Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance

Position Title: Stage Carpenter

Posting Type: Contractor

Hours/week: 20-30 during the dates of 9/2/25-10/30/25 and 1/20/26-3/27/26, other dates on-call as needed.

Location: Mullen Performing Arts Center, Villanova, PA

Work Schedule: Work hours take place during standard shop hours, 10am-5pm, M-F, with a 2-hour minimum per work call. Some evening and weekend work hours may be offered.

Job Description Summary:

Villanova Department of Theatre & Studio Art seeks a part-time Stage Carpenter/Technician to work with the Technical Director and Assistant Technical Director in the scenic shop and in the Mullen Performing Arts Center’s various performance theater spaces. Work includes construction, finish, and installation of various scenic and furniture/prop elements for mainstage productions. The scenic shop is a professionally-run wood, metal, and paint shop that also employes graduate and undergraduate students and this position will work with students of varying levels of experience and skills in theatre production.

Specific duties may include:

Operating common wood construction tools in custom stage scenery fabrication

Metalworking, welding prep work, and the use of other common arc welding and metalworking equipment, such as grinders and cutoff saws

Assisting with application of various scenic paint treatments, finishes, and other scenic decorative elements and techniques (e.g., spackle and joint compound, water-based latex paints, paint sealers, glues, faux finishes, and wallpapers, etc.)

Custom hand prop and furniture fabrication, repurposing, and/or basic assembly

Reading and interpreting construction shop drawings and/or taking written and verbal instructions from staff supervisors and/or assisting student workers to better read/interpret drawings

Routine maintenance of both shop space and equipment, including the loading and unloading of materials

Requirements:

Demonstrated experience in scenic construction techniques.

Bachelor’s degree in Technical Theatre (BA or BFA) preferred, or equivalent professional experience.

Additional Information / Physical Demands Summary:

Skills - Applicants should be comfortable with a wide variety of woodworking, metalworking, painting, and construction-oriented power and hand tools, have some understanding of fundamental geometry and basic math skills, as well as be able to receive verbal and/or written instructions, sometimes in the form of shop construction drawings or paint elevations.

Physical Demands - Applicants should be comfortable lifting and carrying at least 25lbs. Work is often of a physical nature and technicians may be on their feet for most work calls; there is regular exposure to standard building materials (such as wood, engineered wood products, foam, plastics, steel, wood and white glues, water-based latex paints, joint compound, etc.); work is most often performed in noisy environments where power tools are often running; hands and clothing may become dirty or splattered w/ paint, glue, grease, etc.

Personal Protection Equipment (i.e., safety glasses, earplugs, and/or dust masks, etc.) is encouraged, required, and can be provided by the Theatre Scene Shop.

Wage Rate: $20-23/hour

Mission Statement:

Villanova Theatre, the producing arm of the Department of Theatre and Studio Art, is a laboratory for students to deepen their understanding of curriculum through ambitious onstage work. Our artist-scholars leave this program with the power to transform hearts and minds by engaging individuals and fostering communities. In pursuit of this mission, we commit ourselves to academic excellence, to our values and traditions, and to our students, alumni, and the global community.

Application:

Please send a resume and cover letter to theatreproduction@villanova.edu