Are you interested in joining the team of one of the nation’s most adventurous performing arts centers?
Applications will be reviewed until a position is filled. Applicants will not be contacted individually to confirm receipt of materials. Only applicants under consideration will be contacted. No calls or in-person visits, please. General inquiries may be sent to [email protected].
BARD COLLEGE HUMAN RESOURCESOpen Positions
Electrician Overhire
OVERVIEW
Electricians are part of the Lighting/Electrics team in the Production Department and will support the execution of electrical elements and needs for all productions at the Fisher Center. They report to the Head Electrician and work closely with other production team members and lighting designers.
This is a part-time, year-round position, non-exempt, paid hourly at a rate range of $20 to $25 per hour, depending on experience. Hours will fluctuate depending on production activity.
This position requires local residence.
QUALIFICATIONS
EXPERIENCE
- Knowledge and experience working with theatrical lighting equipment and systems, including, but not limited to, conventional and automated fixtures, dimming systems, lighting consoles, and atmospheric effects.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
- Knowledge of both general theatrical production processes and lighting-specific practices.
- Ability to read and understand lighting plots and paperwork
- Knowledge of theatrical safety practices
- Ability to move and lift objects up to 50 lbs
- Ability to frequently walk and stand
- Ability to work as needed
- Ability to push, pull, hang, reach, lean, and balance
- Ability to work at height, including ladders and lifts
- Knowledge of safely working above people
- Successful candidates possess strong communication skills and keen attention to detail. They are collaborative, self-motivated, and bring a positive, can-do attitude!
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience working as an electrician for a variety of different performance genres, including Theater and Dance.
WORKING CONDITIONS
- Frequently works at heights above 6 feet
- Regularly exposed to electrical connections
- Regularly works in dimly lit areas
LOCATION
Bard’s beautiful 1,000-acre campus is situated on the east bank of the Hudson River in Annandale-on Hudson, New York. Community life is defined by numerous cultural and recreational opportunities in the surrounding historic Hudson River Valley and by proximity to New York City. Nearby towns and villages include Rhinebeck, Tivoli, and Red Hook, New York.
To Apply
Applications for this position will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
For any access-related requests, questions, or issues with the application form, please contact [email protected].
Bard College is an equal opportunity employer and we welcome applications from those who contribute to our diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, mental or physical disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, familial status, veteran status, or genetic information. Bard is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for all individuals in employment practices, services, programs, and activities.
ABOUT THE FISHER CENTER
The Fisher Center is a premier professional performing arts center and a hub for research and education that demonstrates Bard College’s commitment to the performing arts as a cultural and educational necessity. To support artists, students, and audiences in the examination of artistic ideas, the Fisher Center develops, produces, and presents performing arts across disciplines through new productions and context-rich programs that challenge and inspire.
Home is the Fisher Center for the Performing Arts, designed by Frank Gehry and located on the campus of Bard College in New York’s Hudson Valley. This world-class theater building will be complemented by a new studio building designed by Maya Lin, scheduled to open in 2026. More than 200 events and 50,000 visitors are hosted at the Fisher Center each year, and over 300 professional artists are employed annually. As a powerful catalyst of art-making regionally, nationally, and worldwide, the Fisher Center produces 8 to 10 major new works in various disciplines every year. The Fisher Center offers outstanding programs to many communities, including the students and faculty of Bard College, and audiences in the Hudson Valley, New York City, across the country, and around the world. Building on a 166-year history as a competitive and innovative undergraduate institution, Bard is committed to enriching culture, public life, and democratic discourse by training tomorrow’s thought leaders.
The Fisher Center was born from the Bard Music Festival, founded in 1990, which, for the first 13 years of its existence, occupied several spaces on campus, including a large tent. Each summer, the Music Festival focuses on the life, work, and influences of one composer, promoting new ways of understanding and presenting the history of music to a contemporary audience. When the Fisher Center and its two theaters opened in 2003, the summer festival expanded to include a fully staged opera, as well as theater and dance performances. The highly acclaimed opera program brings unjustly neglected works to the stage in major productions—often making their US debuts.
