Assistant Professor - Stage Direction and Coordinator of BFA Stage Management

Western Connecticut State University; Danbury (CT); On-site; USD 81,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous leave policies

Retirement plan options

Health insurance choices

Tuition reimbursement

Research and conference opportunities

Job summary

Western Connecticut State University’s School of Visual, Performing, and Communication Arts invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the Department of Theatre Arts. The position will teach undergraduate courses in stage management, oversee training and mentorship of student stage managers, and contribute to the BFA Stage Management curriculum with alignment to AEA standards.

The successful candidate will direct one WestRep Stage production annually, engage in recruitment

Qualifications

• An MFA in Stage Management or Directing is preferred, but those without a terminal degree with 10+ years of significant professional experience in Stage Management and/or Directing will be considered.
• Evidence of at least three years of successful college teaching experience and departmental service is required.
• WCSU seeks applicants who work with diverse student populations and are committed to improving access to higher education for first‑generation and underrepresented groups.

Responsibilities

• Teach undergraduate courses in stage management and oversee training and mentorship of student stage managers.
• Direct one production each year as part of the WestRep Stage season and contribute to the department's artistic programming.
• Teach additional theatre courses aligned with areas of expertise and engage in recruitment, advising, and departmental service.

Skills

Stage management

Directing

Teaching

Education

MFA in Stage Management or Directing

Job description

Western Connecticut State University

School of Visual, Performing, and Communication Arts

Theatre Arts

Assistant Professor – Stage Direction and Coordinator of BFA Stage Management

Tenure Track – Academic Year 2027-2028

Western Connecticut State University’s School of Visual, Performing, and Communication Arts (SVPCA) is pleased to announce that applications are being accepted for a tenure track Assistant Professor position in the Department of Theatre Arts.

WCSU is committed to enhancing our diverse university community by actively encouraging people with disabilities, members of LGBTQIA and BIPOC communities, veterans, and women to apply. We take pride in our pluralistic community and continue to seek excellence through diversity and inclusion. WCSU is honored to be awarded the federal designation as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). This accomplishment marks a pivotal moment in our progress toward fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion within our campus community.

Only an hour from New York City yet located in the scenic foothills of New England’s Berkshires, the School of Visual, Performing, and Communication Arts www.wcsu.edu/svpa offers a professional training program in a liberal arts context at the relatively affordable cost of a public university. New York City’s proximity means our students receive the benefit of a faculty of nationally recognized artists, directors, designers, performers, and scholars dedicated to teaching a highly diverse student population. The Department of Theatre Arts is a fully accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Theatre with eight full-time and over twenty part-time faculty supporting both BFA and BA students studying Musical Theatre, Acting, Design/Technology, and Stage Management. Information on the department may be found at www.wcsu.edu/theatrearts. Information on the university may be found at www.wcsu.edu.

The Theatre Arts department at WCSU places great educational value on not only our classroom work, but also on our mainstage productions. We pride ourselves on the ways in which we develop, create, and execute our work, modeling for our students the ways in which a professional regional theatre operates. This company mentality amongst our students, faculty, and staff is fully realized through our work in supporting WestRep Stage. WestRep Stage represents the producing arm of the Theatre Arts department and exists as a way for students to see themselves represented as company members inside a functioning regional theatre. WestRep Stage mounts six fully realized productions a year (four in our mainstage theatre, and two in our studio theatre), with buy-in and participation from all students regardless of major or degree program in all areas of theatre production. More information about WestRep Stage including production history, mission statement, company members, and our current season can be found at https://westrepstage.org.

Position Summary: The BFA Coordinator of Stage Management will teach undergraduate courses in stage management and oversee the training, mentorship, and professional development of student stage managers throughout the department’s production season. The successful candidate will help shape and support the BFA curriculum in Stage Management, aligning learning outcomes with the professional standards set forth by Actor’s Equity Association (AEA). The candidate will ensure that students develop the organizational, communication, leadership, and collaborative skills necessary for a successful career in the profession.

In addition to stage management coursework, the candidate will direct one production each year as part of the WestRep Stage season, drawing upon demonstrated experience as a stage director. The successful candidate's work as a stage director will contribute to the department’s artistic programming and provide students with opportunities to engage in a collaborative and professionally oriented production process. The candidate will teach additional theatre courses aligned with their areas of expertise. These may include but are not limited to: Play Structure and Analysis, Play Reading, Theatre History, Acting I, Directing I, Intro to Theatre Arts, and Devised Theatre.

Additional responsibilities include recruitment, academic advising, participation in departmental and university service, and engagement in appropriate professional service activities. The successful candidate will contribute to the continued development of the BFA program by integrating professional practices as dictated by AEA, providing student mentorship, and modeling interdisciplinary collaboration into the department’s classroom and production activities.

Qualifications: An MFA in Stage Management or Directing is preferred, however, those without a terminal degree with a minimum of 10 years of significant professional experience in the areas of Stage Management and/or Directing will be considered.Candidates must also provide evidence of at least three (3) years of successful college teaching experience and departmental service.

A candidate who does not meet the above standards may also be appointed provided they have credentials and/or experience substantially comparable to the above qualifications.

WCSU is particularly interested in applicants who have experience working with students from diverse backgrounds and a demonstrated commitment to improving access to higher education for first‑generation and under‑represented groups.

Salary & Benefits: The hiring salary range is $81,149 - $94,674 and is commensurate upon candidates' experience. Please note: WCSU is unable to sponsor applicants for work visas at this time. Applicants must currently be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Western offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Generous leave policies
• Multiple retirement plan options
• Comprehensive health insurance choices
• Supplemental benefits for retirement and family protection
• Tuition reimbursement (if applicable)

Additional information on benefits can be found at www.wcsu.edu/hr/benefits/. There are grant opportunities to support research and conference attendance.

All employment, if offered, is contingent upon proof of citizenship or employability under the requirement of the Immigration and Control Act (IRCA) and the successful passing of a background check. WCSU is committed to providing a safe campus community. Background investigations include reference checks, a criminal history record check and, when appropriate, a financial (credit) report or driving history check.

Western is an affirmative action equal opportunity educator/employer