SUMMARY
Application Deadline – July 20, 2018
Start Date – On or around August 1, 2018
A 25 hour a week part-time position reporting to the Director of Production. The Production Assistant has primary responsibility for assisting the Director of Production with scheduling and execution of allaspects of physical production for all SPARC programs, productions, workshops, readings, and special events. The Production Assistant must possess a strong working knowledge of all areas of technical theatre, as they will step into departments to assist in execution of the production process.
TO APPLY
Submit cover letter, resume, three references, and applicable portfolio samples of work to Ginnie Willard, Director of Production, at gwillard@sparcrichmond.org. Incomplete submissions will not be considered. For more information on SPARC, please visit our website at www.sparconline.org. NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE.
SPARC — a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation — is committed to the most fundamental principles of equality of opportunity and human dignity. SPARC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, military or veteran status, political beliefs, or status with regard to public assistance.
PRIMARY DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES
ADMINISTRATIVE
- Administrative Assistant responsibilities including, but not limited to answering telephone calls and routing calls to the appropriate personnel, maintaining the inventory of office supplies, scheduling meetings, maintaining production office equipment, and organizing and maintaining production office files.
- Preparing informational packets for creative team, production team, cast and crew for all SPARC productions and production related activities – including scripts, schedules, and other general materials
- Coordinate printing of programs for R&P and summer productions – including gathering bios, cast list, donor lists, and all other material to be including; sending initial draft of information to Graphic Designer; coordinating draft revisions; printing final draft for all performances
AUDITIONS
- Oversee all aspects of the audition process for all productions and audition based programming throughout the season including scheduling auditions with the Director of Production and Resident Faculty.Duties include scheduling audition appointments (via YouCanBookMe), responding to audition questions via email and telephone, preparing audition paperwork, assisting with scheduling audition monitors as needed, running each audition and call back audition, working in concert with staff to communicate casting status to parents/students.
SCHEDULING
- Work with the Production Manager to maintain production and facility calendars for all production related deadlines and activities
- Assisting the Director of Production with scheduling student technical crew for all productions
PRODUCTION MEETINGS
- Scheduling production meetings for all production teams
- Preparing/Restoring meeting spaces
- Attending production meetings for all productions, recording minutes of all production meetings accurately, and distributing minutes to attendees and staff in a timely fashion following all meetings
- Following up on action items from minutes as necessary
FRONT OF HOUSE
- Set up Box Office ticketing system (Ticketleap) for all productions; activate and distribute comp ticket codes to all staff/cast/production team; handle box office calls as necessary during business hours
- Assist House Manager with training Front of House of staff for performances as needed
- Assist Box Office attendant with box office/ticketing operations as needed prior to performances
PRODUCTION
- Work in concert with the Director of Production and Director of Education to fulfill all production needs for all SPARC programming (all productions, LIVE ART, tuition based classes, fee for service programs, summer camps, Spotlight Ensemble and other events occurring in the SPARC Center). Duties to include, but not be limited to tasks such as working acquiring props/costumes for classes, basic prop construction, set up and operation of lighting and sound equipment, scenic paint/sewing as needed (this is not solely an administrative position).
- Assist with inventory and distribution of show materials, including:
- Store and track show kits and scripts as they arrive at SPARC
- Load logo kits purchased for productions onto server
- Coordinate ordering and distribution of production T-shirts
- Coordinating headshots for Spotlight and Studio productions; printing all headshots and setting up lobby board for productions in the November Educational Theatre
- Coordinate and oversee rental and loans of equipment, props, and costumes.
- Daily follow up on rehearsal reports in concert with Director of Production to ensure all rehearsal needs are met in a timely fashion.
- Assisting other production department team members as needed throughout the season with communications, ordering and acquiring materials, lighting hang and focus, sound system set up, and other needs that may arise throughout the season.
- Copying and distributing set and costume design package materials for all production team members
- Assist Director of Production/Technical Director with maintaining accurate equipment inventories.