Through Fisher Center LAB, the Center’s acclaimed residency and commissioning program, artists are provided with custom-made support toward their innovative projects and their work has been seen in over 100 communities around the world. Resident choreographer Pam Tanowitz’s 2018 Four Quartets was recognized as “the greatest creation of dance theater so far this century” by The New York Times. In 2019, the Fisher Center won the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical for Daniel Fish’s production of Oklahoma!, which began life in 2007 as an undergraduate production at Bard and was produced professionally by the Fisher Center in 2015 before transferring to New York City. Illinoise, a 2023 Fisher Center world premiere from artists Sufjan Stevens, Justin Peck, and Jackie Sibblies Drury, was recognized with a Tony Award for Best Choreography following its tour and transfer to Broadway.
The Fisher Center is home to several of Bard’s academic programs in the performing arts. Year-round, it hosts performances by the undergraduate Dance Program and Theater and Performance Program; the US-China Music Institute of the Bard College Conservatory of Music; The Orchestra Now (TŌN), a Bard graduate program that is training the next generation of classical-music ambassadors; and students at the Bard Conservatory, the first (and so far only) conservatory to require all its students to pursue a bachelor of arts degree in a field other than music in addition to their specialized music studies. As a hybrid institution, the Fisher Center brings together professional and academic art-making of the highest caliber, where student and professional artists work side by side, learning from each other and informing one another’s practices.
ABOUT BARD COLLEGE
Founded in 1860, Bard College is a four-year residential college of the liberal arts and sciences located 90 miles north of New York City. With the addition of the Montgomery Place estate, Bard’s campus consists of nearly 1,000 park-like acres in the Hudson River Valley. It offers bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, and bachelor of music degrees, with majors in nearly 40 academic programs, graduate degrees in 11 programs, nine early colleges, and numerous dual-degree programs nationally and internationally. Building on its 166-year history as a competitive and innovative undergraduate institution, Bard College has expanded its mission as a private institution acting in the public interest across the country and around the world to meet broader student needs and increase access to liberal education. The undergraduate program at our main campus in upstate New York has a reputation for scholarly excellence, a focus on the arts, and civic engagement. Bard is committed to enriching culture, public life, and democratic discourse by training tomorrow’s thought leaders. For more information about Bard College, visit bard.edu.
Parking Coordinator
OVERVIEW
As a key member of the House Management team, the Parking Coordinator directly oversees the operational efficacy, accessibility, and security of the Fisher Center parking strategy, which includes parking lots at Fisher Center and, at times, across the Bard campus. In this capacity, the Parking Coordinator supervises a team of approximately 25 staff (Parking Attendants and Golf Cart Drivers). This role is instrumental to the Fisher Center’s audience experience and the overall safety and operational success of our Front of House protocols. Ideal candidates will have a strong background in parking operations, grounds management, large event operations, customer service, and familiarity with security protocols.
Working in close collaboration with the Associate Director of Audience Services, House Manager, General Manager, and Director of Facilities, the Parking Coordinator will further strategize a parking plan that places accessibility at its core, ensuring that all visitors (guests, as well as artists and staff) have the parking and transportation services required to remain safe and comfortable during their visit.
The Parking Coordinator is a Fisher Center Audience & Member Services department member and reports directly to the Associate Dir. of Audience Services. This position works closely with the following Fisher Center departments: Front of House, Building Operations, General/Company Management, Box Office, Development, and Marketing teams, as well as the Bard College Departments of Transportation and Security.
This is a part-time position starting as early as September 1 and going through May 31, 2027, non-exempt, paid hourly at a rate of $23.00 per hour. Hours will average approximately 24 hours or less per week with the possibility of occasional overtime. This contract may be renewed for the summer 2027 season.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Devise and implement a parking strategy for a predetermined set of parking lots near the Fisher Center and across the Bard College campus
- In collaboration with the House Manager, design staffing strategies and staffing assignments to manage the various parking and transportation needs
- In collaboration with Front of House and Development, help to plan out VIP parking, as well as ensuring accessible parking runs smoothly and safely for all visitors with accessibility needs
- Work with other members of the Audience & Member Services and General Management teams to identify and address barriers to access at the Fisher Center’s venues
- Coordinate with General Management on additional staff and artist parking and transportation as needed
- Directly oversee and manage the parking flow for all shows at the Fisher Center’s Sosnoff Theater and LUMA Theaters, as well as for performances at any off-site locations.
