FAIR Assistant Lighting Designer

Oregon Shakespeare Festival•Ashland, OR

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The FAIR Lighting Design Assistantship is a professional development opportunity for emerging to mid-career lighting designers seeking hands-on experience in large-scale, rotating repertory theater. This assistantship offers in-depth training across nine productions in OSF’s 2027 season, supporting both guest and resident lighting designers. Participants will build real-world skills in a collaborative production environment and gain valuable exposure to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s unique repertory model. 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

An associate degree or one to two years of equivalent training and/or relevant experience
Intermediate working knowledge of Vectorworks and Lightwright is required
Excel, Word, Teams, and SharePoint proficiency is desired
Demonstrated ability to multitask and maintain a professional demeanor in fast-paced environments
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
Ability to sit and work at a computer for extended periods
Clear written and verbal communication skills
Respect for confidentiality and collaboration across diverse teams

Responsibilities

Assist guest and resident lighting designers by taking and tracking detailed notes
Maintain all lighting-related documentation, including cue sheets, light plots, focus charts, and instrument schedules
Communicate design updates to the lighting team and coordinate with production staff
Attend and participate in all assigned technical rehearsals, hall runs, rehearsals, focus calls, work calls, and production meetings
Operate lighting consoles or remote-control devices during focus sessions or cueing
Support the implementation of lighting elements and maintain consistency across productions
Interface regularly with directors, stage management, and other design departments to facilitate cross-departmental collaboration
Remain flexible and responsive to real-time changes during the production and technical process
Assist with focus via a console or remote device
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.