Performing Arts

MSU Internal Job Postings Details•East Lansing, MI

About The Position

Wharton Center for Performing Arts seeks a Technical Director to lead technical operations and production support, primarily for touring Broadway engagements. The position coordinates venue technical preparation and execution for complex touring productions, ensuring appropriate staffing, equipment, stage access, and production support. The Technical Director is the Center’s primary technical contact for touring production managers, company representatives, and commercial presenters, and coordinates engagements from technical advance through load-out. In collaboration with venue colleagues, the role delivers safe, professional productions within established schedules and budgets and supervises Facility Stage Managers, on-call union stagehands, and student employees. The position also supports other performances, rentals, educational programs, and events at the Center and designated off-site locations. It oversees venue production systems and equipment, coordinates facility and stage-management needs, establishes and enforces safe work practices, supervises technical personnel and union crew coordination, and develops and tracks production and labor budgets. The target start date is mid-January 2027. The schedule includes nights and weekends as needed.

Requirements

Knowledge equivalent to that normally acquired through a four-year college degree program in Theatrical Design, Technical Direction, and Stage Management; three to five years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive technical theatre work experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a performing arts center, regional theatre, university performing arts facility, concert venue, or comparable multi-use facility.
Extensive experience supporting touring Broadway productions and working with commercial presenting organizations, including technical advances and coordination of touring production requirements within a presenting venue.
Experience working with union stage crews and collective bargaining agreements, including labor calls, crew scheduling, payroll requirements, and production cost management.
Experience with theatrical rigging and stage machinery.
Knowledge of current lighting-control, digital audio, video, projection, and production communication systems.
Experience with production budgeting, long-range capital planning, event management, or venue rentals.
Relevant certifications in theatrical rigging, occupational safety, or production technology.

Responsibilities

Lead technical advances for touring Broadway productions, reviewing riders, stage plots, rigging and electrical requirements, equipment lists, truck schedules, and production timelines with touring production managers.
Confirm venue capabilities and resolve production requirements before touring productions arrive.
Plan and coordinate load-ins, setups, rehearsals, performances, changeovers, and load-outs.
Establish labor calls, crew assignments, equipment needs, and schedules; coordinate with tour personnel and venue support teams and troubleshoot issues during engagements.
Ensure stages, loading docks, backstage areas, dressing rooms, shops, and storage spaces are ready for touring productions.
Coordinate truck access, equipment movement, backstage logistics, and procedures for receiving, securing, storing, and returning production equipment.
Coordinate facility maintenance and production-space needs with operations personnel.
Contribute to long-range planning for stage configurations, technical infrastructure, equipment replacement, renovations, and capital improvements.
Oversee venue lighting, audio, rigging, stage machinery, projection and video, and production communications.
Coordinate house systems with touring equipment and personnel, maintaining safe practices and reliable operation.
Maintain equipment inventories, readiness, and safe-handling procedures.
Coordinate inspections, preventive maintenance, repairs, installations, and specialized contractors; recommend purchases and upgrades.
Establish and enforce safe practices for production load-ins, performances, and load-outs in accordance with applicable regulations, codes, industry standards, and institutional policies.
Oversee work involving rigging, electrical systems, lifts, ladders, stage machinery, tools, and special effects, as applicable.
Coordinate safety training, required inspections and certifications, hazard mitigation, and backstage emergency procedures; stop or modify work when conditions present an unacceptable safety risk.
Recruit, train, schedule, supervise, and evaluate assigned technical personnel.
Prepare venue crews to support touring Broadway engagements, set expectations for safety and technical performance, and promote professional service and a respectful, inclusive workplace.
Coordinate union stagehand calls and crew coverage with touring production requirements and applicable collective bargaining agreements.
Monitor staffing during engagements and address performance, attendance, safety, and operational concerns in accordance with institutional policies.
Develop technical and labor estimates for touring engagements, other Wharton programming, and rentals.
Track labor, equipment, maintenance, rental, and production expenses; evaluate vendor estimates and assist with annual budgets and long-range capital planning.
Prepare and verify on-call union stagehand payroll sheets and billing costs for accuracy and compliance with collective bargaining agreement requirements before submission to Wharton payroll.
Perform other duties as assigned.