Work at The Den Theatre in chicago

Passionate about stand-up comedy and live performances? The Den Theatre in Wicker Park is always looking for creative people to join our staff.

WE’RE CURRENTLY HIRING FOR THE FOLLOWING POSITIONS:

Assistant Technical Director
The Den Theatre – Chicago, IL

About The Den Theatre
Located in the heart of Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood, The Den Theatre is a multi-level live entertainment venue featuring five intimate and unique theaters ranging from 50–302 seats. The first floor houses The Den’s Haven Lounge — a full-service bar where neighbors, artists, and audiences gather to drink, eat, talk, read, watch, think, listen, and connect.

Hundreds of companies and artists from Chicago and beyond call The Den home. From nationally touring comedians and theatrical productions to emerging local artists, The Den consistently presents a diverse and exciting lineup of programming.

Position Summary

The Assistant Technical Director (ATD) is a hands-on technical leader responsible for supporting the Director of Operations and Technology in the daily operation, maintenance, and execution of productions across all Den theatre spaces.

This role oversees the technical integrity of each black box space, manages venue equipment and inventory, and serves as the primary technical liaison for lessees and production teams throughout their production timeline. The ATD ensures all building policies, safety standards, and technical guidelines are upheld while maintaining a professional and welcoming working environment.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Oversight & Venue Management

• Manage the technical aspects of each black box theatre space.

• Ensure proper maintenance and operational readiness of lighting, sound, video, and staging systems.

• Oversee the upkeep and organization building.

• Maintain and manage inventory of technical equipment, tools, and supplies.

• Proactively assess and address technical issues during rehearsals and performances.

• Ensure consistent maintenance of each theatre space to meet safety and presentation standards.

Production Support & Building Coverage

• Oversee load-ins, strikes, and transitions between productions to ensure efficient and safe execution.

• Conduct safety walkthroughs with rental companies, guest production teams, and staff.

• Serve as a direct technical contact for lessees during their production timeline, ensuring compliance with Den building and technical guidelines.

• Support the Director of Operations and Technology with larger-scale building and infrastructure projects.

• Jump on shows as a board operator when needed. 

Maintenance & Safety

• Facilitate routine maintenance and preventative care of venue systems. 

• Identify, document, and resolve building or equipment issues.

• Ensure adherence to safety protocols, including safe rigging, electrical practices, and backstage procedures. 

• Assist in maintaining a clean, organized, and code-compliant technical environment.

• Add value to theatre spaces by upgrading tech and physical space when needed

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Proven experience working in technical theatre (professional or academic).

• Strong working knowledge of:

• Strong Carpentry and rigging skills 

• Lighting hang and programming

• Sound Systems

• Video systems

• Experience with comedy production setups is a plus.

• Strong organizational and inventory management skills.

• Ability to work independently and manage priorities with minimal supervision. Abilities to manage time well. 

• Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, particularly when working with guest artists and production teams.

• Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced, multi-venue environment.

Schedule & Compensation

Salary: $38,000-$40,000 starting based off experience 

Typical Weekly Schedule:

• Sunday: 3:00PM - 11:00PM

• Monday: 3:00 PM – 11:00 PM

• Tuesday: 3:00 PM – 11:00 PM

• Wednesday: 3:00 PM – 11:00 PM

• Thursday: 3:00PM – 11:00PM 

Our goal is to keep the schedule as consistent as possible but there will be weeks where it fluctuates. Building hours and workload vary week to week depending on production needs. 

Benefits & Perks

• Complimentary tickets to shows not performed in the Heath Theatre

• Standby tickets to Heath Theatre performances

• Den discounts on merchandise and bar sales

How to Apply

If you are passionate about theatre and comedy, thrive in a hands-on technical environment, and enjoy supporting artists in bringing their work to life, we would love to hear from you.

Please submit your resume and cover letter to The Director of Operations and Technology, adelynn@thedentheatre.com with the subject line:
“Assistant Technical Director Application.”

Podcast Producer & Editor

The Den Dialogues — A Podcast from The Den Theatre

Location: Chicago (Hybrid / Flexible)
Type: Part-Time (with potential to grow)
Reports to: Host & The Den Theatre Team
Compensation: $20-$22/ hour - commensurate with experience (potential to become salaried)

About The Den Dialogues

The Den Dialogues is a podcast rooted in comedy, performance, art, and culture. The podcast features The Den Theatre’s Owner Ryan Martin as he interviews well known comedians from around the world (his first podcast was shot with Pete Holmes). As the show scales, we’re seeking a Podcast Producer & Editor to help elevate production quality, streamline workflows, and shape compelling long- and short-form content across platforms. This is a collaborative, creative role for someone who loves great conversations and knows how to turn raw material into polished, engaging media. While the podcast has been in production for over a year, we want to fully invest in the show to provide weekly conversations about comedy, the community, and beyond. 

The Role

You will oversee the end-to-end production of podcast episodes and supporting video content — from filming and live-session support through final delivery and short-form clipping.

You are both hands-on and editorially thoughtful, ensuring each episode lands with clarity, consistency, and impact.

Key Responsibilities

Production & Recording

• Oversee and facilitate film podcast recordings and multi-camera setup.

• Trouble shoot lighting and audio capture

• Support live recording sessions (in person or remotely), flagging standout moments and editorial beats in real time

• Ensure reliable technical execution for each session

Editing & Post-Production

• Edit full-length podcast episodes for YouTube and audio platforms, delivering clean, professional sound and visuals

• Create short-form clips and “hero moments” optimized for social platforms (Instagram Reels, TikTok, YouTube Shorts, etc.)

• Maintain consistent visual and editorial standards across all content

Content Workflow & Organization

• Manage media files, project organization, exports, and archiving

• Track content from recording through final delivery to support timely, reliable releases

• Maintain an organized backlog of raw footage, works-in-progress, and published episodes

Collaboration & Editorial Support

• Collaborate closely with the host and The Den Theatre team to refine tone, pacing, and visual style

• Help shape episode flow, openings, and clip selection without disrupting the authenticity of the conversation

• Adapt content for different platforms while preserving voice and intent

Additional Opportunities

• While this position focuses on the Podcast, there are additional hours of work available which include clipping comedy performances, aiding marketing team in collecting videos and photos of performances, etc. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience producing and/or editing podcasts or interview-based content

• Proficiency with video and audio editing software (Adobe Premiere, DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut Pro, or similar)

• Strong understanding of composition, lighting, audio syncing, and export settings

• Highly organized and comfortable managing multiple files, timelines, and deliverables

• Calm, reliable, and collaborative in fast-paced creative environments

• Passion for comedy, live performance, storytelling, and cultural conversations

Additional Experience (Not required)

• Experience managing or optimizing YouTube or social content (thumbnails, captions, metadata, basic analytics)

• Comfort extracting compelling short-form content from long-form conversations

Time Commitment

• Project-based / per-episode commitment

• Flexible schedule aligned with recording sessions and release timelines

• Potential for expanded scope as the podcast grows

How to Apply

Please submit to the Director of Operations and Technology, Adelynn Dunajcik at employment@thedentheatre.com:

• A brief introduction

• Relevant experience

• Links to video and/or audio samples (podcast or interview-style content strongly encouraged)

The Den Theatre is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applicants from all backgrounds to apply.