Lighting and Sound Designer Mentor

Lighting & Sound Mentor

Friends Select School seeks a Lighting & Sound Mentor for our Fall, Winter, and Spring 2025-26 productions. The L&S Mentor will collaborate with the production team (Producer, Director, Choreographer, Technical Director, Props Coordinator) as well as serve as a mentor to student designers, to create a positive educational theater experience for everyone. The time commitment will consist of about 1-2 days (2-4 hours/week) during the initial rehearsals for concept presentations and mentorship with student designers, and increase as you get closer to the performance dates. Communication with our student Stage Manager, Lighting Designer, and Sound Mixer throughout rehearsal can be done via email or with on-site, after school meetings. This role is one rooted in mentorship and collaboration with student designers who have experience and are excited about learning from a professional. The L&S Mentor will support a student Lighting Designer and Sound Mixer (experienced, capable, enthusiastic) as they learn the skills and techniques of a professional while supporting the work of the production during Tech and Performances; during Tech, you can expect about 15 hours/week, 20 hours/week during performances. There are no rehearsals when school is on a break or holidays. The rehearsal schedule will be communicated from the Producer/Director. The ideal candidate will be organized, creative, positive, collaborative, flexible and open to learning about/supporting our Quaker values.

The salary is $2,000 per show, $6,000 total.

Fall Production Urinetown the Musical:

Rehearsal: September 8-November 7

Tech: November 10-19

Performances: November 20, 21, 22

Middle School Matilda JR.:

Rehearsal: January 12-February 27

Tech: Feb 24 - March 4

Performances: March 5, 6, 7

Spring Production PLAY TBA:

Rehearsal: March 9-April 10

Tech: April 13-22

Performances: April 23, 24, 25

Duties/Responsibilities:

Attend all production meetings/performances as scheduled

Collaborate with the Director on initial concept, design, and final product

Utilize a lightboard with ETC Element 40 / Source Fours. Audio systems for performances are on an external mixer that is patched into a Crestron system.

Maintain a neat and orderly tech booth area

Attend Designer Run (date TBD) and all rehearsals during tech week

Qualifications/Skills:

Experience design lights and sound for theatrical productions (professional and educational)

Experience working with middle/upper school students

Excellent interpersonal, communication, time management and organizational skills

Commitment to Quaker values, social justice and anti-racism

We welcome candidates whose teaching experience has not happened within an independent school. Candidates who are from diverse backgrounds and/or who have experience in cultural competency work are strongly encouraged to apply.

Interested candidates should send a professional resume, cover letter, and any visual documentation of your work on a website or linkable portfolio to Stephanie Kyung Sun Walters, Drama Department Chair, by applying through the school’s website:

Friends Select School is a co-educational, pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade, college preparatory, independent school located in Center City Philadelphia, serving over 600 students. As a Quaker school committed to diversity, equity and inclusion, FSS actively seeks and warmly welcomes applicants from diverse and underrepresented populations. Friends Select School provides programs and services and equal opportunity in the administration of its educational and admissions policies, financial aid programs, employment and the selection of its governing board without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected class status.