.

Educational programming represents a cornerstone of Ogunquit Playhouse’s mission, serving students and community members through transformative Arts Academy programs, workshops, and community engagement initiatives. The organization maintains a deep commitment to accessibility, ensuring theater opportunities reach participants regardless of economic or geographic barriers. Signature initiatives include the Arts Academy seasonal programming, community workshops, student casting opportunities in Mainstage productions, and expanding outreach to schools and community organizations throughout the region.

The Playhouse’s main campus features a historic theater with comprehensive production facilities set within Ogunquit’s scenic coastal environment. The theater complex includes front‑of‑house amenities and supporting facilities that have served the community for nine decades. The Manhattan Colony area, originally a summer retreat for New York theater artists, houses the organization’s oldest structures and represents both the institution’s history and its future potential.

The longer‑term vision centers on transforming the Manhattan Colony into a 21st‑century cultural campus featuring a new Arts Academy facility with dedicated dance, music, and coaching studios, flexible rehearsal spaces, a small performance venue for student productions and new work development, and administrative offices that will support expanded year‑round programming.

The Director of Education and Community Engagement serves as a key member of the senior leadership team, contributing to institutional planning and decision‑making. This position leads the development and implementation of comprehensive educational strategies aligned with Ogunquit Playhouse’s mission and the Manhattan Colony redevelopment vision. The Director works closely with the Board of Directors and leadership team to advance educational initiatives, support fundraising efforts, and guide the development of new facilities.

• Fostering a culture of learning and community building that inspires staff, board members, students, educators, and community members to meaningfully participate in Ogunquit Playhouse’s educational initiatives
• Serving as a member of…