Equity‑Driven School Musical Director & Acting Coach

Cambridge Public Schools; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 4,100 - 5,000; Part time

Job summary

Cambridge Public Schools Visual & Performing Arts in Cambridge, Massachusetts is seeking a part-time Musical Director for a limited project season. The role involves producing and directing a school musical, coordinating with VPA staff, and teaching acting, voice, and diction to students.

The successful candidate will apply equity in casting, plan recruitment, manage budgets, oversee facilities, and collaborate with tech and design teams to ensure a high-quality production.

Qualifications

• Valid Massachusetts Theater Education certification.
• Current district staff member (preferred).
• Demonstrates expertise in knowledge and teaching of dramatics.
• Any equivalent combination of experience and training that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Responsibilities

• Produces and directs play or musical for school and public performances.
• Applies a social justice approach and equity lens in all aspects of casting and process.
• Designs and conducts recruitment/outreach programs to attract theater participants.
• Teaches acting principles and techniques to students.
• Teaches enunciation, diction, voice development, using voice exercises, speech drills, explanation, lectures, and improvisation.
• Discusses and demonstrates vocal and body expression to teach acting styles, character development, and personality projection.
• Auditions students to select cast and assign parts, employing an equity lens.
• Rehearses and drills students to ensure they master parts.
• Coordinates with VPA department for necessary support staff such as choreographers, design teams, tech teams. Must adhere to formal process before anyone is permitted to begin work.
• Works with tech/costume teams to assign non-performing students to backstage production tasks, such as constructing, painting, moving scenery; managing properties and costuming; operating stage lighting and sound equipment; and operating the stage counter-weight system.
• Selects script for production and coordinates with VPA department so that all royalties, rental fees, and other fees/bills associated with a production are submitted on time and paid. Maintains an accurate record of all expenses and receipts. Presents budget to VPA department.
• Secures and reserves rehearsal and performance facilities with building administration.
• Oversees proper organization and storage of stock theatrical units, props, and school-owned equipment and material on the school stage, in the auditorium, and in the theater classroom.
• Organizes, plans, and directs the respective play.
• Ensures process for costume and properties rental and purchase, work with staff for lighting and sound design and application and set design and construction.
• Develops a rehearsal schedule
• Any other duty necessary to the success of a production.

Skills

Dramatics teaching

Education

Massachusetts Theater Education certification

Job description

Cambridge Public Schools Visual & Performing Arts in Cambridge, Massachusetts is seeking a part-time Musical Director for a limited project season. The role involves producing and directing a school musical, coordinating with VPA staff, and teaching acting, voice, and diction to students.

The successful candidate will apply equity in casting, plan recruitment, manage budgets, oversee facilities, and collaborate with tech and design teams to ensure a high-quality production.