The Baltimore Rock Opera Society is seeking production leads for our 2019 original production, “Welcome to Shakesville!” Would you like to be part of the creation of an epic and ephemeral piece of art that will be remembered by hundreds of people, all while making great friends and having a blast along the way? Who the hell wouldn't?!
The selection process for the production and design team will be made by the Director- Lucia Treasure, her Assistant Director- Tatiana Nya Ford, and their Production Coordinator- Bobby Harris in collaboration with the BROS Staff and the BROS Artistic Council. We may ask to meet with you in person before decisions are made. Final decisions will be made after applications close. If you have specific questions about this application, please contact the BROS Production Director, Lance Bankerd, at lance@baltimorerockopera.org.
Grab your board, blare your tunes and boogie down to the Baltimore Rock Opera Society's furriest, feltiest, full-length rock opera yet. “Welcome to Shakesville” teleports the audience to 1965 at the dawn of psychedelia. Join our unsung heroine, Betty, as she falls down the rabbit hole in search of answers to rock and roll history’s greatest mystery: the mysterious disappearance of Jimmy Graves. Pulling from some of pop culture’s swirliest influences, “Welcome to Shakesville” tips its hat to the citizens of Lidsville, The Muppets, Yellow Submarine and more. Featuring a wild cast of people and puppets, it’ll have you twisting and shouting all the way home.
Performances will take place in May/June 2019, at Zion Lutheran Church. (Opening May 24th & Closing June 16th) Cast auditions will take place in Jan/Feb and rehearsals will begin in Feb/March. Designers will be strongly encouraged to check-in at rehearsals so that they are familiar with how their designs are actually getting used.
As a Department Leader or Designer on a BROS Production, you get a chance to help shape a completely original, large-scale musical. You’ll be expected to bring high-quality designs that strive to get as close to professional production standards as possible in a community theater environment.
- Cash stipend TBD
- Experience with large-scale theatrical production
- Professional photographs and video documentation of your work
- Coaching & Peer mentorship as you progress through concept, design, acquiring materials, leading a team of skilled volunteers in build, install and
- Home Cooked meals for every night of tech week and shows
Audio Technician (Assistant):
The Assistant Audio Technician is a support role for our lead audio tech and involves working with monitors or wireless mics to ensure we have the best sound possible during shows. Applicants should be available during tech and performances. The Audio Technician Assistant ensures we have the best sound possible during shows by helping with the design, installation, and technical testing of the sound system and running the digital mixer during shows. This role is appropriate for an audio person who wants to grow their experience in mixing live shows in large spaces and working with multiple vocalists and a band. Applicants must be available during tech and performances.
Bar Manager:
The Bar manager is in charge of securing concessions, designing the featured cocktail(s) and helping to staff and sell beer during the run of the shows. BROS + Brewer’s Art will be producing another run of “The Chuggernaut” to sell as individual beers and as 6-packs after the show. This person will be supported by Production Manager Lance Bankerd and Managing Director Marvin Roxas in ordering, obtaining and running a totally awesome bar!
Costume Designer:
The Costume Designer designs and creates the costumes for the actors in our show, is present at weekly builds, and manages costume volunteers. This person is responsible for costuming the HUMAN characters. Approximately eight characters from the real world will have designs representing the 1960s LA studio environment in a fantastical way and two of those characters will also have psychedelic versions of their costumes when they transition to the Shakesville world.
Costume Assistant:
The Costume Assistant helps the costume designer(s) at weekly builds with managing projects and volunteers. This position may serve as an apprenticeship; people who do not have much sewing and costuming experience are also encouraged to apply provided that they are willing to commit to weekly build days.
Front of House Designer:
The Front of House Designer ensures that the audience enters the world of “Welcome to Shakesville” as soon as they enter the building. This includes creating signage, decor, and helping advice (or create) costuming for the front of house team. We want our designer to riff on the ideas present in the show and find ways to draw patrons into the world of Shakesville (and the Mickey Moon show) as soon as they enter the lobby of Zion Church.
