Little-known theater jobs: head electrician/production electrician

When Bruce Rubin was 12 years old, he operated the follow spot for a community theater production of “Fiddler on the Roof” in Union, New Jersey. It was his introduction to the world of theater and, as it turned out, the unofficial beginning of his career.

After graduating high school, Rubin attended a vocational school for electricity. While studying, he served as an electrician (and eventually master electrician) for Plays in the Park in Edison, New Jersey. Using his education in electricity for theater was “much more interesting and varied” than alternative applications, and Rubin decided to pursue a full-time career in theater.

He landed his first gig in 1989 as an electrician for the Public Theater, working throughout the company’s theater complex and the outdoor Delacorte Theater. In 1992, Rubin left the Public and began loading shows in and out and running some shows across Off-Broadway electrics departments. In 1997, Rubin earned his first Broadway credit, as an electrician on the load-in crew of “Ivanov” at Lincoln Center Theater’s Vivian Beaumont Theater. He’s been at the Beaumont ever since.

Starting with the original production of “Parade,” Rubin joined the crew that runs performances (in addition to load-in). Since then, he worked his way up the ladder under head electrician Patrick Merryman. Rubin held the positions of deck electrician, then follow-spot operator and, in 2002, he ran the lighting console. When Merryman retired in 2022, Rubin succeeded him. 

Though most Broadway shows have a head electrician and a production electrician, Rubin holds both titles for mountings at the Beaumont. Rubin’s first production as head/production electrician was Mike Birbiglia’s “The Old Man & the Pool.” Today, he’s in charge of the new play “McNeal.” Here, Rubin explains the ins and outs of the Beaumont’s electrics department and his role in making sure the lights stay on.