Assistant Director

Company Overview

ABOUT THE GRAND

The Grand Theatre is known for world-class theatre created and built in London, Ontario. As southwest Ontario’s premiere producing theatre and one of the most beautiful theatre spaces in Canada, the company has deep ties to the community and to its artists, artisans, and technicians. 

As a vibrant cultural hub and not-for-profit professional theatre, the Grand serves to gather, inspire, and entertain audiences in London and beyond. At our home in downtown London, we create productions on two stages: the Spriet Stage (839 seats) and the Auburn Developments Stage (144 seats). The Grand season of theatrical offerings runs from September to May, and we collaborate with companies and artists across the country through our co-productions that see London-made artistic and creative work travel to audiences nation-wide.

The Grand Theatre is located on the traditional territories of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, and Lunaapéewak Nations. We value the significant historical and contemporary contributions of local and regional First Nations, and all the Original Peoples of Turtle Island (colonially known as North America). We acknowledge the traditional lands upon which we live, work, share, and tell stories together.

OUR COMMITMENT TO EQUITY, DIVERSITY, INCLUSION & RECONCILIATION 

The Grand Theatre is committed to creating and practicing a company culture that ensures an accessible, equitable, inclusive, and welcoming space for all. We encourage applicants to review the Grand’s commitments to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Reconciliation on our website to confirm that your personal and professional values are aligned with this vision, and we invite you to reflect on these commitments in your submission.

The Grand Theatre is committed to a selection process and work environment that is inclusive, equitable and accessible. We welcome applications from qualified individuals that reflect the abilities and diversity of communities we serve. The Grand Theatre will proactively provide accessibility solutions to job applicants throughout the recruitment process. If you require accommodation, please notify us and we will work with you to meet your needs.

Job Description

The Grand Theatre is currently accepting applications for passionate & emerging Latinx artists to assist direct on our 2026/2027 production of Somewhere by Matthew Lopez, directed by Carmen Aguirre, choreographed by Genny Sermonia.

THE PRODUCTION

It’s 1959 and West Side Storyis all that anyone can talk about. Inez Candelaria works as an usher on Broadway but hopes that her talented and dance-obsessed children will find fame on the other side of the footlights. Meanwhile, the family nervously counts the days until a neighborhood-wide eviction abruptly threatens everything they have worked for. 

From Tony Award-winner playwright, Matthew López (The Inheritance, Some Like It Hot), the Los Angeles Times praises Somewhere as “ebullient, charming — a sprawling family drama and a coming-of-age story.”From the kitchen of their San Juan Hill apartment to stunning Jerome Robbins-inspired choreography on the streets of Manhattan, this talented and determined Puerto Rican family leans into the pure joy of dance and refuses to give up on their dreams.

“This play stole my heart. By Tony Award-winner Matthew López, it’s about dreaming, it’s about family, it’s about immigration. It’s about living in the shadow of displacement – inspired by West Side Story and also the real-life building of Lincoln Centre. It is absolutely a love letter to dance, an homage to Broadway, with a complex and beautiful message about art and the world we live in.” – Rachel Peake, Artistic Director

THE POSITION

 The assistant director/choreographer aids the director in the overall vision and execution of the production and aids the choreographer in the execution of the physical and dance elements of the production. Successful candidates will shadow the process through all of rehearsals, production meetings, tech week and preview week. The successful candidate will help support the production while also developing their own directorial and choreographic skills.

Their job duties are as follows:

• Assisting in interpreting the director's vision for the production, providing input on staging, blocking, and performance style, and helping to ensure the director's concept is realized on stage.
• Assisting the choreographer in developing the physical landscape of the piece and in teaching the dance to the performers
• Sometimes serving as the liaison between the director, choreographer, actors, designers, and crew, helping to facilitate smoothcommunication, and helping to ensure the production runs efficiently from rehearsals to performance.
• Keeping detailed notes on blocking, choreography, line delivery, and other performance aspects to help ensure consistency 

This contract full-time posting is for a newly created project-specific role located in London, Ontario, and will run January 28, 2027 until February 26, 2027. This position requires the candidate to work onsite.  Work hours for this position during rehearsal are 10am to 6pm Monday to Saturday with occassional post-rehearsal meetings with creative team, and during technical rehearsals and previews those hours will extend into the evenings, as scheduled. Additional prep time will be scheduled in conversation with the Director and Choreographer.

WHO CAN APPLY

 The role of Assistant Director/Choreographer is open to anyone actively pursuing theatre direction as a career. Candidates should have 2+ years of professional theatre experience.

 Due to the subject matter of this play, we are seeking applications from Latinx artists for this position.

WEEKLY FEE: $900.00/week

Suitable accommodation in London will be arranged at the Artist’s expense. The Grand’s housing partners range between $125-300/week.

IMPORTANT DATES

Submission Deadline: May 27, 2026

Start Date: January 29, 2027 

End Date: February 26, 2027