Artist in Residence - Illinois Shakespeare Festival - Seasonal Technical Director 2026

Illinois State•Normal, IL

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The festival Technical Director consults with the ISF Production Manager, Scenic Designer, and each production team to facilitate the scenic needs for the 2026 season. The Technical Director attends design and production meetings as scheduled by the Production Manager beginning in February and concluding in July. They are responsible for the daily operation and schedule for the Scene Shop located in the Centennial East building. They supervise the daily activity of the Assistant Technical Director, Scene Shop Supervisor, and the seasonal staff of carpenters, welders, and other associated production personnel in the scene shop and at Ewing Theatre performance space. The Illinois Shakespeare Festival is an organization within the Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts and the School of Theatre and Dance at Illinois State University. The mission of the festival is to produce energetic new interpretations of theatrical works, engaging audience and artist in an impassioned exploration of the human condition, with the artistry and humanity of the Shakespearean canon as our constant touchstone. The festival typically produces three mainstage and one theatre for young audience’s productions each summer. The company employs approximately 100 people each summer from mid-May to early August. The staff is a mixture of seasoned professionals, early career artists, and students in their first professional theatre experience. The overall goal is to bring quality professional theatre to Central Illinois.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Technical Direction plus 3 years of Professional Credits as a Technical Director or related job
Driver's license
Ability to lift 50 pounds

Nice To Haves

MFA in Technical Direction

Responsibilities

Consults with the ISF Production Manager, Scenic Designer, and each production team to facilitate the scenic needs for the 2026 season.
Attends design and production meetings as scheduled by the Production Manager beginning in February and concluding in July.
Responsible for the daily operation and schedule for the Scene Shop located in the Centennial East building.
Supervises the daily activity of the Assistant Technical Director, Scene Shop Supervisor, and the seasonal staff of carpenters, welders, and other associated production personnel in the scene shop and at Ewing Theatre performance space.
Produce scenic construction drawings to achieve the designs provided by the Festival Scenic Designer, adhering to structural and safety guidelines.
Serves as the safety officer for the ISF rehearsal and performance spaces.
Purchases materials and goods to be used in the construction of all scenery.
Maintains the budgets for scenery, paint, and associated materials as directed by the Production Manager.
Approves time sheets for all hourly employees on the scenery and paint staff.
Work with the Scenic Designer, Production Manager, and the seasonal Changeover Supervisor to develop a plan to shift the scenery from one production to another as required for repertory style scheduling.
Be familiar with and manage the use of the ISF technical inventory pertaining to all scene shop storage, equipment, materials, supplies, tools, paint, and be capable of solving problems that arise from usage of inventory.
Must hold a valid U.S. driver’s license and be able to drive a 16-foot box truck for transportation of scenery, materials, and other items to and from the ISU campus to the Ewing Cultural Center.
Facilitate communication with department heads in the Lighting, Prop, Sound, and Costume shops to achieve the scheduled performances efficiently and safely.
Oversee the installation of the stock Courtyard stage at Ewing cultural center.
Other duties as assigned.