Lead Craft/Dyer

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 musicals, 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.

Position Overview:

All OSF employees are expected to respect diverse ideas, races, genders, sexualities, abilities, cultures, and religions, contribute to working in an anti-racist social justice theater, and value Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA).

The Lead Craft/Dyer creates elaborate and unique costume craft/dye items and oversees multiple costume crafts and dye projects during the production build.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Creates unique costume craft/dye builds and complex alterations by:

a. Interpreting costume character designs and collaborating with Costume Project Managers and Costume Designer

b. Measuring performers and swing performers, respecting individual needs and privacy

c. Draping and drafting patterns

d. Constructing prototypes as necessary

e. Leading and performing fittings on head pieces, armor, scabbards, shoes, accessories

f. Constructing and altering dye, paint craft projects using materials including and not limited to paper, fabrics, leather, raffia, plastics, metals, wires, clay, jewels and beads

g. Mentoring and leading Craft/Dyer, Costumer II, Costumer I by instructing, planning, and prioritizing work

h. Collaborating with Lead Draper and Costume Project Manager to achieve costume goals

2. Models and supports the mission and values of OSF by: a. Demonstrating inclusive behavior and creating an environment of belonging b. Maintaining a safe and anti-racist working environment c. Recognizing micro-aggressions and interrupting othering behaviors

3. Mentor colleagues and all staff, as requested

4. Adheres to OSF Company Handbook, Safety procedures, Collective Bargaining Agreement, and Costume Department Guide

5. Partners with Lead Drapers to oversee show team with clear communication among all members of the costume shop, rentals, wardrobe, hair:

a. Shares notes and pertinent information to achieve clear and efficient quick changes, under or over-dressing, pre-setting props in costumes, tracking information

b. Assists with rehearsal and understudy costume crafts, if feasible

c. Leads research and sample test fabrics, materials, techniques to recommend procedures, products, or tools

d. Meets team deadlines or pro-actively recommend alternatives

6. Participates in the maintenance, organization, and sanitization of costume shop spaces and equipment by cleaning shared spaces and supply bins/ shelves after each use

7. As needed, clean and restock garments and accessories, using anti-bacterial sprays on footwear

8. Attends all company, department, shop meetings, and as necessary, safety trainings

Other Duties and Responsibilities:

9. Assist in Costume Rentals and Rental repairs

10. Attends rehearsals as necessary

11. Leads construction of multi-disciplinary elements (prop-costumes, lighting-costumes, etc)

12. Pick up and deliver supplies between Ashland and Talent campuses; restock inventory

13. Engages with OSF patrons

14. Support Marketing and Development efforts

15. Other duties as assigned by the costume department management staff

Supervision Received:

Costume Director, Associate Costume Director

Supervision Exercised:

No direct reports

Qualifications & Skills:

Work Experience: 7 or more years of experience in construction and augmentation of hats, jewelry, leather goods, masks, and armor.

Qualifications/Skills: High-level experience in giving instruction and receiving feedback. Expert level at reading, listening, and solving mathematical equations, conversions, and time estimations. Expert level drafting and altering costume craft patterns. Highly experienced in cutting fabric and materials efficiently and effectively. Practices de-escalating conflict using clear communication, both verbal and written. Ability to swiftly rebound from challenges and unexpected changes. Models a growth mindset when communicating and collaborating with various personalities and work styles to contribute to the team. Capable of communicating body proportions, hair textures and styling, skin tones and genders using respectful and equitable language. Advanced knowledge of a variety of fabrics and materials using industrial sewing machines and shop tools, adhesives, paints, dyes. Adept with rivet, grommet, snap setter, metal tarnishing and polishing, gold and silver leafing, and basic shoe repair. Experienced in dying, painting, distressing fabrics and materials. Well-experienced in mentoring Craft/Dyers and Costumers regarding working with challenging materials and challenging processes. Leader in adhering to safety standards backstage and in production shops always using proper safety equipment. Knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) and cloud-based information sharing systems.

Physical Ability: Lift and move costumes and equipment weighing up to 30 pounds occasionally, climb stairs occasionally, and sit or stand for extended periods of time with or without work modifications.

Other Skills, Ability and/or Knowledge: Ability to keep multiple projects moving forward simultaneously and meet deadlines, while overseeing costume show team alterations and builds. Ability to pivot and respond to last minute changes. Confidentiality required.

Special Hours Requirements: Standard work week is Tuesday – Saturday. Overtime and schedule adjustments will be required from time to time.

PREFERRED: Knowledge of global garment and costume history. Experienced mentoring and teaching.

This position is represented by IATSE Local 154.

Pay Range: $32.20/ hour Nonexempt.

OSF is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We have a clear vision to be the place where a diverse mix of talented people (women, non-gender-binary/trans individuals, BIPOC -Black, Indigenous, and People of Color- communities, and people with disabilities) are STRONGLY encouraged to apply to our positions, and they stay and be supported in the organization.