- Serve as a resource and send out regular and timely communications to parking staff
- Manage hours for outdoor staff, reporting back to the House Manager for payroll purposes
- Attend regularly scheduled meetings as needed.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
EXPERIENCE
- Experience with fast-paced environments and ability to handle fast communication and logistics
- Ability to multitask and oversee many overlapping happenings and events simultaneously
- Current driver’s license and reliable transportation
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
- Ability to oversee complex strategies and planning tools
- The ideal candidate will be flexible and have an all-hands-on-deck attitude
- Familiarity with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and its applications to non-profit organizations is a strong plus
- Excellent organizational skills, communication skills, and superior attention to detail
- Proficiency with Google Suite (Sheets, Docs, shared Drives)
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Security Certification, as well as CPR and First Aid
- A passion for the performing arts is preferred
WORKING CONDITIONS
- Must be able to work nights and weekend hours
- Must be comfortable working outdoors for several hours at a time
- Ability to stand on your feet for several hours
- Some handling of light to moderate equipment weighing up to 30 pounds
LOCATION
Bard’s beautiful 1,000-acre campus is situated on the east bank of the Hudson River in Annandale-on Hudson, New York. Community life is defined by numerous cultural and recreational opportunities in the surrounding historic Hudson River Valley and by proximity to New York City. Nearby towns and villages include Rhinebeck, Tivoli, and Red Hook, New York.
TO APPLY
Applications for this position will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
For any access-related requests, questions, or issues with the application form, please contact [email protected].
Bard College is an equal opportunity employer and we welcome applications from those who contribute to our diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, mental or physical disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, familial status, veteran status, or genetic information. Bard is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for all individuals in employment practices, services, programs, and activities.
ABOUT THE FISHER CENTER
The Fisher Center is a premier professional performing arts center and a hub for research and education that demonstrates Bard College’s commitment to the performing arts as a cultural and educational necessity. To support artists, students, and audiences in the examination of artistic ideas, the Fisher Center develops, produces, and presents performing arts across disciplines through new productions and context-rich programs that challenge and inspire.
Home is the Fisher Center for the Performing Arts, designed by Frank Gehry and located on the campus of Bard College in New York’s Hudson Valley. This world-class theater building will be complemented by a new studio building designed by Maya Lin, scheduled to open in 2026. More than 200 events and 50,000 visitors are hosted at the Fisher Center each year, and over 300 professional artists are employed annually. As a powerful catalyst of art-making regionally, nationally, and worldwide, the Fisher Center produces 8 to 10 major new works in various disciplines every year. The Fisher Center offers outstanding programs to many communities, including the students and faculty of Bard College, and audiences in the Hudson Valley, New York City, across the country, and around the world. Building on a 166-year history as a competitive and innovative undergraduate institution, Bard is committed to enriching culture, public life, and democratic discourse by training tomorrow’s thought leaders.
The Fisher Center was born from the Bard Music Festival, founded in 1990, which, for the first 13 years of its existence, occupied several spaces on campus, including a large tent. Each summer, the Music Festival focuses on the life, work, and influences of one composer, promoting new ways of understanding and presenting the history of music to a contemporary audience. When the Fisher Center and its two theaters opened in 2003, the summer festival expanded to include a fully staged opera, as well as theater and dance performances. The highly acclaimed opera program brings unjustly neglected works to the stage in major productions—often making their US debuts.
Through Fisher Center LAB, the Center’s acclaimed residency and commissioning program, artists are provided with custom-made support toward their innovative projects and their work has been seen in over 100 communities around the world. Resident choreographer Pam Tanowitz’s 2018 Four Quartets was recognized as “the greatest creation of dance theater so far this century” by The New York Times. In 2019, the Fisher Center won the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical for Daniel Fish’s production of Oklahoma!, which began life in 2007 as an undergraduate production at Bard and was produced professionally by the Fisher Center in 2015 before transferring to New York City. Illinoise, a 2023 Fisher Center world premiere from artists Sufjan Stevens, Justin Peck, and Jackie Sibblies Drury, was recognized with a Tony Award for Best Choreography following its tour and transfer to Broadway.
