By: Donna J. Flor
Calling all Master Carpenters with roadhouse experience! The Mondavi Center Production Department is looking for a talented and qualified person to cover our carpentry, flyrail, and rigging areas.
What exactly does a Master Carpenter do? Well, it can vary somewhat from theatre to theatre. Some theatres---especially the producing variety---have a scene shop. They need a Master Carpenter who can review drawings of set and prop designs, and then build (or oversee the construction of) what’s needed for a show.
However, the Mondavi Center doesn’t produce plays or musicals, so we don’t construct any sets here. We don’t even have a scene shop. And while our Master Carpenter will need to have some set construction experience and be able to use power tools safely, it’s the smallest part of the job.
The MC Master Carpenter will work with touring shows on their staging needs, whether that’s hanging their backdrop in a specific location or leading the MC crew in setting up a stage full of platforms for a large orchestra.
If a touring artist brings their own sound and lighting systems, the Master Carpenter will work with them to “rig” (or hang) their equipment in a safe manner where they need it.
Among other things, he or she will be the steward of the huge concert shell, theatrical counterweight system, vinyl dance floors, and our inventory of approximately 600 loose chairs.
The Master Carpenter will work independently on some projects---like the recent retrofit of the smoke hatches over the stage in Jackson Hall---and also work as part of a larger team on shows and other projects. And because of the amount of work they need to coordinate together, he or she is probably going to become best buddies with the Master Electrician.
If you think you have what it takes and want to work at a leading arts organization with a vibrant, forward-thinking presenting program, CLICK HERE to view the position posting on the UC Davis jobs website.
You can search for requisition 03023285. We’ll be accepting applications until March 13th---and I’d love to see yours in the stack!
Author Bio: Donna J. Flor is the Production Manager at the Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts, UC Davis. Beginning as a freelance lighting designer, stage manager, and stagehand, she has since worked exclusively in production management of roadhouse theatres for the past 30 years. After assisting with the grand opening of the California Center for the Arts, Escondido, in 1994, she spent 17 years there leading the Technical Production Department. In 2011, Donna helped open the acclaimed Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in Kansas City. She and her husband Kirk are most proud of Jake, their canine son.