- Work in concert with Stage Managers to collect all information needed for production programs. Organize information and deliver to Marketing staff.
- Assist with performance logistics for SPARC’s Touring Ensemble
- Serving as a rehearsal assistant should a conflict arise within a stage management team.
- Training and supervising technical theatre students in productions
- Mentoring and supporting students involved in all SPARC programming
PERSONAL QUALITIES
- Bachelor’s Degree in Technical Theatre or Theatre Management
- Stage Management experience preferred
- Thorough working knowledge of all areas of theatrical production and the technical theatre production process – scenic construction/paint, lighting, sound, machine sewing, stitching, etc.
- Exemplary organizational skills
- Strong computer skills, including proficiency in Word, Excel, and reading Vectorworks and Lightwright files
- Ability to lift 40 pounds independently
- Ability to climb ladders to heights 12-15 feet
- Ability to work well in group problem-solving situations
- Ability to work under pressure on many projects and work with people of varying levels of experience
- Student focused
- Personable, positive attitude and agreeable nature with diplomatic leadership skills
- Positive communicator with strong written and verbal communication skills and excellent public persona for SPARC to all constituents
- Possess a Valid Driver’s License and car
CURRENT ANNUAL PROGRAMMING
LIVE ART
- Major public performance featuring nationally renowned musicians (past have included Jason Mraz, k.d. lang, Christina Perri, Sara Barreilles, René Marie and more) performing with 200 students of all abilities.
- Held annually in Richmond’s Altria Theater (3,500 seats)
- Single performance
3 Spotlight Productions
- SPARC’s Spotlight Series productions, including both musicals and plays, feature larger casts, with rehearsals and performances focused on the full staging of the scripted material. With the magic and prestige of scenery, costumes, audio, and lighting, Spotlight Series productions build students’ experience with fully produced shows in both featured and ensemble roles.
- Audition-based for grades 6 through 12.
- One production each semester; 10 performances of each fall and spring production; 4 performances of the summer musical.
3 Studio Series Productions
- SPARC’s Studio Series productions are focused on the acting and rehearsal process, which will include an array of acting styles/techniques and text/character analysis. Focusing on smaller casts with each student in one or more featured roles, the directing team will work with students to explore the script, with performances including minimal technical elements to retain focus on the actors in a black box-style performance.
- Audition-based for grades 8 through 12.
- One production each semester; 6 performances of each production.
1 SummerStarz Touring Student Production, with approx. 9 performances
- A summertime touring production performing titled productions, SummerStarz rehearses for five weeks in the summer, and then presents a weeklong series of free public performances in venues around the region.
- Audition-based for grades 4 through 9.
SPARC Touring Ensemble, with approx. 12-15 performances
- Formerly known as Spotlight Ensemble, the SPARC Touring Ensemble trains students to work together in a collaborative performance troupe. Ensemble members participate in selecting their repertoire, and then perform year-round at a wide range of public and private events. The SPARC Touring Ensemble gains experience performing in dynamic settings, building the adaptability and composure necessary for live, public performance.
- Audition-based for grades 8-12.
Spring Training Class Showcases (audiences ranging from 80-150 each)
- Students aged 5 and up perform a showcase at the end of the Spring term. Students perform in a series of mainstage Showcases at the Dominion Arts Center’s Gottwald Playhouse (approx. 150 seats).
2 After-School Production Programs at area elementary schools
6-8 Final Shares for STAGES In-School Outreach Program
1 Opening Night Reception for New Voices for the Theater(currently including a staged play reading)
2-Night Festival of New Works (staged readings for student plays) for New Voices for the Theater
Special events, as scheduled
TO APPLY
Submit cover letter, resume, three references, and applicable portfolio samples of work to Ginnie Willard, Director of Production, at gwillard@sparcrichmond.org. Incomplete submissions will not be considered. For more information on SPARC, please visit our website at www.sparconline.org. NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE.
SPARC — a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation — is committed to the most fundamental principles of equality of opportunity and human dignity. SPARC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, military or veteran status, political beliefs, or status with regard to public assistance.