FAIR Assistant Director

Oregon Shakespeare Festival•Ashland, OR

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The FAIR Assistant Director position provides early to mid-career theater practitioners with a rare opportunity to gain hands-on experience working at a major repertory theater. Participants will assist one or more directors on OSF production. The FAIR Experience at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival offers meaningful professional development for aspiring, emerging, mid-career, and established artists, artisans, and arts administrators. Founded in 2005 by Artistic Director Tim Bond, The FAIR Experience was created with the mission of creating a doorway in Southern Oregon to access training in the field. As the oldest and largest repertory theater in the U.S., OSF offers a unique learning environment shaped by our repertory model, where participants engage with experienced professionals across disciplines. FAIR empowers the next generation of theater practitioners to build lasting careers and contribute to the evolving field of American theater. The FAIR Experience at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival promotes equity and diversity within the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and the field of American theatre at large, while generating the conditions of belonging and support within an enriching professional development environment. FAIR is designed to honor OSF's commitment to including diverse people, ideas, cultures, and traditions in all areas of our work. We encourage people of diverse identities to apply. The FAIR Experience is an educational opportunity that fosters artistic growth, learning & development, and engagement through a range of experiences. At the core of the program are the FAIR Forums, where participants explore interdisciplinary topics that bridge inquiry and practice. These forums, along with experiential activities like changeover viewings and production tours, provide insight into OSF’s repertory process and broader artistic landscape. You will also be given a schedule of educational activities to attend alongside your 2026 FAIR cohort. The season culminates in a capstone, encouraging participants to reflect, create, and give back through a flexible range of creative or administrative contributions.

Requirements

A bachelor’s degree or 2–3 years of equivalent professional theater experience
Prior assistant directing experience at a professional level
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
Emotional intelligence, maturity, and the ability to work respectfully in dynamic creative spaces
Clear and professional communication skills

Responsibilities

Taking and organizing rehearsal notes
Engaging in artistic discussion with the director outside of rehearsals.
Working closely with producers, the Artistic team, Stage Management, and the Production department.
Participating in rehearsals, tech, previews, and creative team meetings.
Engage in weekly FAIR Forums
Participate in supplemental activities, including meet-and-greets, hall runs, production tours, and changeovers.
Complete a capstone address at the end of the season.