Part-time Theatre Jobs in Norwalk, CA

The Theatre, Film Communications Arts Department at Whittier College is seeking a Technical Director and Shop Scene Supervisor.

This position will serve as the department’s staff technical director under the direction of the Dean of Faculty and Department Chair, providing technical direction and supervision for three faculty-directed productions and technical support and supervision for other events in the department, including a small number of student productions and guest artist presentations, etc.

Hours: Varies
Exempt Status: Non-exempt
Full Time/Part Time status: Full time, 10 months (June and July)
Salary Range: $-$ per hour; salary will commensurate with experience, skills, and knowledge.
Reports to: Dean of Faculty; Chair of Theatre, Film, Communication Arts
Location/Department: Whittier College / Theatre, Film Communications Arts

Position Duties and Responsibilities

Essential Functions of the Job

• Provide overall supervision of scenery and properties construction and stage rigging for department productions.
• Serve as a hands-on scene shop supervisor.
• Serve as lead scenic carpenter and lighting technician as necessary.
• Instruct and supervise a part-time, paid student technical staff (typically 15 to 20 students) and also laboratory students in scenery construction, basic painting, stage properties, and the costume studio (in consultation with the guest costume designer).
• Oversee basic lighting and sound technical support for department productions with assistance from other theatre staff and faculty.
• Supervise load-in and strike for each production.
• Coordinate purchases and rentals for scenery, lighting, and stage properties.
• Maintain scene shop inventory and equipment.
• Maintain the lighting and sound equipment in the department’s Studio Theatre.
• Rigorously maintain a safe working environment and safe working practices as part of providing technical support for the department.
• Supervise student crews as needed during technical and dress rehearsals and performances.
• Serve as the department’s chief technical liaison with the staff of the college’s performing arts center.
• Monitor and approve student employees’ bi-weekly time sheets.

The position is considered full-time with weekly hours varying per week, depending on the production schedule, which will include four to six weekend workdays for each major production.

Non-essential Functions of the Job

None identified at this time.

Position Specifications and Requirements

Qualifications: B.A. or B.F.A. in theatre with an emphasis in design and technology or equivalent professional experience. Must be familiar with reading floorplans for design for theatre (scenic and lighting), and theatre safety standards (OSHA).

Additional requirements: Must be able to climb ladders and scaffolding, use and supervise the safe use of telescopic personnel lifts, manually lift a minimum of 50 lbs., and work directly and actively with students and other staff members in the scene shop, backstage, and onstage