Job Description
A catalyst for creativity and learning, the Prior Performing Arts Center amplifies the arts at Holy Cross and provides the College, the greater Worcester community, and visiting creative thinkers with an inspiring environment to pursue diverse questions of the human experience.
In support of this mission, the Prior is hiring a cohort of Prior Assistants for the academic year with focuses in Production, Operations, and Programming. Positions are not limited to students who are formally studying the arts: anyone interested in deepening and sharing their interest in the arts is encouraged to apply!
Working at the Prior mimics many aspects of the early career training you might receive at a variety of arts nonprofits. Indeed, helping students make connections between their liberal arts backgrounds and future professional work in the arts–whether as technicians, marketers, fundraisers, producers, or finance professionals–is among our primary goals for the Prior Assistants program.
Per College policy, hiring work study students is prioritized in the first weeks of the semester, but we welcome everyone’s applications right away.
Depending on the position, hours can be relatively flexible around each student's availability and interests. All applications must be willing to work on nights and weekends. Dependability, teamwork, and adaptability are required. Skill and safety training will be provided.
Please see positions below for more information. Students may apply to multiple positions. Depending on student interest, you may be invited to interview and ultimately train for more than one position. Once trained for a given position, you are welcome to sign up for shifts pertaining to that job as they become available.
Production Positions: Prior experience is helpful but not necessary, although students with a history in theater tech, construction, stitching, video/projection systems, theatrical lighting, AV experience or live sound reinforcement are strongly encouraged to apply. All duties vary but may include:
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Scene Shop Assistant: Assist in construction of sets and props; scenic painting; setup and strike of sets and other scenic elements. Work as backstage crew.
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Costume Shop Assistant: Assist with costume construction and organization, including stitching, ironing and laundry. During shows, work backstage as dressers and assist with hair and make-up.
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Lighting Assistant: Assist in maintaining stage lighting systems; hang and focus lighting fixtures; construct electrical props; program and operate lighting consoles. Work as lighting operators and stage electricians.
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AV Assistant: Assist in maintenance of various audio spaces; setup and operation of systems for live-streaming and audio and video recording; operation and programming of audio mixing consoles, including setup and strike. Work as audio engineers, stage hands, sound FX designer/operators, Videographers, and Editors.
Operations Positions:
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Front of House Assistant: This position serves as the public face of the Prior by ensuring the care and safety of all patrons attending performances in the two main performance spaces, the Boroughs Theatre and the Luth Concert Hall. This position involves mostly evening hours. Specific shifts are production-dependent and duties may include ushering, house managing, and box office handling. NO LONGER TAKING APPLICANTS
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Operations & Events Assistant: This position monitors access to–and appropriate usage of–all Prior spaces, assists with furniture setup and breakdown as needed in various rooms, and serves as a primary point-of-contact for events and classes being held in the Prior outside of the two main performance spaces. This is primarily an evening and weekends position. NO LONGER TAKING APPLICANTS
Programming Positions:
Programming Assistant: This position supports the programming work of the Prior. A large focus of this work relates to the Prior’s Visiting Artist Series and may entail creating educational materials related to these visits; carrying out arts administration tasks related to logistics and event planning; supporting campus and community engagement efforts (including through work on marketing and social media); and being on hand during residencies to assist with artist needs. This position will also support general Prior programming outside of the artist residencies through office assistance for other back-of-house tasks such as box office. This position’s hours will include consistent weekly office hours as well as increased hours (sometimes including evenings or weekends) during weeks when visiting artists are on campus. NO LONGER TAKING APPLICANTS
To apply, please submit your application through the “Prior Assistant Job Application” google form: https://forms.gle/TsKFRfMMy6c1Yzhv5
For questions or concerns, please reach out to the Prior PAC's Office Coordinator, Katrina Lewonczyk at klewonczyk@holycross.edu