House Technician

JOB TITLE: House Technician

REPORTS TO: Director of Production

REPORTING STAFF: Over Hire Technicians

FLSA CLASSIFICATION: Non-Exempt

PAY RANGE: $29.70

POSITION OVERVIEW

The House Technician is a well-rounded theatrical technician who works as a member of a team of technicians to fabricate, install and maintain the scenery, props, lighting, video, sound, and other technical equipment to create Chicago Shakespeare productions. While primary responsibilities involve the construction, installation, and maintenance of scenic items, the day-to-day activities for the House Technician can vary greatly depending on the production or project, including occasional run-of-show responsibilities. This position is covered under a collective bargaining agreement with IATSE Local 2. Prior union membership is not required.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater is deeply committed to creating and sustaining an organizational culture that values diversity, inclusion, and equity, as well as promoting a safe, supportive, and collaborative work environment. Visit our website to learn more about our IDEA to Action platform.

DUTIES

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

• Drives IDEA to Action platform by engaging in committees, events, training and other initiatives as needed.
• Models CST’s core values of service, ingenuity, and collaboration as well as its customer service ethos.
• Champions the organization’s commitment to a respectful, inclusive and equitable workplace.
• Fabricates, installs, maintains, and removes scenic items in CST venues or off-site performance spaces.
• Fabricates and modifies stage properties and furniture.
• Rigs and installs scenic, lighting, projection and sound equipment.
• Participates in venue alterations including but not limited to audience seating areas, specialty architectural elements, trap rooms, mobile stages, and site-specific performance venues.
• Loads and unloads of trucks.
• Transfers goods and materials to and from warehouses, storage trailers, and other storage locations.
• Supervises over hire technicians as necessary.
• Proactively develops technical solutions to challenges as they arise.
• Collaborates effectively across multiple departments including the sharing of ideas, workspaces, and institutional knowledge with fellow employees.
• Maintains an advanced knowledge of best practices regarding stagecraft and material usage by exhibiting a willingness to learn and being open to new training opportunities.
• Monitors, enforces, and demonstrates by example the organization’s safety policies.
• Uses a variety of power tools including drill, saws, routers, pneumatic nailers and others.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES

• Performing primary track or understudy track run-of-show duties as needed for both full length productions and one-off events.
• Installing, commissioning, and maintaining scenic automation equipment.
• Identifying and informing supervisors of maintenance needs for equipment and venues.
• Supporting the work of the facilities department, events department, and other departments throughout the organization as assigned.
• Operating forklifts and other material handling equipment.
• Basic painting.
• Driving of large vehicles including 24’ box trucks and occasional towing of trailers.

COMPENTENCIES

• Service, ingenuity, and collaboration
• Emotional intelligence
• Mission-driven
• Scenic construction and installation skills
• Lighting and sound systems
• Stage automation systems (stage elevators, slip stages and automated winches.)

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Work hours are generally 7am-3pm, Monday through Friday, and may extend to 7am-6pm at times.
  Occasional night, weekend, and overtime work is required.
• Work will primarily be based at the CST facility on Navy Pier in Chicago, IL but will at times work in other locations such as warehouses, outdoor city parks, and other off-site locations.
• Work will take place in a variety of environments including but not limited to stages, trap rooms, grids, catwalks, construction shops, warehouses, exposed loading docks, and outdoors.
• Work environment may be dirty, noisy, or in low-light, or in tight and cramped spaces.
• Will be exposed, at times, to potentially hazardous materials and equipment.
• Will regularly be required to wear PPE (for example safety glasses, knee pads, earplug/muffs, etc.) during work activities.

PHYSICAL DEMAND

• Perform a variety of physical tasks including but not limited to climbing, stooping, pushing, bending, kneeling, reaching, lifting, and pulling.
• Work at height in locations including but not limited to catwalks, grids, ladders, and genies.
• Perform a variety of physical tasks while wearing safety equipment including body harness, hardhat, and safety glasses.
• Push, pull, lift, and move up to 50 lbs. at times on a repetitive basis.
• Use of manual dexterity in the operation of tools.

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• BA in technical theater or 3 years professional experience working as an over hire stage carpenter, props carpenter, lighting technician, video technician or sound technician. Will consider non-theatrical carpentry or AV installation experience.
• Expert level theatrical scenic construction and installation skills.
• Expert level knowledge of typical scenic construction power tools including saws of all variety, sanders, screw-guns, routers & pneumatic tools, etc.
• Working knowledge of theatrical/arena rigging practices and methodologies.
• Working knowledge of typical stage automation systems, including stage elevators, slip stages and automated winches.
• Working knowledge of theatrical lighting systems and equipment.
• Working knowledge of theatrical sounds systems and equipment.
• Basic knowledge of theatrical projection systems and equipment.
• Basic knowledge of scene painting techniques

ADDITIONAL EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Forklift driver certification welcomed.
• C class drivers’ license welcomed.
• ETCP Certification in any discipline welcomed.
• TIG/MIG welding expertise welcomed.

ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 which means 14 days has passed since obtaining 2 doses of a primary series with Pfizer, Moderna, or Novavax or a single dose of Johnson & Johnson. Proof of vaccination must be provided before beginning work with Chicago Shakespeare Theater or a request for a qualifying exemption must be submitted and approved prior to beginning work.