Students are not limited to only performance opportunities. No production opens without a full crew of students making it all happen. From running rehearsals to the building of scenery and costumes through the hanging of lights to the calling of a performance from the booth, Wake Forest students make the machine move. You can even get a paying job in one of our production shops. Here are some of the offstage roles available to Theatre & Dance students during their four years at Wake.
Design
If you are interested in scenic, lighting, costumes, sound, makeup, or even projections & media design, there are near boundless opportunities. Students are regular members of our design teams. They usually begin with designing for student projects, assisting faculty designers, and taking design classes—beginning with Intro to Design & Production. If a student shows interest and promise, they can set on a path to design for our Mainstage seasons.
Stage Management
All Wake Forest Theatre & Dance productions are handled by an all-student stage management team. With introductory opportunities as an ASM, the stage management class, and peer learning, Wake students get frequent and substantive chances to stage manage both student and Mainstage productions.
THE SHOPS
There are paying jobs to be had in our Scenic and Costume Studios (the Shops)—this includes lighting and sound work as well. Get hands-on training and enjoy a fun atmosphere working alongside other students and our professional staff, ever busy building our shows. Do I have to be a “techie” to work in the Shops? No. That’s not a word we use, and we don’t require experience either; this is a school. We teach you stuff. Actors, designers, football players, cheerleaders, future doctors, and soon-to-be accountants have all worked in the shop along with many others. Heck, one of our best welders went on to be on The Young and the Restless. And volunteers are also always welcome.
Scene Shop
Costume Shop
Electrics & Sound Shop
Scenic Art Shop
Production Staff
Every play, musical, and dance concert has a number of required staff positions. Light and sound board operators, stagehands, dressers, hair & makeup artists are a few of the regular needs to make shows happen. Want to try something? Just ask!
Front of House Staff
As a Box Office employee, students sell tickets, of course, but they also manage social media, serve as house managers, set up lobby displays, among many other “front of house” roles.