There are many opportunities for paid student work within the Department of Theater and Dance. Available jobs are generally posted early in the semester on Handshake.  Jobs in the department may be for a full academic year, or more project-based (such as involvement on specific productions). 

You may also inquire with the Technical Director, the Costume Director, the Events Manager, or the Production Manager about employment opportunities.  Work Authorization is required in advance of hiring for any job.

Certain positions listed below are also available to be filled for production (290 or 360) credit.  Please consider which options are best suited to your own needs, and discuss both options with the folks listed above, or your departmental advisor.

Event Production Staff:
Event Staff personnel work performances on an ad hoc basis determined by the performance schedule. Event Staff people may run lights, sound, the fly rail or other tasks as needed. Training will be provided as needed for these jobs.

Scene Shop Employment:
Carpenters working in the Scenery Shop build scenic elements and install them onstage for department plays and dance concerts. Scene shop employees work a regular schedule each week. The job requires the use of power tools following appropriate safety training. Familiarity with light wood-frame construction is desirable but not required. Carpenters may also be asked to paint scenery.  Students interested in the fabrication and organization of props are also eligible for employment in the Scene Shop (depending on production needs).

Costume Shop Employment:
A limited number of Work Study positions are available in the Costume Shop. Positions include construction and alterations of costumes, maintenance of the costume collection, assisting with hair and makeup needs, assisting the designer, and wardrobe crewing for shows. A Work Authorization number from the SEO is required. For details on shop work, contact Rebecca Armstrong, Costume Director (rarmstrong@bates.edu).

Lighting Crew Employment:
Lighting crew members install stage lighting equipment for performances in one of the 3 theaters operated by the Department. The job requires workers to be comfortable working on ladders. Training for Genie Lift operation is required for this job. A basic understanding of electricity is helpful, but not required. All other training will be offered as needed.

House Management & Ushers:
The House Manager is at all performances and supervises Ushers as needed. The House Manager is required to be familiar with Emergency Evacuation procedures for each theater. 

Ushers are normally members of Robinson Players and work as volunteers for their assigned evenings.

Social Media and Graphic Design:
Graphic Designers work closely with the Events Manager and the Show Director, under a set schedule, to design a poster image for productions and events. The image must work within the department’s standard poster frame, which is available from the Events Manager. 

Social Media Coordinators produce posts for our social media platforms that promote upcoming shows, events and student success to our local audience, alumni and prospective students.  They work with the Events Manager.  

Digital Media and Sound Design:
The Sound Designer works with the Show Director on creating sound effects, music and abstract soundscapes that are needed for the show.

Stage Management:
The job of the Stage Manager requires a high level of organization and grace under pressure. The Stage Manager is the informational hub of any given production, and provides the student in this position practice in leadership, effective communication and consensus building. Student Stage Managers work closely with faculty and staff through the entire production period.

• Theater
  Stage Managers for theater organize and attend daily rehearsals, communicated with all parties involved through regular emails.  They arrive before rehearsals start,  to ensure the space is clean and that props are correctly set for the rehearsal to begin. They distribute daily rehearsal reports immediately following the rehearsal to communicate questions, needs, ideas and technical specifics to the rest of the production team. The Stage Manager is the last to leave the rehearsal space, making sure that all props are put away and that the space is cleared and available for other work to happen in the space outside of rehearsals.
• Dance 
  Stage Managers for Dance do not generally attend daily rehearsals, instead beginning their rehearsal period with the start of technical rehearsals. Stage Managers for dance have a greater role in coordinating the 10 – 15 small clusters of dancers each in their rehearsal routine in advance of technical rehearsals. Contemporary dance is a fluid environment with no script to bind the choreographers and performers, so Stage Managers for dance need to be comfortable with last minute changes.