The Park School of Baltimore

TECHNICAL THEATER DIRECTOR

Fall 2021

Devoted to intellectual inquiry, a collaborative spirit of learning, and an appreciation for the diversity of human experience, The Park School of Baltimore is a community founded on positive expectations of our students and respect for individual differences.

We cultivate children’s innate curiosity by nurturing their interests and engaging them as active participants in their own education.

We support young people in becoming confident questioners and responsible citizens of the world. ~The Park School Mission

The Park School is a non-sectarian, independent, coeducational day school of 820 students from Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12. Founded in 1912 as one of the early progressive schools, The Park School continues to practice a distinct educational philosophy. The core values today, as in 1912, are a belief in children’s capacity to love learning, to grow academically and emotionally when inspired by highly qualified, caring teachers, and to develop self-discipline, confidence, and creative problem-solving skills through deep exploration and constant challenge. At every grade level, from Pre-Kindergarten through Upper School, Park actively encourages questioning and conversation as essential elements of the learning process. The school

philosophy emphasizes a belief in positive expectations and expects that students, as they mature, will take increasing responsibility for their own learning.

The Position:

The Park School Theater program has a long history of student-centered and student-led participation in the design and execution of all technical aspects of school productions.  Park seeks a progressive Arts Educator with expertise in Technical Theater to develop, oversee, and teach in its Middle and Upper School Theater Design program and provide support to Lower School event programming, as needed.  The primary purpose of the technical theater program is curricular, namely the teaching of all aspects of theater design and production to students in grades 6-12.

Responsibilities:

PEDAGOGY AND PROGRAMMING: TECHNICAL THEATER DESIGN and DIRECTION

• Design and evaluate technical theater curriculum and teach theater design classes to Middle and Upper School students in Grades 6-12
• Direct all aspects of Technical Theater as they relate to Park Arts productions and events
• Train, Direct, and Supervise Stage Crews and technical theater-based extracurricular groups

PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT

• Oversee, complete, and coordinate production design elements including but not limited to scenery, lighting, projection, sound, set, and scenery for performing arts productions
• Develop artistic concepts for performance events in collaboration with event director(s)
• Create design of all applicable production aspects for the event: engage and contract with outside designers when necessary
• Direct Production Team and Production Meetings
• Recruit, train, instruct and supervise all technical crews (scenery, lighting, sound, properties, rigging, running)
• Recruit, train, instruct, and supervise stage managers
• Supervise and run all technical rehearsals and shows; Load-in and strike all shows
• Supervise all student crews, including during load-in and strike
• Oversee budgets and execution of director’s artistic vision for arts productions
• Carefully monitor shop and theater safety in a general and production-specific basis
• Recommend items for capital expenses and securing equipment and technical upgrades in the theater and other campus arts facilities as technologies evolve
• Other duties as assigned

THEATER MANAGEMENT

• Ensure the safe and smooth operation of the performing arts spaces (300 seat Meyerhoff Theater, 100 seat Macks-Fidler Black Box Theater, Scene Shop, Costume and Props Rooms/Storage, and Dance Studio).
• Conduct regular safety inspections of all installed and movable elements in these spaces
• Conduct regular tests of sound, lighting, and stage machinery systems to ensure their proper function and perform or arrange repairs when necessary
• Oversee the long-term safety, planning & upgrading of the existing facility
• Oversee and maintain the theaters, associated spaces and all associated technical equipment in top working condition to support scheduled activities.
• Deploy performance equipment (scenery, rigging, lighting, and sound) in readiness for events and activities.
• Survey non-performance equipment and fittings of facilities and coordinate maintenance of these with the Director of Facilities
• Determine long and short-term requirements for equipment needed to support events and activities in theaters and associated spaces. Follow school procedures to procure such equipment.
• Develop and monitor budget for operations and equipment of theaters and associated spaces.
• Enlist help (when essential) from the IT department for events with extensive technology and/or projection requirements.
• Maintain and arrange for repair as necessary all technical equipment regularly utilized in the Meyerhoff and Black Box Theaters (lighting, sound, and projection equipment)
• Monitor custodial services in the theaters and associated spaces, and ensure that set construction areas are clean at the end of every work session and production period
• Schedule the theater's use throughout the year; serve as a community-wide liaison and representative of the theater to a variety of constituencies

KEY QUALIFICATIONS:

• Theatrical design experience is required, as is demonstration of successful artistry
• Professional or undergraduate/graduate-level training in all aspects of Technical Theater
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field is required, Masters preferred
• Strong problem-solving and communication skills: should be a proactive “team player” with excellent interpersonal skills: ability to interact with a wide variety of school-based constituencies
• Extensive knowledge of technical theater, theater equipment, and best practices
• Extensive knowledge of electrical distribution and safe practices
• Set construction experience

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience working with students in grades 6-12 and familiarity and comfort with working with elementary age students.
• Experience or aptitude for scheduling and “gate-keeping” facilities that are very much in demand
• Videography and Video and Sound Editing expertise

SALARY AND BENEFITS

Park salaries and benefits are highly competitive with those in other leading independent schools. For new appointments, salaries reflect experience and training equated to Park’s scales.

In addition to normal retirement and health benefits, the school offers the following distinctive programs:

• Faculty and Curricular Advancement (FACA) Program: This program supports summer professional work by faculty on a distinctive scale. Established in 1989, FACA is supported by a $5.6 million endowment; currently, over 40% of all Park faculty participate in projects annually. Grants cover full salary and benefits for group or individual projects selected through a formal review process. Most grants are for four weeks; some are for shorter periods.
• Tuition Remission: Under current policy, faculty and staff who have been employed at Park full-time for two years are eligible to receive full tuition remission for their children who attend Park. All candidates, including faculty children, must meet Park’s standards for admission. (During the first two years of employment, faculty may apply for aid through the need-based financial assistance program.)

APPLICATION PROCESS: Send letter of interest, personal statement, résumé, and list of references. Please indicate whether you plan to attend any national recruitment forums. Please also indicate whether there are any special circumstances that will affect the timing of your search, availability for interviews, and decisions for the coming year.

Contact Person:           Priscilla Morales, Associate Head of School

The Park School

                                    2425 Old Court Road

Baltimore, MD 21208                                    

Telephone: (410) 339-4159

Fax: (410) 339-4125

academicresources@parkschool.net                                      

The Park School is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or any physical or mental disability unrelated to a reasonable performance of any employee’s duties.