The Fisher Center is home to several of Bard’s academic programs in the performing arts. Year-round, it hosts performances by the undergraduate Dance Program and Theater and Performance Program; the US-China Music Institute of the Bard College Conservatory of Music; The Orchestra Now (TŌN), a Bard graduate program that is training the next generation of classical-music ambassadors; and students at the Bard Conservatory, the first (and so far only) conservatory to require all its students to pursue a bachelor of arts degree in a field other than music in addition to their specialized music studies. As a hybrid institution, the Fisher Center brings together professional and academic art-making of the highest caliber, where student and professional artists work side by side, learning from each other and informing one another’s practices.
ABOUT BARD COLLEGE
Founded in 1860, Bard College is a four-year residential college of the liberal arts and sciences located 90 miles north of New York City. With the addition of the Montgomery Place and Massena properties, Bard’s campus consists of more than 1,200 parklike acres in the Hudson River Valley. It offers bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, and bachelor of music degrees, with majors in nearly 40 academic programs; advanced degrees through 14 graduate programs; 10 early colleges; and numerous dual-degree programs nationally and internationally. Building on its 166-year history as a competitive and innovative undergraduate institution, Bard College has expanded its mission as a private institution acting in the public interest across the country and around the world to meet broader student needs and increase access to liberal arts education. The undergraduate program at the main campus in upstate New York has a reputation for scholarly excellence, a focus on the arts, and civic engagement. Bard is committed to enriching culture, public life, and democratic discourse by training tomorrow’s thought leaders. For more information about Bard College, visit bard.edu.
Production Overhire
OVERVIEW
The Fisher Center does not currently have any production positions available; however, we’re always looking to connect with individuals for overhire opportunities for the following Production departments:
- Audio
- Costume & Wardrobe
- Lighting/Electrics
- Scenic
- Stage Management
- Video
Resumes are kept on file, and qualified individuals are contacted as needed.
This is an in-person, part-time, non-exempt position, paid hourly at a rate range of $20–25 per hour, depending on experience. Hours will fluctuate depending on production activity.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Responsibilities will vary depending on the nature of the work that is available. Possible responsibilities within different departments are provided here. Further details regarding responsibilities will be provided when positions become available.
- Maintain a safe, healthy, and inclusive workplace at all times
- Audio responsibilities may include, but are not limited to: Assist the Audio Engineers in the preparation, installation, operation, and maintenance of all audio aspects (including backline, recordings, backstage communication, rehearsal support, and production intercom) of all productions and special events; Actively participate in all audio work calls as assigned; Create audio paperwork as needed; Assist the Audio Supervisor in maintaining all audio equipment, including rental gear; Attend and work all technical rehearsals and performances for productions as assigned; Provide audio support for all rehearsals and concerts as assigned; Assist the FC Video Department and outside vendors in the planning, installation, maintenance, and operation of streaming systems
- Costume & Wardrobe responsibilities may include, but are not limited to: Assist in fitting, stitching, or other assigned costume duties; Sew, either by machine or hand, the costumes assigned by Costume Supervisor; Manage time efficiently on each sewing project; Maintain personal work area, including sewing machinery as necessary to keep work moving effectively; Communicate with other team members concerning problems and their possible solutions; Perform other duties as assigned by Costume Supervisor; Assist in the preparation and maintenance of all wardrobe facilities, including dressing rooms; Assist performers in the maintenance and use of their costumes, including choreographing and implementing quick changes and making small repairs as needed; Participate in pre-show and post-show checks and duties; Maintain up-to-date paperwork; Assist on matters of specific rigging or actor comfort; As assigned, attend and work technical rehearsals and performances as a member of the wardrobe run crew; Maintain a calm, professional demeanor towards performers;
- Lighting responsibilities may include, but are not limited to: Assist the Lighting Supervisor and/or Head Electrician with the installation and maintenance of all lighting aspects of all productions and special events; Actively participate in all lighting work calls as assigned; Assist the Lighting Supervisor and/or Head Electrician in the build and installation of production-specific lighting practicals; Assist the Lighting Supervisor and/or Head Electrician in the daily maintenance of all theatrical lighting equipment and lighting systems, including rental gear; Other duties, as assigned by the Lighting Supervisor and/or Head Electrician
- Scenic responsibilities may include, but are not limited to: Construct and assemble scenic pieces; Support scenic load-in; Perform various tasks/cues during live productions, as needed; Assist with moving scenic set pieces; Assist with handling ropes, wires, or other rigging; Support productions and special events as assigned by the Technical Director or Assistant Technical Director
- Stage Management responsibilities may include, but are not limited to: Stage management for orchestra, theater, dance, and opera.
