LIGHTING AND SOUND POSITIONS
Totem Pole Playhouse

Interested Applicants may reply to employment@totempoleplayhouse.org.

Position Details

GENERAL INFORMATION:

  • Totem Pole Playhouse, Pennsylvania’s premier professional summer theatre, located in the spectacular 1,200-acre Caledonia State Park between Gettysburg and Chambersburg, PA, is seeking a seasonal Scenic Shop Staff for this legendary summer theatre’s 74th award-winning 5-show season.
  • The Totem Pole Playhouse 2024 season schedule runs May 31st through August 31st. Additionally, there is a potential holiday entertainment offering in December presented at an off-site venue. Engagement calendar may have flexibility in regards to start and end dates, but applicants should ideally be available for the entire season.
  • Totem Pole Playhouse produces productions through an agreement with Actor’s Equity Association, as well as a summer concert series. Totem Pole has an excellent reputation within the industry; the New York Times once named it, “the Cadillac of summer theaters.”

If required, most staff positions are provided housing in private bedrooms within shared staff houses as well as a weekly salary. 2024 Summer Series Shows include: Pump Boys and Dinettes, Clue (Onstage), Tuesday with Morrie, Jersey Boys and a weeklong Summer Concert Series. Most shows receive a week of load-in and a week of proper tech, making the schedule unique and less hectic than traditional summer theatre. When open, Totem Pole runs a fully operational and staffed private scenic and costume shop.

SPAN OF AGREEMENT DATES: May 6th 2024 through September 2nd 2024

Positions available:

Sound Designer/Engineer (A1):   A mix of Technical Production and Creative Team Design.  This is a position that requires attendance at all public performances. The candidate will work closely with designers, directors, and artistic staff to achieve proper amplification with the house system. This position requires strong communication skills and the ability to work under pressure.  

Duties include:

  • Being the creative ear and engineer to design the shape and scope of the sound for all performances in the venue.
  • Programming and running an automated console for each performance.  
  • Mixing sound live for musicals with live bands as well as some with tracked music, non-musical plays, and a series of rotating concerts. 
  • Work with wireless mics, in-ear monitors, onstage monitors, direct feeds and mic’ed speakers/drum kits, etc. 
  • Planning and organizing equipment needs, creating sound plots, loading-in and striking equipment
  • Programming and running the audio console and playback computer for performances and maintaining wireless mics for each performance.  
  • The candidate must possess knowledge and experience in sound equipment and plots, trouble-shooting problems quickly, Mac OS X, and QLab.  
  • Maintain all audio equipment in inventory, replacing when required.
  • Conduct daily sound checks and run sound at all performances and rehearsals as required.
  • Generate sound cues and playback needed for performances
  • Other duties traditionally assigned to this job title in live Theatrical Production

Working well with other tech crew members on various projects as directed by Producer, the candidate will also need to be capable of working on tall ladders, lifting at least 50 lbs., and working long hard hours.

Weekly Salary Range $600-700 DOE

 

Assistant Audio (A2):   This is a position that requires attendance at all public performances and rehearsals as needed; supporting the sound department for live musicals with live bands as well as some with tracked music, non-musical plays, and a series of rotating concerts. This position will keep shop hours to help prep the show in rehearsal as well as serve as part of the running crew of the operating production. This position requires strong communication skills and the ability to work under pressure.

Duties include:

  • Assist A1 with wireless mics, in-ear monitors, onstage monitors, direct feeds and mic’ed speakers/drum kits, etc. 
  • The candidate will help actors and musicians with microphone placement and troubleshooting
  • As well as be responsible for daily audio gear prep, battery changing, microphone cleaning and maintenance through the runs.  
  • Assist with the maintaining of all equipment, replacing when required.
  • Assist with the conducting of daily sound checks and run sound at all performances and rehearsals as required.
  • Other duties traditionally assigned to this job title in live Theatrical Production.  

Working well with other tech crew members on various projects as directed by Producer, the candidate will also need to be capable of working on tall ladders, lifting at least 50 lbs., and working long hard hours.

Weekly Salary Range $400-450 DOE

 

Head Electrician (with some design opportunities possibly available) :  Responsible for the planning, load-in, and strike of lighting equipment for a fast-paced 5-show season. The candidate will work closely with designers to execute lighting plots. A firm understanding of instrumentation, rigging, electricity/circuiting, and programing (ETC) are required to accomplish the difficult task of changing over plots quickly and efficiently.   This position will serve as a communication hub for the Electrics Department to designers and guest artists. This position will keep shop hours to help prep the show in rehearsal as well as serve as part of the running crew of the operating production. This position requires strong communication skills and the ability to work under pressure.   

Duties include:

  • Planning, load-in, and strike of lighting equipment
  • Prep the lighting needs of shows in rehearsal.
  • The running of the light board for the majority of the season’s performances and performing daily dimmer checks and routine maintenance.
  • Maintain and supervise an inventory of a rig with 72 dimmers and over 120 fixtures (mostly conventional with LED Source) and a handful of rented movers.
  • Supervise two Assistant Electricians and their workload.
  • Other duties traditionally assigned to this job title in live Theatrical Production.  

The candidate will also need to be capable of working on tall ladders, lifting at least 50 lbs,  working long hard hours, working well with other tech crew members on various projects as directed by Producer.

Salary Range $450-550 DOE

 

Assistant Electrician (2 positions available):  Responsible for assisting the Head Electrician with the planning, load-in, and strike of lighting equipment for a fast-paced 5-show season. The candidate will work closely with department heads to execute lighting plots. A moderate understanding of instrumentation, rigging, electricity and circuiting, and programing (ETC) are required to accomplish the difficult task of changing over plots quickly and efficiently. This position will keep shop hours to help prep the show in rehearsal as well as serve as part of the running crew of the operating production.

Duties include:

  • The running of the light board or follow spot for most of the season’s performances.
  • Assisting the Head Electrician with duties as assigned.
  • Assisting the Head Electrician maintain and supervise and inventory of a rig with 72 dimmers with over 120 fixtures (mostly conventional with LED Source) and a handful of rented movers.
  • Take on the responsibility of prepping “practicals”, LED Tape, power inverters etc for shows in rehearsal.
  • Basic equipment maintenance knowledge is required as well as an understanding of safety around power
  • Other duties traditionally assigned to this job title in live Theatrical Production

Working well with other tech crew members on various projects as directed by Producer, the candidate will also need to be capable of working on tall ladders, lifting at least 50 lbs, and working long hard hours.  

Salary Range $370-425 DOE

 

.*Totem Pole Playhouse is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, creed, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status.