Lighting Director +ndash; National Tour
Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet
Talmi Entertainment
Tour Dates: November 3, 2026 +ndash; January 1, 2027
Compensation: Up to $2,200 per week, including per diem
Position Overview
Talmi Entertainment / Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet seeks a skilled, energetic, and experienced Lighting Director with advanced proficiency in ETC Eos-family console programming, particularly the ETC Gio and Ion, for our national tour.
The Lighting Director will be responsible for overseeing daily lighting load-ins, adapting and programming the show's lighting design, operating performances, and supervising load-outs in a wide variety of performing arts centers across the United States.
The tour visits a new city nearly every day, with significant variation in venue size, lighting inventory, rigging systems, and technical capabilities. The successful candidate must be an experienced theatrical lighting professional who can work independently, troubleshoot efficiently, and maintain the highest possible fidelity to the original lighting design under demanding touring conditions.
Technical Qualifications
Advanced proficiency in ETC Eos-family console programming is essential. Candidates must have extensive hands-on experience with ETC Gio and/or Ion consoles and be comfortable programming, modifying, and operating complex theatrical lighting show files.
Required skills include:
Advanced ETC Eos programming, including patching, cue creation and editing, palettes, presets, effects, and moving-light control.
Ability to independently modify and update an existing theatrical show file to accommodate different venue configurations and available lighting inventories.
Experience adapting moving-light programming, fixture substitutions, focus positions, and cue timing while maintaining the integrity of the original lighting design.
Strong knowledge of intelligent lighting fixtures, DMX addressing, fixture profiles, signal distribution, and troubleshooting.
Familiarity with Martin MAC Vipers, Martin MAC Auras, ETC Source Four, Elation Color Chorus, and other equipment commonly found in American performing arts centers.
Experience programming and operating lighting for theatrical stage productions, preferably ballet, dance, or other cue-intensive performances.
Ability to troubleshoot console, fixture, patching, networking, and control-system issues quickly and independently.
Candidates must be capable of taking an existing ETC Eos show file into a new theater, adapting it to the venue's equipment, updating the programming as necessary, and executing a consistent performance with limited preparation time.
Responsibilities
The Lighting Director will work closely with the Production Manager and local venue crews to execute all aspects of the lighting operation, including:
Directing local union and nonunion stage crews during daily load-ins and load-outs.
Supervising truck unloading, lighting installation, fixture placement, cabling, and system setup.
Assessing each venue's lighting equipment and adapting the touring lighting design accordingly.
Patching and configuring lighting fixtures, including intelligent fixtures and house equipment.
Updating ETC Eos console programming, including presets, palettes, focus positions, and cues, to accommodate each venue.
Troubleshooting lighting equipment, control systems, and programming issues.
Running lighting cues and operating the console during performances.
Maintaining the artistic integrity and consistency of the production's lighting design throughout the tour.
Overseeing lighting equipment breakdown, packing, and loading onto the tour's semi-truck.
Coordinating with the Production Manager to maintain efficient daily operations and meet demanding touring schedules.
Touring Experience + Professional Qualifications
The successful candidate will have substantial professional experience in theatrical lighting, preferably with national touring productions, ballet, dance, or musical theater.
Candidates should demonstrate:
Strong leadership skills and experience supervising local stage crews.
Excellent technical troubleshooting and problem-solving abilities.
The ability to work efficiently under tight schedules and changing technical conditions.
A thorough understanding of theatrical lighting design, particularly the requirements of ballet and dance.
Strong communication and organizational skills.
The ability to work independently while collaborating with production management and venue personnel.
Tour Logistics
The Lighting Director will be available for a pre-tour lighting build at the ILC in Chicago at the end of October.
Crew members travel overnight between cities aboard an industry-standard 12-bunk sleeper coach. The production travels with one semi-truck carrying theatrical equipment and a separate seated coach for the cast.
Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet is a challenging and rewarding touring engagement. The production typically loads in, performs, and loads out of a different city each day, requiring exceptional technical proficiency, efficiency, and adaptability.
Compensation + Application
Weekly Compensation: Up to $2,100 per week, including per diem.
Engagement Dates: November 3, 2026 +ndash; January 1, 2027.
Please send your cover letter and r+eacute;sum+eacute; to jobs@nutcracker.com.
Applicants should specifically describe their experience programming ETC Gio, Ion, or other Eos-family consoles, including their experience adapting existing theatrical lighting show files to different venues.
Please note: Tour dates are subject to change.