Recruiter's Glossary

Examples: Period Research • Scenic Elements • Stage Machinery

Carpentry

Term from Stage Design industry explained for recruiters

Carpentry in stage design refers to the craft of building and modifying wooden structures for theatrical sets and productions. Unlike regular home carpentry, stage carpentry focuses on creating temporary, movable, and often transformable set pieces that look realistic from the audience's perspective. These professionals combine traditional woodworking skills with theatrical knowledge to create everything from basic platforms to complex moving set pieces. The term might appear in resumes as "stage carpentry," "theatrical carpentry," or "scenic carpentry," all referring to the same core skill set of building and maintaining stage scenery.

Examples in Resumes

Led construction team in building key set pieces using Carpentry techniques for Broadway production

Applied Stage Carpentry skills to create transformable set elements for national touring show

Utilized Scenic Carpentry expertise to design and construct period-accurate wooden structures for historical drama

Typical job title: "Stage Carpenters"

Also try searching for:

Stage Carpenter Scenic Carpenter Theater Carpenter Set Builder Stage Construction Technician Master Carpenter Scene Shop Carpenter

Where to Find Stage Carpenters

Professional Organizations

Job Boards

Professional Networks

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How would you approach building a complex rotating stage piece that needs to support multiple actors?

Expected Answer: A senior carpenter should discuss safety considerations, weight distribution, materials selection, movement mechanisms, and how they would lead a team through the construction process while meeting schedule and budget constraints.

Q: Tell me about a time you had to solve a major technical problem during a live production.

Expected Answer: Look for answers that demonstrate leadership, quick thinking, and practical problem-solving abilities while maintaining safety standards and show quality.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What factors do you consider when choosing materials for set construction?

Expected Answer: Should discuss budget considerations, durability needs, weight requirements, appearance from audience perspective, and how different materials work for different theatrical effects.

Q: How do you ensure set pieces can be quickly assembled and disassembled for touring shows?

Expected Answer: Should explain modular construction techniques, hardware choices, marking systems, and methods for making pieces both sturdy and easily transportable.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What basic tools do you use most often in stage carpentry?

Expected Answer: Should be able to list and explain the use of common tools like power drills, saws, measuring tools, and basic hand tools used in set construction.

Q: How do you read and interpret technical drawings or set designs?

Expected Answer: Should demonstrate understanding of basic construction plans, measurements, and how to translate design concepts into actual set pieces.