Front of House/Box Office Manager:
The Front of House Manager recruits and trains a team of volunteers to get patrons in the door and seated during shows and make sure they have an epic BROS experience, including checking IDs, managing ticketing, using BROS Eventbrite box office platform, staffing the merch booth, and managing any FOH performance schedule. The workload is very light during production and heavier during tech and shows. Mentorship from the previous front of house leads will be available and they will work closely with Managing Director Marvin Roxas. This person does not need to be present for every night of shows but should be available for most of the shows and tech week. This person will be logging into our ticketing platform (Eventbrite) and checking on sales/refunds, counting empty seats, helping to open and shut down the FOH and keeping a motivated group of awesome FOH persons
Lighting Assistant:
Assists BROS Lighting Dragon Chris Allen with creating an amazing and beautiful lighting design for Welcome to Shakesville. This is a great role to learn more skills as a lighting technician and designer. You will attend design meetings, help to program cues, help to choose and obtain rental equipment, participate in production meetings, dry tech, lighting install, and will be the first choice for running the lighting board on shows when our lead lighting person isn’t available.
Marketing Coordinator:
The Marketing Coordinator is a show-specific production position who works directly with the BROS Marketing Director. This role is focused on working ahead and planning the LOOK of the physical and digital promotional materials. The Marketing Coordinator position is extremely active in the months preceding the show, and winds down when the show opens. This position involves organizing and implementing marketing and promo activities including coordinating video production, creating graphics for social media, and diving into the fun and crazy 60s psychedelic world of Shakesville to get people excited for the show!
Props Designer:
The Props Designer is responsible for creating both drawings and designs with which to lead volunteers in building the small elements of the show. In the real world, we’ll need elements of the Mickey Moon program including pieces that indicate a 1960’s TV studio environment. In Shakesville we’ll need fantastical and psychedelic imaginative props for the puppet and human characters to manipulate. Working with the actors in rehearsal is essential as well as consulting with the puppet designers and puppeteers on the necessary functions of these props.
Props Assistant:
The Props Assistant helps the props designer(s) at weekly builds with managing projects and volunteers. This position may serve as an apprenticeship; people who do not have extensive fabricating experience are also encouraged to apply provided that they are willing to commit to weekly build days.
Puppets Assistant: Assists the puppet designer with researching, fabricating, designing the multitude of puppets involved in Welcome to Shakesville. This position may serve as an apprenticeship; people who do not have extensive fabricating experience are also encouraged to apply provided that they are willing to commit to at least once-weekly build days.
Sets Designer:
The Sets Designer is responsible for crafting the sets that will be the foundation of our show. We want to focus on fewer transitions between scenes and instead work to create an immersive world for both the Mickey Moon show and the psychedelic dream world of Shakesville.
Sets Assistant:
The Sets Assistant helps the set's designer (s) at weekly builds with managing projects and volunteers. While construction experience will be very helpful for this position, people who do not have much experience may also apply provided that they are willing to commit to weekly build days.
Sound Designer:
The Sound Designer work hand in hand with our Music Director and lead audio technician to create special effect sounds that will be used throughout the show,
Wigs, Hair & Makeup (WHAM) Designer:
The WHAM Designer will work closely with the director and costumes designer(s) to determine the look of the show. Heavily involved during show runs and also in overall design.
Wigs, Hair & Makeup (WHAM) Assistant:
The WHAM Assistant helps the WHAM designer at any necessary builds and is present at shows to support.
Volunteer Coordinator:
The Volunteer Coordinator is responsible for connecting volunteers to Department Leaders in their areas of interest and for maintaining high levels of volunteer engagement and enthusiasm. The VC tracks hours and contact information for every volunteer involved in the show. This person is also responsible for gathering information for the volunteer newsletter, No Floaters, by staying on top of weekly departmental emails. The VC plans and coordinates all activities related to volunteer rewards and compensation. This includes volunteer parties or potlucks, volunteer rewards, and/or any other activities decided on by the VC. This role works closely and will be supported by the BROS Director of Volunteer Engagement Becky Hackerman and other BROS staff members.
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