- Video responsibilities may include, but are not limited to: Assist the Video team in the preparation, installation, operation, and maintenance of all video aspects of all productions and special events; Actively participate in all video work calls, rehearsals, and performances; Act as backstage video crew for performances under the direction of the Video Supervisor and/or Video Engineer; Act as a camera operator for recordings of rehearsals and performances; Update and create video paperwork; Participate in technical rehearsals and performances; Respond to video notes during rehearsals, performances, and work calls; Monitor livestreams as needed; Facilitate recordings of rehearsals and performances; Edit video content for livestreams and recordings of performances and rehearsals
QUALIFICATIONS
EXPERIENCE
- Professional theatrical experience
- Audio: Basic knowledge of audio equipment, cabling, and backstage protocol
- Costume & Wardrobe: Demonstrated experience in machine and hand-sewing techniques and/or Basic sewing skills as they relate to repairs and quick change rigging
- Lighting: Knowledge and experience working with theatrical lighting equipment and systems, including, but not limited to, conventional and automated fixtures, dimming systems, lighting consoles, and atmospheric effects
- Scenic: Experience working with hand and power tools; Knowledge of general woodworking and construction techniques
- Stage Management: Previous experience running a rehearsal room and calling performances in orchestra, theater, dance, and/or opera.
- Video: Professional experience in video playback and camera operation is preferred; Experience with Photoshop/Premiere Pro/After Effects; Experience with live streaming
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
- Knowledge of general theatrical production processes & theatrical safety practices
- Successful candidates possess strong communication skills and keen attention to detail, are collaborative and self-motivated, and bring a positive, can-do attitude
- Audio: General troubleshooting skills for audio systems; Strong knowledge of digital audio consoles, the Google App suite, QLab, Shure Wireless Workbench, and Clear-Com Freespeak systems; Knowledge of electrical safety practices and theatrical rigging systems; Ability to climb stairs and ladders; Ability to move and lift objects up to 50 lbs.; Ability to frequently walk and stand; Ability to work nights, weekends, and holidays, as set by the production schedule; Ability to push, pull, hang, reach, lean, and balance
- Costume & Wardrobe: Strong communication and interpersonal skills; Ability to sit and stand for long periods; Ability to move and lift objects up to 50 lbs.; Ability to work nights, weekends, and holidays, as set by production schedule; Ability to remain calm during high-pressure, quick-change situations; Ability to maintain professionalism and decorum while assisting performers in quick changes; Ability to climb stairs
- Lighting: Knowledge of both general theatrical production processes as well as lighting-specific practices; Ability to read and understand lighting plots and paperwork; Ability to climb stairs and ladders; Ability to move and lift objects up to 50 lbs.; Ability to frequently walk and stand; Ability to work nights, weekends, and holidays, as set by production schedule; Ability to push, pull, hang, reach, lean, and balance
- Scenic: Ability to work in an organized, self-directed, and detailed manner; Ability to communicate clearly and effectively; Ability to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as determined by the production schedule; Ability to climb stairs and ladders; Ability to move and lift up to 50 lbs.; Ability to safely use hand and power tools; Ability to push, pull, hang, reach, lean, and balance; Ability to stand or sit for extended periods of time; Ability to remain calm during high-pressure backstage situations; Ability to work while wearing appropriate PPE for the task at hand
- Stage Management: Strong communication and interpersonal skills; Ability to sit and stand for long periods; Ability to move and lift objects up to 50 lbs.; Ability to work nights, weekends, and holidays, as set by production schedule; Ability to remain calm & maintain professionalism and decorum during high-pressure situations.
