Behind-the-scenes team helps bring Washington Pavilion shows to life

This piece is sponsored by Washington Pavilion Management Inc.

It didn’t take long for Bob Schultz to earn a nickname from his new co-workers at the Washington Pavilion.

“Disney Bob” became the moniker — there were others with the same first name on the crew, for starters, and his T-shirt lineup essentially mandated it.

“To be fair, 70 to 80 percent of my wardrobe is Disney,” Schultz said.

He also was just coming off a run in the theme park’s “Dopey Challenge” — four days of runs increasing in length up to a full marathon on the final day.

The good news is you don’t have to be anything close to a marathon runner to be a great fit for the behind-the-scenes roles Schultz has played since 2018 at the Washington Pavilion.

“You just have to be someone who is open-minded, willing to try things and learn,” he said. “We work with strong leaders who do this all the time and are very good at giving instructions. So if you can do that and work with a group and like to see something amazing come to life, it’s for you.”

As the Washington Pavilion prepares to welcome its next Pavilion Performance Series starting this fall, six Broadway shows will be coming to Sioux Falls.

The first — “Back to the Future” — will lead off the season Oct. 14-19 with eight performances and require more behind-the-scenes support than any in the venue’s history.

“We need to hire 96 people for our stagehand list,” said Regina Ruhberg, director of performances.

“That’s the biggest group we’ve ever had to do. We’ll need 96 for load in and load out and preferably the same people.”

The team will begin helping the show unload at 8 a.m. Oct. 13, tackling 11 semi-trucks filled with equipment, sets and props. The day will last until 5 p.m., and then the team will return at 10 p.m. Oct. 19 and work through the early morning hours to load everything so the show can go back on the road.

People who work in these roles are paid $24 per hour for working a Broadway show.

“It’s that high because it’s specific days and times we need you. To be a PRN stage hand, you need to be on time and follow instructions, and then it’s a well-oiled machine,” Ruhberg said.

“It’s a choreographed circus, and once you’re in our pool, you really can make your own schedule. If ‘Back to the Future’ doesn’t work, maybe you’ll be available for ‘Grinch.’ The more you work, the more you learn and possibly can consider other positions we have available.”

Schultz, who for years supported his family as a stay-at-home dad, was encouraged by his daughter to consider working at the Washington Pavilion when she began school at Augustana University. For four years, they worked on shows together.

“We had heard they were short on people and took on everything realistically possible,” he said. “She almost paid her way through college working there. I’ve always done creative stuff. I sew and am a carpenter. We do musical light shows at our house at Halloween and Christmas, and I make all my own props and pieces. So she thought I’d like it, and she was right.”

He’s now the lead flyman, helping shows with lighting and set pieces that need to go up or down.

“It’s my job to make sure everything gets up and down safely,” he said.

“I love it. My favorite thing is working with college kids who come in to work with us and learn as they go. I’ve seen some scared to get on a stepladder, and by the end, they’re climbing all over and using wrenches and becoming part of the team.”

The front of house needs help too. The Washington Pavilion is signing up volunteer ushers now, and there occasionally are some paid opportunities.

“We request volunteers work at least three times a month for consistency because things change and so you can learn the building,” Ruhberg said. “If you’re a snowbird who is gone at times, we get it, so we’re still very flexible, and we need people for all shows — from local dance to the South Dakota Symphony and Broadway shows.”

As a bonus, ushers typically get to see a portion of each show — and if you volunteer multiple nights, you’ll likely see all or most of it, Ruhberg said.

“We probably need 50 to 75 additional volunteers to round out our pool, especially because we have multiple shows coming for a full week this season,” she said.

It’s also a great way to connect with like-minded people and appreciate the way the Washington Pavilion enhances the area’s arts scene.

Anyone from 18 to 80 has worked on the crew, Schultz added.

“One of my favorite things to do is sneak out and sit in the corner and listen to the crowd when they leave. It’s just amazing how excited the fans are,” he said.

“And for us, you become very close very quick. I’m going to do this as long as I can get away with it. You start with a blank slate, and when it’s done, you create this whole new world.”

To learn more about opportunities to join the Washington Pavilion performances team, visit WashingtonPavilion.org/Careers.

To learn more about becoming a volunteer usher, visit WashingtonPavilion.org/Volunteer.

For a closer look at the shows coming this season, click below.

Washington Pavilion announces next season of Broadway shows