Wardrobe Technician

Oregon Shakespeare Festival; Ashland (OR); On-site; USD 30,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival seeks a Costume Run Crew Technician to prepare and maintain costumes for OSF shows and run costume tracks, assisting actors with dressing and quick changes. The role requires collaboration with wardrobe and stage teams to ensure a smooth performance season.

Responsibilities include laundry, basic repairs, steaming and ironing, show tracking, and supporting run crew operations.

Qualifications

• At least 2 years of professional theater or live entertainment as a costume run crew technician or dresser.
• Experience in a higher education technical theater program may substitute.
• Ability to read, listen, and prioritize tasks with respectful communication about body proportions, hair textures, skin tones, and genders.
• Basic and advanced sewing skills for home and industrial machines.
• Comfort with processing laundry for diverse textiles and using steam/ironing equipment.
• Knowledge of local craft repairs (jewelry, shoe maintenance, riveting).
• Experience with domestic and industrial washers and dryers.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and cloud-based info sharing.

Responsibilities

• Prepares and maintains costumes for OSF shows and runs costume show tracks; assists actors with dressing and costume changes.
• During tech, creates show tracks with stage managers, notes, run lists and paperwork.
• Collaborates to ensure safe, inclusive work environment with the Wardrobe team.
• Launders items needing attention during/show; handles laundry and maintenance.
• Performs show maintenance incl. steaming, ironing and basic repairs.
• Partners with supervisors, actors, stage managers and crew to run shows smoothly.
• Acts as Crew Head of production when assigned; serves as liaison between Wardrobe and stage management.
• Understudies other wardrobe run tracks; participates in striking shows (cleaning, sorting, restocking).
• Attend meetings, rehearsals, training; maintain wardrobe spaces and supplies.

Skills

Reading & listening skills

Prioritization

Body proportions & styling language

Hand sewing

Machine sewing

Laundry of diverse textiles

Ironing & steaming

Craft repairs (jewelry, shoe)

Washer/dryer experience

Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook

Cloud-based info sharing systems

Tools

Industrial sewing machines

Overlock machines

Industrial washers/dryers

Job description

• On-site
• Wardrobe, Wig, Hair
• Full-Time

Description

Position Overview:

Prepares and maintains costumes for OSF shows and runs costume show tracks, including assisting actors with dressing and costume changes.

Pay Rate: $26.13 per hour

Expected Start Date: 2/9/27

Expected End Date: 10/31/27

This position is represented by IATSE Local 154.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities (Essential Functions):

• Prepares and maintains costumes for OSF shows and runs costume show tracks. Assists actors with dressing and costume changes during each show; checks in and pre-sets costumes and accessories for each performance. Post-show collects and maintains costumes and accessories.
• During tech, create show tracks by collaborating with stage managers, problem-solving complicated show moments, taking notes, and creating run lists and other paperwork.
• Models and supports the mission and values of OSF by:
  • Demonstrating inclusive behavior and creating an environment of belonging
  • Maintaining a safe and anti-racist working environment
  • Recognizing micro-aggressions and interrupting othering behaviors
• Launder items that need immediate attention during the show or post-show.
• Show maintenance includes laundry, basic repairs, steaming, ironing, etc., of costumes and accessories
• Other laundry and maintenance duties as assigned.
• Collaborate with supervisors, actors, stage managers, and fellow run crew members to ensure the show is successfully run and maintained for the full season.
• Act as Crew Head of production if assigned by Wardrobe Manager, acting as a conduit between the Wardrobe crew and the stage management team during the running of a show.
• Act as an understudy for other wardrobe crew-run tracks.
• Participate in striking of shows, including, but not limited to, cleaning, sorting and restocking of costume pieces.

Other Duties and Responsibilities:

• Attend meetings, rehearsals, training, etc., as scheduled by management.
• Maintain wardrobe spaces, equipment, supplies, and storage.
• Other duties as assigned by management

Supervision Received: Wardrobe Manager, Wardrobe Supervisor

Supervision Exercised: None

Minimum Qualifications & Skills:

Work Experience: At least 2 years’ experience of professional theater or live entertainment as a costume run crew technician (or dresser). Experience in a higher education technical theater program may be considered in lieu of professional experience.

Qualifications/skills: Ability to read, listen, and prioritize tasks. Ability to communicate about body proportions, hair textures and styling, skin tones and genders using respectful and equitable language. Basic hand and machine sewing skills; experience with home and industrial sewing and overlock machines. Comfortable with processing laundry of costumes made of many different textiles with specific treatment needs; comfortable with industrial and domestic ironing and steaming equipment. Knowledge of how to do craft repairs such as jewelry repair, shoe maintenance, riveting, etc. Experience with domestic and industrial washers and dryers.

Knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) and cloud-based information sharing systems.

Physical Ability: Able to lift and carry 40 lbs; regularly climb ladders, stairs, ramps; regularly push and pull loads and carts; regularly reach above shoulders to restock boxes.

Other Skills, Ability and/or Knowledge: Ability to problem solve under time pressure; ability to both work independently and as part of a team. Ability to maintain a positive and respectful work atmosphere and to rebound from challenges or unexpected changes. Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills.

Hours Requirements: Standard workweek is Tuesday through Sunday. Night-time and weekend hours are regularly required. Overtime is required, especially during technical rehearsal periods. The ability to work a variable, split-shift schedule is required.

Organizational Background

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF) was founded in 1935 in Ashland, OR, and has grown from a three-day festival of two plays to a nationally renowned theatre arts organization that presents a rotating repertory season of up to 10 plays and musical, including illuminating interpretations of Shakespeare, other enduring classics, and new works. OSF productions have been presented on Broadway, internationally, and at regional, community, and high school theatres across the country. OSF received the 1983 Special Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre and is one of the largest nonprofit theatres in the nation with three stages, including an outdoor Allen Elizabethan Theatre.

Statement of Purpose

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival creates world-class theatre, revealing our collective humanity through illuminating interpretations of new and classic plays, and inspiring a love of our art form for current and future generations.

Company Values

• We are committed to working toward inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility, creating a space of belonging for all audiences and employees—through concrete actions and systemic improvements.
• We nurture and support our artists, attracting and retaining diverse, innovative talent across the organization.
• We believe in the transformational power of collaborative artmaking and performance.
• We recognize the importance of responsible stewardship of resources and sustainable business, financial, and environmental practices.
• We serve the public good and engage with and respect our community of artists, audiences, staff, local citizens, patrons, donors, and the greater theatre community worldwide.

Equal Opportunity Employer

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.