- Video: Working knowledge of a variety of video signaling, camera, and display technologies; Working knowledge of video playback; Proficiency with general camera operation and backstage monitoring is essential, but training will be offered on specific equipment in use during productions; Strong attention to detail, general troubleshooting, and video engineering skills; Ability to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as determined by the production schedule; Ability to climb stairs and ladders; Ability to move and lift up to 50 lbs.; Ability to push, pull, hang, reach, lean, and balance; Ability to stand or sit for extended periods
Working Conditions
- Working conditions will vary depending on the nature of the work that is available
- Audio: Frequently works at heights above 6 feet; Regularly exposed to vibrations, noises, and electrical connections
- Costume & Wardrobe: Extended periods of standing and sitting; May handle dyes, natural and synthetic fibers, and materials, including but not limited to feathers, furs, leather, and more; Frequently works in dimly lit space,s assisting with quick changes
- Lighting: Frequently works at heights above 6 feet; Regularly exposed to electrical connections; Regularly works in dimly lit areas; Regularly works in areas with atmospheric effects, including but not limited to haze and strobes
- Scenic: Regularly exposed to vibrations and noises from machinery; Frequently works at heights above 6 feet; Frequently works in show conditions with theatrical and atmospheric elements, including but not limited to haze, strobes, dim lights, loud sounds, dry ice, and more
- Stage Management: Extended periods of standing and sitting
- Video: Frequently works at heights above 6 feet; Frequently exposed to vibrations, noises, and electrical connections; Frequently works in show conditions with theatrical and atmospheric elements, including but not limited to haze, strobes, dim lights, loud sounds, dry ice, and more
LOCATION
Bard’s beautiful 1,000-acre campus is situated on the east bank of the Hudson River in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York. Community life is defined by numerous cultural and recreational opportunities in the surrounding historic Hudson River Valley and by proximity to New York City. Nearby towns and villages include Rhinebeck, Tivoli, and Red Hook, New York.
To Apply
Apply NowApplications for this position will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
For any access-related requests, questions, or issues with the application form, please contact [email protected].
Bard College is an equal opportunity employer and we welcome applications from those who contribute to our diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, mental or physical disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, familial status, veteran status, or genetic information. Bard is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for all individuals in employment practices, services, programs, and activities.
About the Fisher Center
The Fisher Center is a premier professional performing arts center and a hub for research and education that demonstrates Bard College’s commitment to the performing arts as a cultural and educational necessity. To support artists, students, and audiences in the examination of artistic ideas, the Fisher Center develops, produces, and presents performing arts across disciplines through new productions and context-rich programs that challenge and inspire.
Home is the Fisher Center for the Performing Arts, designed by Frank Gehry and located on the campus of Bard College in New York’s Hudson Valley. This world-class theater building will be complemented by a new studio building designed by Maya Lin, scheduled to open in 2026. More than 200 events and 50,000 visitors are hosted at the Fisher Center each year, and over 300 professional artists are employed annually. As a powerful catalyst of art-making regionally, nationally, and worldwide, the Fisher Center produces 8 to 10 major new works in various disciplines every year. The Fisher Center offers outstanding programs to many communities, including the students and faculty of Bard College, and audiences in the Hudson Valley, New York City, across the country, and around the world. Building on a 166-year history as a competitive and innovative undergraduate institution, Bard is committed to enriching culture, public life, and democratic discourse by training tomorrow’s thought leaders.
The Fisher Center was born from the Bard Music Festival, founded in 1990, which, for the first 13 years of its existence, occupied several spaces on campus, including a large tent. Each summer, the Music Festival focuses on the life, work, and influences of one composer, promoting new ways of understanding and presenting the history of music to a contemporary audience. When the Fisher Center and its two theaters opened in 2003, the summer festival expanded to include a fully staged opera, as well as theater and dance performances. The highly acclaimed opera program brings unjustly neglected works to the stage in major productions—often making their US debuts.
Through Fisher Center LAB, the Center’s acclaimed residency and commissioning program, artists are provided with custom-made support toward their innovative projects and their work has been seen in over 100 communities around the world. Resident choreographer Pam Tanowitz’s 2018 Four Quartets was recognized as “the greatest creation of dance theater so far this century” by The New York Times. In 2019, the Fisher Center won the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical for Daniel Fish’s production of Oklahoma!, which began life in 2007 as an undergraduate production at Bard and was produced professionally by the Fisher Center in 2015 before transferring to New York City. Illinoise, a 2023 Fisher Center world premiere from artists Sufjan Stevens, Justin Peck, and Jackie Sibblies Drury, was recognized with a Tony Award for Best Choreography following its tour and transfer to Broadway.
