Lincoln Theatre Stagehand

About the role

The Lincoln Theatre Association seeks a dependable, safety-minded Stagehand to support rehearsals, performances, rentals, educational programming, load-ins, load-outs, and special events in the Lincoln Theatre and its associated event spaces. This hands-on, fully on-site position supports the Technical Director, Stage Manager, crew leads, visiting production personnel, artists, renters, and designated partners in delivering safe, efficient, and professional event execution.

Responsibilities

• Call Preparation and Production Communication: Communicate regularly with the Technical Director, Stage Manager, crew lead, or other designated production leadership regarding call times, assignments, schedules, access, equipment needs, risks, and late-breaking changes; review call sheets, stage plots, run-of-show documents, setup diagrams, cue sheets, production notes, and venue instructions; arrive by published call time dressed and equipped for the assignment; ask questions when assignments, sequences, load paths, equipment condition, or safety requirements are unclear; immediately report conflicts or unsafe conditions.
• Load-In, Stage Setup, and Changeovers: Receive, unload, move, stage, and load production equipment through approved access points using safe lifting techniques, team lifts, carts, ramps, and mechanical assistance when assigned and trained; set and strike risers, platforms, tables, chairs, music stands, drape, dance floor, cable ramps, stage hardware, simple scenic elements, props, and other event equipment according to the approved production plan; provide basic support to audio, lighting, video, and scenic departments by moving cases, placing stands, running and dressing cable, positioning equipment, and completing other tasks within the Stagehand's training and assigned authority; complete stage and room changeovers accurately and within the time established by production leadership while protecting equipment, finishes, fire-curtain paths, aisles, exits, and other life-safety areas; maintain an orderly loading dock, backstage, wing, stage, storage, and work area.
• Rehearsal and Performance Support: Take direction and cues from the Stage Manager, Technical Director, crew lead, or other designated production leader and execute assigned presets, moves, changes, and resets accurately; support rehearsals and performances by moving props, scenic pieces, instruments, stands, furniture, cables, or production equipment as assigned and by maintaining quiet, disciplined backstage operations; remain attentive to the production, assigned communication channel, cue sequence, and backstage traffic; monitor assigned equipment and work areas for loose cables, unstable items, blocked egress, damage, missing components, spills, trip hazards, or other unsafe conditions and report or correct them within assigned authority.
• Strike, Load-Out, Reset, and Equipment Stewardship: Complete assigned strike and load-out tasks in the sequence established by production leadership, including dismantling, packing, labeling, staging, and loading equipment for safe transport; return theatre equipment, tools, carts, hardware, cables, accessories, furniture, and supplies to their assigned storage locations and immediately report missing, damaged, or malfunctioning items; restore the stage, wings, backstage rooms, loading dock, ballroom, storage areas, and other assigned spaces to the approved condition before release from the call; assist with approved routine cleaning, inspection, inventory, battery replacement, cable management, minor non-specialized maintenance, and preparation of equipment for the next production; document or communicate completed work, unusual conditions, damage, accidents, near misses, equipment concerns, and unfinished items to the Technical Director or designated supervisor before leaving the site.
• Safety, Conduct, and Organizational Representation: Follow Lincoln Theatre/CAPA safety rules, emergency procedures, loading-dock requirements, fire and egress protections, manufacturer instructions, and directions from authorized supervisors; use proper lifting, team-lift, ladder, fall-protection, tool, cable, cart, and equipment-handling practices appropriate to the assignment and stop work when a condition appears unsafe; represent the Lincoln Theatre in the best possible light through punctuality, reliability, respectful communication, professional conduct, confidentiality, teamwork, and appropriate dress; perform other related production, setup, event-support, maintenance, and operational duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• First 30 Days: Complete required onboarding, safety, emergency-response, backstage-access, timekeeping, communication, loading-dock, equipment-handling, and workplace-conduct orientation; learn the venue's stage, backstage, loading-dock, storage, ballroom, support-space, and emergency routes; standard stage and room configurations; commonly used equipment; and reporting procedures; shadow or support assigned calls and demonstrate the ability to follow call times, production documents, supervisor direction, department boundaries, and change-control procedures; demonstrate safe lifting, team-lift, cart, ladder, cable-management, stage-setup, strike, storage, and room-reset practices appropriate to assigned tasks.
• First 90 Days: Perform routine load-ins, stage setups, changeovers, strikes, load-outs, and resets with limited supervision while meeting published production deadlines; accurately interpret common call sheets, stage plots, setup diagrams, run-of-show documents, and verbal assignments to prepare standard stage and room configurations; consistently identify and escalate damaged equipment, missing items, blocked egress, unstable loads, trip hazards, unsupported requests, and other operational or safety concerns; consistently arrive ready to work by the published call time and provide timely communication regarding availability, delays, scheduling conflicts, or conditions that may affect the assignment.
• First 6 Months: Serve as a dependable crew member across routine theatre, ballroom, rental, educational, and special-event calls, including time-sensitive changeovers and post-event resets; provide competent basic support to audio, lighting, video, scenic, and stage-management departments while respecting department leadership, equipment limits, and assigned authority; maintain theatre and visiting equipment without preventable loss or damage and contribute practical recommendations for inventory, storage, workflow, maintenance, documentation, or safety improvements; demonstrate professional collaboration with coworkers, visiting crews, artists, renters, volunteers, and other partners in busy, changing, and deadline-driven production environments.
• First Year: Demonstrate reliable stagehand support across a representative range of concerts, theatre, dance, film, spoken-word, corporate, community, educational, and rental-event formats; contribute to updated setup diagrams, stagehand checklists, equipment inventories, storage standards, preventive-maintenance practices, and onboarding support for new or occasional crew members; complete assigned venue, ladder, fall-protection, equipment-handling, rigging-awareness, emergency-response, or other relevant training and apply that learning during live production work; meet established performance expectations for safety, attendance, communication, teamwork, task completion, customer service, production readiness, and stewardship of theatre resources.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Working knowledge of stagehand, theatre, live-event, or production-crew practices, including load-ins, load-outs, stage setups, strikes, changeovers, and room resets.
• Basic understanding of audio, lighting, video, scenic, props, staging, drape, cable, hardware, and other theatrical production equipment and workflows.
• Ability to safely move, carry, assemble, dismantle, pack, secure, and store production equipment; recognize common hazards; maintain clear aisles and exits; and use appropriate tools, carts, team lifts, and protective practices.
• Ability to read and apply call sheets, stage plots, setup diagrams, run-of-show documents, cue sheets, labels, inventories, and venue procedures.
• Ability to follow direction accurately, respect the production chain of command, remain within assigned authority, and work cooperatively as part of a production crew.
• Clear verbal communication, active listening, situational awareness, customer service, and professional judgment in backstage and public-facing environments.
• Ability to work calmly and efficiently in busy, changing, and deadline-driven production environments.