Description

Position Overview

Captioning provides the viewer with a text version of the audio during a live performance. The Caption Operator will take the final show script and transcribe it to using the captioning software to create the subtitles that allow deaf and hard of hearing patrons to follow the dialogue of what the actors are saying on stage.

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 (Essential Functions**): 

1. Prepares captioning scripts by 
• Transcribing and editing final scripts into the caption software 
• Formatting lines of dialogue and inserting sound cues 
• Rehearsing captioning with Access Services Coordinator or designee
• Updating scripts to match any script changes made during the run of each show 
2. Provides captioning during live performances by 
• Advancing text in time with actors’ speech delivery 
• Trouble shooting technical glitches 
• Setting up and striking equipment prior to and after each performance 
3. Ensures a positive patron experience by 
• Meeting patrons prior to the performance to set up the delivery device at their seat 
• Resolving technical issues during the performance as needed 
• Retrieving the delivery device at the end of the performance 
4. Advocates for improvements by 
• Documenting patron feedback 
• Documenting technical (e.g. equipment, wifi) issues 
5. Embraces the Festival’s commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion by
• 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: 

1. Understudy other OC operators as assigned or needed 
2. Attend meetings as scheduled 

Supervision Received: Supervised by IDEA Manager or peer 

Supervision Exercised: None

Qualifications & Skills: 

Required:

Education: High school diploma or equivalent

Other Skills, Ability and/or Knowledge: Self-directed, ability to handle multiple tasks while focusing with a high amount of attention to detail, and a problem solver. Knowledge of Word and Excel. Excellent reading, spelling, vocabulary and editing skills. Ability to learn to use caption-specific software and hardware. 

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

Preferred: A background in theatre and prior training or experience in caption services. Bachelor’s degree, Bilingual

Pay rate: $23 hourly