The Fisher Center is home to several of Bard’s academic programs in the performing arts. Year-round, it hosts performances by the undergraduate Dance Program and Theater and Performance Program; the US-China Music Institute of the Bard College Conservatory of Music; The Orchestra Now (TŌN), a Bard graduate program that is training the next generation of classical-music ambassadors; and students at the Bard Conservatory, the first (and so far only) conservatory to require all its students to pursue a bachelor of arts degree in a field other than music in addition to their specialized music studies. As a hybrid institution, the Fisher Center brings together professional and academic art-making of the highest caliber, where student and professional artists work side by side, learning from each other and informing one another’s practices.
About Bard College
Founded in 1860, Bard College is a four-year residential college of the liberal arts and sciences located 90 miles north of New York City. With the addition of the Montgomery Place and Massena properties, Bard’s campus consists of more than 1,200 parklike acres in the Hudson River Valley. It offers bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, and bachelor of music degrees, with majors in nearly 40 academic programs; advanced degrees through 14 graduate programs; 10 early colleges; and numerous dual-degree programs nationally and internationally. Building on its 166-year history as a competitive and innovative undergraduate institution, Bard College has expanded its mission as a private institution acting in the public interest across the country and around the world to meet broader student needs and increase access to liberal arts education. The undergraduate program at the main campus in upstate New York has a reputation for scholarly excellence, a focus on the arts, and civic engagement. Bard is committed to enriching culture, public life, and democratic discourse by training tomorrow’s thought leaders. For more information about Bard College, visit bard.edu.
Stagehand/Carpenter Overhire
OVERVIEW
Stagehands/Carpenters are part of the Scenic team in the Production Department and will support the construction and installation of all scenic elements. They report to the Technical Director and Assistant Technical Director and work closely with other production team members.
We are seeking candidates for the Stagehand/Carpenter run-crew. Run-crew members work in close proximity to the company and stage management to support real-time performance scene changes and striking/setting of elements on stage. Positions for both entry-level and experienced stagehands/carpenters are available.
This is a part-time position from October 12, 2026, to June 30, 2027, exempt, paid hourly at a rate range of $19.00–$24.00 per hour, depending on experience. Hours will average on a show-by-show basis depending on production needs.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Maintain a safe, healthy, and inclusive workplace at all times
- Construct and assemble scenic pieces
- Support scenic load-in
- Perform various tasks/cues during live productions, as needed
- Assist with moving scenic set pieces
- Assist with handling ropes, wires, or other rigging
- Support all productions and special events as assigned by the Technical Director or Assistant Technical Director
QUALIFICATIONS
EXPERIENCE
- Experience working with hand and power tools
- Knowledge of general woodworking and construction techniques
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
- Ability to work in an organized, self-directed, and detailed manner
- Ability to climb stairs and ladders
- Ability to move and lift up to 50 lbs.
- Ability to push, pull, hang, reach, lean, and balance
- Ability to stand or sit for extended periods of time
- Ability to remain calm during high-pressure backstage situations
- Ability to work while wearing appropriate PPE for the task at hand
- Successful candidates possess strong communication skills and a keen attention to detail. They are collaborative, self-motivated, and bring a positive, can-do attitude
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Ability to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as determined by the production schedule
- Stagehand candidates need to supply their own show blacks for rehearsals and performances
- Tools and safety equipment are provided by the shop, but any preferred personal tools (gloves, etc.) are acceptable to bring
WORKING CONDITIONS
- Able to work at heights above 6 feet
- Working while wearing personal protective equipment such as gloves, masks, safety glasses, and hearing protection
- Regularly exposed to vibrations and noises from machinery
- Works in show conditions with theatrical and atmospheric elements including but not limited to haze, strobes, dim lights, loud sounds, dry ice, and more
- Shop conditions may be full of sawdust and fumes from paint and other hazardous chemicals
LOCATION
Bard’s beautiful 1,000-acre campus is situated on the east bank of the Hudson River in Annandale-on Hudson, New York. Community life is defined by numerous cultural and recreational opportunities in the surrounding historic Hudson River Valley and by proximity to New York City. Nearby towns and villages include Rhinebeck, Tivoli, and Red Hook, New York.
