Assistant Wig Lead

Job Description

Job Description

Now Hiring: Assistant Wig Lead

Department: Wig and Hair Department | Reports to: Wardrobe and Hair Manager
Status: Full-Time, Non-Exempt, Union – IATSE Local 154
Expected Start Date: February 2, 2027
Expected End Date: October 31, 2027
Pay Rate: $28.36 hourly
Location: Ashland, OR

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF) is seeking a skilled and collaborative Assistant Wig Lead to join our Wig and Hair Department. This role is ideal for a theatrical wig professional who enjoys hands-on artistry, performance support, and working closely with artists and production teams to bring characters to life onstage. 

The Role You’ll Play

As Assistant Wig Lead, you’ll support the creation, styling, and maintenance of wigs, hairstyles, facial hair, and specialty makeup for OSF productions. You’ll assist with show builds and fittings, run hair and makeup tracks, support technical rehearsals, and help maintain the artistic integrity of assigned productions throughout the season. 

What You’ll Do

Build & Style: Assist with building, ventilating, and styling wigs and facial hair and executing specialty makeup for assigned productions.

Run Performances: Run and understudy hair, wig, and makeup tracks, including applying wigs and makeup, styling performers’ hair, and executing quick changes.

Support Show Builds: Organize cast and fitting information, attend fittings, complete alterations, and assist with show documentation and run sheets.

Maintain Design Integrity: Maintain wigs and facial hair elements throughout the run and help ensure each production remains consistent with the approved design.

Coordinate & Problem-Solve: Communicate with Stage Management and other production teams to address run crew, performer, and show-related needs.

Support the Team: Help prioritize ventilating projects, maintain inventory and dressing room kits, and keep Wig and Hair spaces clean and organized. 

You’ll Thrive Here If You…

Have 3+ years of professional experience as an Assistant Wig Lead, Wig and Hair Technician, or in theatrical wig making and run crew work. Relevant advanced education or certification may substitute for up to two years of professional experience.

Bring proficient knowledge of ventilation, wig cap construction, facial hair construction, natural hair styling, and working with a full range of hair textures.

Have knowledge of contemporary and period hairstyles and theatrical makeup, including stage, street, and special effects makeup.

Are organized, communicative, and comfortable managing show documentation, maintenance schedules, and multiple priorities. 

Preferred Qualifications

Extensive wig ventilating and building experience.
Experience styling and caring for Black/African American and multi-ethnic hair and wigs.
Experience with makeup techniques for a variety of skin types, including Stage, Beauty, Fantasy, Period, Special Effects, and Prosthetics.
Cosmetology license. 

Physical & Schedule Requirements

Ability to sit and stand for eight hours or more, perform continuous and repetitive hand and wrist work, reach overhead, lift up to 10 pounds, and repeatedly use stairs. This position has an irregular schedule, including evenings and weekends, generally working a 5–6 day week . 

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.