Audio Describer Job at Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland

Position Overview

Audio Description provides an overview of the visual aspects of the performance prior to the start of the show, and carefully timed live narration of onstage action during the show. The Audio Describer is responsible for researching and writing pre-show narration, and for providing running commentary during the show for blind and visually impaired patrons.

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.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Prepares pre-show narrative and audio description scripts by:

• Attending show introductions, technical and dress rehearsals as needed, and previews.
• Writing a 10–15-minute pre-show narration that includes costume and set design descriptions, cast lists, and background information.
• Notating a full script with legible audio description information.
• Rehearsing during preview performances.
• Continually updating AD scripts to match any script changes made during the run of each show, such as blocking, dialogue, and timing.
• Rehearsing audio description with IDEA Manager or peer.

• Speaking and enunciating clearly.
• Troubleshooting technical glitches.
• Setting up and striking equipment prior to and after each performance.

• Assisting patron seating as needed to provide the delivery device and guidance for usage.
• Checking in with patrons during intermission and after the performance.
• Retrieving the delivery device at the end of the performance.
• Interacting in a professional manner.

• Documenting patron feedback.
• Documenting technical issues.

• Behaving in a manner that enhances relationships among all company members, particularly those belonging to groups of diverse backgrounds, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, gender, nationality, sexual orientation, religion, language, ability, age, and socioeconomic status.
• Interrupting behaviors that hinder our diversity and inclusion efforts.

Other Duties and Responsibilities:

• Communicates with House staff regarding patron and device needs.
• Understudies other Audio Describers as assigned or needed.
• Attends meetings as scheduled.

Relationships:

Supervision Received: IDEA Community & Cultural Liaison, Administration

REQUIREMENTS

Education: High school diploma or equivalent.

Work Experience: Strong writing and grammatical skills required, with significant attention to detail, people-to-people experience including speaking with the public and communication.

Physical Ability: Must be able to access all levels of the theatre, must be able to lift and carry up to 30 pounds. Must have the ability to see, hear, sit, and speak clearly. Specific abilities include auditory and visual concentration.

Other Skills, Ability and/or Knowledge: Self-directed, ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously, and a problem solver. Knowledge of Word and Excel as needed. Excellent reading, spelling, vocabulary, and editing skills. Ability to learn audio description equipment. Communicate with artistic team for descriptive detail.

Special Hours Requirements: Ability to work flexible shifts days/evening/weekends; maintain an open schedule for irregular hours.

Preferred:

Bachelor’s degree preferred. A background in theatre and prior training or experience in theatre audio description. Understanding of appropriate communication processes with blind or visually impaired individuals. Understanding various visual impairments is useful. A background in theatre and/or prior training or experience in caption services. Bilingual.

Pay rate: $23 hourly