SPRING 2024 - Theater and Engineering Fellowship

SPRING 2024 - Theater and Engineering Fellowship

Objective: The purpose of the Theater and Engineering Fellowship is to provide Lafayette students studying engineering with practical experience in collaborative project management, performing arts technology, and theatrical engineering. The fellowship is designed to harness the student’s academic learning and apply it to realized theatrical production while simultaneously developing skills in leadership, teamwork, theater technology and engineering.

Overview: Theater and Engineering Fellows will collaborate with the Department of

Theater to realize a theatrical production from conception to finished product onstage.

Fellows are charged with the management and oversight for the technical elements of

the project and provided mentoring or training to support the assignments for which they

are accountable (details below):

➛ Design [25%]:

Collaborate as part of the artistic team for a theatrical production.

Research and provide information as requested pertaining to the feasibility of the scope

and scale of the project based on allocated funds, labor, equipment, materials and other

resources as well as any physical limitations of the facilities. Address specific questions

about early design considerations and their impact on available project resources.

Attend weekly or bi-monthly design meetings.

➛ Technical [50%]:

Generate technical drawings for assigned elements.

Interpret designer drawings, stakeholder needs, research theatrical construction

techniques and materials, specify components as needed to complete the design and

generate construction drawings for all assigned elements to be built by scene shop

assistants.

Conduct safety analyses for the designed components.

Analyze any designed elements for structural stability and electrical safety. Identify

potential design risks and create a plan to manage those risks as appropriate.

Generate cost estimates for assigned elements.

Create a purchase list, research vendors and pricing to project a cost estimate for each

element based on construction methods and materials indicated in construction

drawings.

Generate scheduling estimates for assigned elements.

Construct a chart tracking the flow of elements through the various construction and

installation steps to determine completion estimates for each element.

➛ Tracking [15%]:

Provide oversight for the construction and installation of elements.

Develop weekly construction and installation schedules and attend weekly shop

meetings. Provide instruction and troubleshooting assistance in the shop as needed.

Lead both the installation and striking of the elements.

Track the progress of the construction of each element

Adjust previous schedules as needed based on shop progress and track individual

milestones of the construction - loading material, cutting material, assembly, paint and

finish work.

Attend weekly production meetings and any assigned technical rehearsals.

➛ Evaluation [5%]:

Analyze and create a presentation of their work.

Participate in monthly meetings to present and discuss the progress of the project.

Compile and present a portfolio of work for a poster session.

Advisor: The Technical Director for the Department of Theater and a faculty member

from the Engineering Division serve as advisors and mentors to the Fellows. Fellows

are required to meet with the advisors monthly and/or more frequently as needed.

Sample Schedule:

Weeks 1-8 Design Meetings

Weeks 9-12 Budgeting and Drafting

Weeks 12-16 Scenic Construction and Production Meetings

Weeks 17-18 Scenic Installation and Production Meetings

Weeks 19-20 Technical Rehearsals, Performances, and Strike

Note that the schedule will vary based on the needs of the production and its placement in the

academic calendar. Some productions and fellowships will span both semesters.

Time Commitment & Compensation:

It is anticipated that the fellows will complete 200 hours of work on their assigned

project and will be compensated at a rate of $10.00/hour.

Application:

Applications are due by 12:00 pm on Monday, January 8th for the Spring 2024. To apply please complete the Theater and Engineering Fellowship Application Form.

More information about the position can be found at: https://theater.lafayette.edu/home-new/opportunities/theater-and-engineering-fellowship/