SCENIC SHOP 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:

Technical Director: Reporting to the Production Manager and Artistic Director. Serving as the lead of the Scenic Department. The Technical Director coordinates the scenic needs of the show with all respective departments. Interpreting the scenic design alongside the Production Manager and generating technical drawings to fabricate the scenery from. Proficiency in reading technical/design drawings, Vectorworks/Auto Cad is critical. Alongside the Production Manager serving as a communication hub between the Creative Teams and Technical departments and ensuring the shop’s capacity meets the scope of the design (and flagging it when It’s not.) Operate as the supervisor of the Scene Shop Staff and coordination manager on projects that require multiple departments (incorporating other elements into scenery, load-ins, storage, etc.)

Duties include:

  • Responsible for managing the scenic budget as approved by the Production Manager.  
  • The TD is responsible for the rigging process and should be familiar with basic block and fall counterweight, rigging and engineering for safety and function. (While the theatre does not have a proper fly loft, linesets do move in and out for load-in.)  
  • Lead all Production Teams with their installation and coordination of the physical production from all departments in a “change over” from one show to another.
  • Maintain/develop a working relationship with vendors (rental houses, wholesalers, local over-hire)
  • Coordinate the schedule and transportation of physical production. 
  • Will be required to move scenery between the shop space, storage areas, the rehearsal hall, and the stage for load-ins, strikes, and build periods. 
  • This position requires interest and ability to build or modify scenery for a fast-paced 5-show season. 
  • The position requires to move scenery between the shop space, storage areas, the rehearsal hall, and the stage for load-ins, strikes, and build periods.
  • Applicants should have a studied knowledge and experience in traditional scenery construction, rigging, and safe shop practices. 
  • Making certain the Scene Shop is a safe and clean work environment.
  • Other duties traditionally assigned to this job title in live Theatrical Production

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

 Weekly Salary Range $575-700 DOE

 

Head Carpenter: will work as part of a team under the Production Manager / Technical Director. This position requires interest and ability to fabricate or modify scenery for a fast-paced 5-show season. Help TD with drawing interpretation, planning for capacity, and project management.   Applicants should have moderate knowledge and experience in traditional scenery construction, rigging, and safe shop practices. 

Duties include:

  • Fabricate Scenery as assigned.
  • Help with other scenic departments as assigned.
  • Will be required to move scenery between the shop space, storage areas, the rehearsal hall, and the stage for load-ins, strikes, and build periods. 
  • Other duties traditionally assigned to this job title in live Theatrical Production

The candidate will work with power tools daily and 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  

Weekly Salary Range $500-600 DOE

 

Scenic Carpenter: Will work as part of a team under the Production Manager / Technical Director. This position requires interest and ability to build or modify scenery for a fast-paced 5-show season. Primarily dealing with substrate and structural foundation build of standard theatrical scenery, but also helping with the finish process as needed.   

Duties include:

  • Fabricate Scenery as assigned.
  • Will be required to move scenery between the shop space, storage areas, the rehearsal hall, and the stage for load-ins, strikes, and build periods. 
  • Applicants should have moderate knowledge and experience in traditional scenery construction, rigging, and safe shop practices.
  • Other duties traditionally assigned to this job title in live Theatrical Production

The candidate will work with power tools daily. 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.

Weekly Salary Range $475-550 DOE

 

Scenic Assistant: Will work as part of a Scenic Department under the Technical Director. This position requires interest and ability to build or modify scenery for a fast-paced 5-show season.  Working across all scenic departments to help fabricate and install the scenic needs of the production. 

Duties includes: 

  • Fabricate Scenery as assigned.
  • Help with other scenic departments as assigned.
  • Will be required to move scenery between the shop space, storage areas, the rehearsal hall, and the stage for load-ins, strikes, and build periods. 
  • Applicants should have moderate knowledge and experience in traditional scenery construction, rigging, and safe shop practices.
  • Other duties traditionally assigned to this job title in live Theatrical Production

The candidate will work with power tools daily. 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.

Weekly Salary Range $400-450 DOE

 

Scenic Charge: Will work as part of a team under the Production Manager/Technical Director. This position requires interest and ability to finish, paint or modify scenery for a fast-paced 5-show season. The Scenic Charge provides aspects of the finish to the scenery. 

Duties includes: 

  • Overseeing the proper and designed finish of all scenic elements
  • Applying Floor Treatments as assigned.
  • Finishing steps include putty, sand and prep as well as paint and other finishes
  • This also include scenery fabric finishes (stretching fabric, applying gromets, tufting, ect) 
  • Maintaining an orderly and sanitary paint and chemical storage
  • Required to move scenery between the shop space, storage areas, the rehearsal hall, and the stage for load-ins, strikes, and build periods. 
  • Other duties traditionally assigned to this job title in live Theatrical Production
  • Applicants should have moderate knowledge and experience in traditional scenery construction, rigging, and safe shop practices.  
  • Other duties traditionally assigned to this job title in live Theatrical Production

The candidate will work with power tools daily. Will also come in contact with paints, cleaners, finishes and other chemical productions typically associated with Traditional Theatre Scenic Artistry. 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.

Weekly Salary Range $450-550 DOE

 

Paint Charge: Will work as part of a team under the Production Manager/Technical Director. This position requires interest and ability to finish, paint or modify scenery for a fast-paced 5-show season. The Paint Charge provides aspects of the finish to the scenery.  

Duties includes: 

  • Overseeing the proper and designed finish of all scenic elements
  • Applying Floor Treatments as assigned.
  • Finishing steps include putty, sand and prep as well as paint and other finishes
  • Assisting Scenic Charge with non-paint finish as assigned.
  • Maintaining an orderly and sanitary paint and chemical storage
  • Required to move scenery between the shop space, storage areas, the rehearsal hall, and the stage for load-ins, strikes, and build periods. 
  • Other duties traditionally assigned to this job title in live Theatrical Production
  • Applicants should have moderate knowledge and experience in traditional scenery construction, rigging, and safe shop practices.  
  • Other duties traditionally assigned to this job title in live Theatrical Production

The candidate will work with power tools daily. Will also come in contact with paints, cleaners, finishes and other chemical productions typically associated with Traditional Theatre Scenic Artistry. 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.

Weekly Salary Range $450-550 DOE

 

Properties Artisan/Designer:  Will work under the Production Manager / Technical Director. This job is both a Technical Production and Creative Team position, requiring interest and ability to secure, source, shop, fabricate, finish, paint or modify all properties needs for a fast-paced 5-show season. This position also works closely with the Scenic Designer, Director, and Stage Management Team to ensure inventory, aesthetic, fabrication, and timelines for the properties package are accurate and complete.

Duties include:

  • Research and design work to be presented to creative team for sign off in a timely manner.  
  • Creation of standard Props paperwork (lists, inventories, etc)
  • Making certain rehearsal versions of props are secured and delivered to the rehearsal room on the Creative Team’s Timeline.
  • Budget maintenance and reconciliation.
  • Applicants should have basic knowledge and experience in traditional scenery construction, rigging, and safe shop practices.  
  • Knowledge of photoshop and other graphic design software is a plus. 
  • Maintain an organized and clean storage.
  • Other duties traditionally assigned to this job title in live Theatrical Production

Will also encounter paints, cleaners, finishes and other chemical productions typically associated with Traditional Theatre scenic fabrication. Candidate will work with power tools, building material, epoxies, and glues daily. 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.  

Weekly Salary Range $450-550 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.