Ruth Theater

Position Summary

The Resident Lighting Designer is a full-time member of The Ruth’s Lighting & Media Department whose responsibilities combine theatrical lighting design, support of guest lighting designers, and hands-on technical and departmental work. This position serves as Lighting Designer for approximately five assigned productions each season and as the primary lighting designer for company events, educational showcases, and other assigned programming.

On productions designed by guest lighting designers, the Resident Lighting Designer provides associate design and technical support, helping translate the guest designer’s work into The Ruth’s venues, systems, and production processes and supporting the successful realization and maintenance of the design.

As a year-round member of the Lighting & Media Department, the Resident Lighting Designer also participates actively in theatrical electrics, programming, installation, maintenance, changeovers, and other departmental operations. The position requires both a strong artistic perspective and significant hands-on technical skill, with responsibilities shifting throughout the season based on production schedules and departmental needs.

The Resident Lighting Designer reports to the Lighting & Media Supervisor for departmental supervision, scheduling, technical standards, equipment, staffing, and day-to-day operations. When serving as the Lighting Designer for an assigned production, the Resident Lighting Designer works collaboratively with the Director, Artistic Director, Executive Creative Producer, Production Manager, and broader creative and production teams throughout the design and production process.

Duties & Responsibilities

Lighting Design

• Serve as Lighting Designer for approximately five assigned productions each season, developing and implementing lighting designs from initial concept through opening and the production run.
• Serve as the primary lighting designer for company events, educational showcases, marketing materials, and other assigned programming, adapting the scope and technical approach to the needs of each event.
• Develop lighting concepts that support storytelling, establish mood and atmosphere, complement scenic and costume designs, and contribute to the overall visual language of each production.
• Collaborate closely with directors, designers, stage management, production leadership, and other creative team members to develop cohesive and unified production designs.
• Participate in design presentations, design conferences, production meetings, and other creative and production conversations associated with assigned designs.
• Attend rehearsals, run-throughs, and other production calls as needed to observe the work and develop or refine the lighting design.
• Create and maintain accurate lighting plots, instrument schedules, channel hookups, magic sheets, cue documentation, and other necessary design paperwork.
• Develop lighting designs within established production budgets, equipment inventories, schedules, staffing, and technical capabilities.
• Coordinate with the Lighting & Media Supervisor regarding equipment needs, rentals, staffing, installation requirements, and other resources necessary to successfully realize assigned designs.
• Prepare designs and documentation to support efficient implementation during hang, focus, programming, and technical rehearsals.
• Program or oversee the programming of lighting cues and control systems as appropriate to each production or event.
• Attend and lead lighting-related work during technical rehearsals for assigned designs.
• Receive and respond professionally to artistic and production feedback throughout the design and implementation process, incorporating appropriate revisions while maintaining clear communication with the Lighting & Media Supervisor and creative team.
• Make appropriate adjustments throughout rehearsals, technical rehearsals, previews, and the production run to maintain the quality and artistic integrity of assigned designs.
• Maintain accurate and complete design documentation to support the operation, maintenance, remounting, or archival needs of assigned productions.

Theatrical Electrics & Technical Support

• Serve as an active member of the Lighting & Media Department and regularly participate in the hands-on implementation and operation of lighting systems for productions, events, and other programming.
• Participate in lighting hang, circuiting, focus, notes, strike, changeovers, and other electrics calls.
• Work as an electrician on resident-designed and guest-designed productions as assigned.
• Program and operate theatrical lighting consoles and control systems as needed for productions, events, educational showcases, rehearsals, and other programming.
• Assist with the installation, configuration, troubleshooting, maintenance, and repair of lighting fixtures, control systems, dimming, networking, cabling, power distribution, and associated equipment.
• Support the installation, maintenance, and transition of repertory lighting plots and venue lighting systems between productions.
• Prepare, test, organize, and restore lighting equipment before and following productions, events, rentals, and other departmental uses.
• Respond to lighting-related technical issues during rehearsals, performances, events, and other calls, troubleshooting problems and helping identify practical solutions.
• Assist with maintaining lighting systems and equipment in safe, reliable, and production-ready condition.
• Provide technical guidance to electricians, overhire personnel, board operators, and other production personnel when serving in a lead or specialized technical capacity.
• Follow established departmental procedures and all applicable theatrical, electrical, ladder, lift, rigging, and workplace safety practices.
• Support other Lighting & Media Department projects and technical needs as assigned by the Lighting & Media Supervisor.