TO APPLY
Applications for this position will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
For any access-related requests, questions, or issues with the application form, please contact [email protected].
Bard College is an equal opportunity employer and we welcome applications from those who contribute to our diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, mental or physical disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, familial status, veteran status, or genetic information. Bard is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for all individuals in employment practices, services, programs, and activities.
ABOUT THE FISHER CENTER
The Fisher Center is a premier professional performing arts center and a hub for research and education that demonstrates Bard College’s commitment to the performing arts as a cultural and educational necessity. To support artists, students, and audiences in the examination of artistic ideas, the Fisher Center develops, produces, and presents performing arts across disciplines through new productions and context-rich programs that challenge and inspire.
Home is the Fisher Center for the Performing Arts, designed by Frank Gehry and located on the campus of Bard College in New York’s Hudson Valley. This world-class theater building will be complemented by a new studio building designed by Maya Lin, scheduled to open in 2026. More than 200 events and 50,000 visitors are hosted at the Fisher Center each year, and over 300 professional artists are employed annually. As a powerful catalyst of art-making regionally, nationally, and worldwide, the Fisher Center produces 8 to 10 major new works in various disciplines every year. The Fisher Center offers outstanding programs to many communities, including the students and faculty of Bard College, and audiences in the Hudson Valley, New York City, across the country, and around the world. Building on a 166-year history as a competitive and innovative undergraduate institution, Bard is committed to enriching culture, public life, and democratic discourse by training tomorrow’s thought leaders.
The Fisher Center was born from the Bard Music Festival, founded in 1990, which, for the first 13 years of its existence, occupied several spaces on campus, including a large tent. Each summer, the Music Festival focuses on the life, work, and influences of one composer, promoting new ways of understanding and presenting the history of music to a contemporary audience. When the Fisher Center and its two theaters opened in 2003, the summer festival expanded to include a fully staged opera, as well as theater and dance performances. The highly acclaimed opera program brings unjustly neglected works to the stage in major productions—often making their US debuts.
Through Fisher Center LAB, the Center’s acclaimed residency and commissioning program, artists are provided with custom-made support toward their innovative projects and their work has been seen in over 100 communities around the world. Resident choreographer Pam Tanowitz’s 2018 Four Quartets was recognized as “the greatest creation of dance theater so far this century” by The New York Times. In 2019, the Fisher Center won the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical for Daniel Fish’s production of Oklahoma!, which began life in 2007 as an undergraduate production at Bard and was produced professionally by the Fisher Center in 2015 before transferring to New York City. Illinoise, a 2023 Fisher Center world premiere from artists Sufjan Stevens, Justin Peck, and Jackie Sibblies Drury, was recognized with a Tony Award for Best Choreography following its tour and transfer to Broadway.
The Fisher Center is home to several of Bard’s academic programs in the performing arts. Year-round, it hosts performances by the undergraduate Dance Program and Theater and Performance Program; the US-China Music Institute of the Bard College Conservatory of Music; The Orchestra Now (TŌN), a Bard graduate program that is training the next generation of classical-music ambassadors; and students at the Bard Conservatory, the first (and so far only) conservatory to require all its students to pursue a bachelor of arts degree in a field other than music in addition to their specialized music studies. As a hybrid institution, the Fisher Center brings together professional and academic art-making of the highest caliber, where student and professional artists work side by side, learning from each other and informing one another’s practices.
ABOUT BARD COLLEGE
Founded in 1860, Bard College is a four-year residential college of the liberal arts and sciences located 90 miles north of New York City. With the addition of the Montgomery Place and Massena properties, Bard’s campus consists of more than 1,200 parklike acres in the Hudson River Valley. It offers bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, and bachelor of music degrees, with majors in nearly 40 academic programs; advanced degrees through 14 graduate programs; 10 early colleges; and numerous dual-degree programs nationally and internationally. Building on its 166-year history as a competitive and innovative undergraduate institution, Bard College has expanded its mission as a private institution acting in the public interest across the country and around the world to meet broader student needs and increase access to liberal arts education. The undergraduate program at the main campus in upstate New York has a reputation for scholarly excellence, a focus on the arts, and civic engagement. Bard is committed to enriching culture, public life, and democratic discourse by training tomorrow’s thought leaders. For more information about Bard College, visit bard.edu.