Lighting Designer

Ways & Means Theatre; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 4,500 - 6,700; Full time

Job summary

Ways & Means Theatre Company seeks a Sound Designer for The Book Club Play by Karen Zacarías, at the Upstairs Mainstage of the Den Theatre. You will design and build the show in QLab and coordinate with the projection designer.

First rehearsal is January 2027, with load-in, tech, previews and opening dates provided. Compensation is a $500 stipend for the production. Ways & Means Theatre is an equal opportunity employer inviting designers of all backgrounds to apply.

Qualifications

• Experience designing live theatre sound.
• Ability to design for documentary-style framing.
• Strong collaboration with production team.

Responsibilities

• Design and build the show in QLab.
• Attend production meetings, designer run and tech.
• Set levels during tech in consultation with the Den’s Technical Supervisor.

Skills

Sound design

Team collaboration

Tools

QLab

Job description

Ways & Means Theatre Company seeks a Sound Designer for The Book Club Play by Karen Zacarías, directed by Leanna Gianoutsos Oliveira, at the Upstairs Mainstage at the Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago.

About the play: Ana Smith’s book club is the one corner of her life she fully controls, until a documentary filmmaker starts recording the meetings and a newcomer upends the reading list. A sharp, warm comedy with six actors and direct-address interludes.

The design: Preshow, scene transitions, the play’s documentary-film framing, and the direct-address “pundit” interludes.

Key dates: First rehearsal January 4, 2027. Load-in Monday, January 18. Tech January 19 to 27. Preview Thursday, January 28. Opening Friday, January 29. Closing Saturday, February 13.

Responsibilities: Design and build the show in QLab. Our stage manager will run lights, sound and projections alone, so you’ll share a single QLab cue list with the projection designer and set it up to trigger lighting cues. Attend production meetings, a designer run and tech. The Den is a multi-venue building, so you’ll set levels during tech in consultation with the Den’s Technical Supervisor.

Compensation: $500 stipend.

Ways & Means Theatre Company is an equal opportunity employer. Designers of all races, ethnicities, gender identities, ages and abilities are encouraged to apply.