Department Operations

• Partner with the Lighting & Media Supervisor to support an organized, efficient, safe, and professional Lighting & Media Department.
• Assist with maintaining accurate lighting equipment inventories, records, documentation, storage systems, and departmental resources.
• Help identify equipment maintenance, repair, replacement, rental, and purchasing needs and communicate those needs to the Lighting & Media Supervisor.
• Assist with evaluating, testing, and implementing new lighting equipment, technology, systems, and departmental practices.
• Support the preparation and advance planning of equipment, materials, documentation, and technical needs for upcoming productions and events.
• Help maintain clean, safe, organized, and production-ready lighting workspaces, storage areas, booths, and equipment.
• Participate in departmental planning, season preparation, maintenance projects, and other initiatives intended to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of lighting operations.
• Assist with training and mentoring electricians, technicians, overhire personnel, board operators, and other developing department personnel as appropriate.
• Share knowledge of venue systems, departmental practices, production history, and technical solutions to support continuity within the department.

Collaboration & Professional Responsibilities

• Foster a collaborative, respectful, creative, and service-oriented working environment within the Lighting & Media Department and across the organization.
• Communicate clearly and professionally with directors, designers, stage management, production management, department leadership, technicians, guest artists, and other collaborators.
• Balance artistic goals with available resources, production schedules, technical requirements, safety considerations, and organizational priorities.
• Receive and respond constructively to feedback and direction from appropriate artistic, production, and departmental leadership.
• Maintain flexibility and professionalism as production schedules, artistic needs, technical circumstances, and departmental priorities evolve.
• Represent The Ruth professionally when working with guest artists, designers, vendors, overhire personnel, educational programs, and community partners.
• Participate in company-wide meetings, training, professional development, and organizational initiatives as required.
• Support the mission, values, artistic standards, and organizational goals of The Ruth.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of departmental, production, and organizational needs.

Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Theatre, Lighting Design, Technical Theatre, or a related field preferred, or equivalent combination of professional experience and training.
• Significant professional experience in theatrical lighting design, electrics, or related production work; 5–8 years of relevant professional experience preferred.
• Demonstrated experience designing theatrical productions from concept development through technical rehearsals, opening, and performance.
• Strong understanding of theatrical lighting design principles, color, composition, storytelling, and visual aesthetics.
• Strong working knowledge of theatrical lighting fixtures, electrical systems, dimming, control systems, networking, cabling, power distribution, and associated equipment.
• Proficiency with professional theatrical lighting control systems, including ETC Eos; experience with additional control platforms is beneficial.
• Experience with theatrical lighting drafting and documentation software; Vectorworks experience preferred.
• Ability to read, create, interpret, and maintain theatrical lighting plots, paperwork, technical documentation, and system information.
• Demonstrated ability to program theatrical lighting systems and develop cues in collaboration with directors and other members of a creative team.
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills with the ability to identify and resolve technical issues efficiently.
• Strong communication, collaboration, organizational, and time-management skills.
• Ability to balance multiple productions, events, technical assignments, and deadlines within a fast-paced production environment.
• Ability to work independently while functioning effectively as part of a larger artistic, production, and technical team.
• Ability to receive artistic and technical feedback professionally and incorporate appropriate changes into ongoing work.
• Willingness and ability to perform regular hands-on theatrical electrics and technical work as an essential function of the position.
• Ability to safely lift, carry, move, install, and work with theatrical lighting equipment and materials.
• Ability to work at height using ladders, lifts, catwalks, and other theatrical access equipment as required.
• Ability to work evenings, weekends, technical rehearsals, performances, and irregular hours as required by production and event schedules.