Lecturer - Theatre & Performance

Spelman College; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Spelman College invites applications for a full-time Lecturer in Theatre Studies. The position begins Fall 2027 and emphasizes theatre history, dramaturgy, script analysis, and African American theatre as part of a dynamic undergraduate program.

The Lecturer will teach a 4/4 load, potentially serving as production dramaturg for one departmental production per academic year and will engage in curriculum development and student mentorship.

Qualifications

• Experience with theatre history, dramaturgy, script analysis, African American theatre.
• Strong undergraduate teaching and advising abilities.
• Interest in interdisciplinary and experiential learning in theatre.

Responsibilities

• Teach undergraduate courses in Theatre History, Dramaturgy, Script Analysis, African American Theatre, Theatre Studies, and related topics.
• Serve as production dramaturg for departmental productions, with one full assignment per year.
• Mentor student production dramaturgs through research, rehearsal, and production.
• Collaborate with directors, designers, performers, and student dramaturgs to integrate dramaturgical inquiry into the production process.
• Support curriculum development, assessment, recruitment, advising, and departmental initiatives.

Job description

Position Information

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire and must maintain authorization throughout employment. This position is not eligible for sponsorship.

This position is contingent upon the availability of sufficient funding.

Faculty/Type Title

Lecturer - Theatre & Performance

Begins

Fall 2027

About the College

Spelman College seeks teacher/scholars dedicated to excellence inteacting and to the continued enhancement of the academicenvironment for students and colleagues. Founded in 1881, SpelmanCollege is a private four-year liberal arts college located inAtlanta, GA. The oldest historically Black college for women in theUnited States, Spelman is a member of the Atlanta University CenterConsortium and Atlanta Regional Consortium for HigherEducation.

Position Description

The Department of Theatre & Performance at SpelmanCollege seeks a dynamic theatre scholar-practitioner and educator for a full-time Lecturer position in Theatre Studies, beginning in AY 2027, with expertise in theatre history, dramaturgy, script analysis, and African American theatre. The successful candidate will support the intellectual and artistic development of undergrad theater students while contributing to the continued development of an innovative and evolving curriculum.

The Lecturer carries a 4/4 teaching load. As part of this load, the Lecturer may serve as production dramaturg for one departmental production per academic year in place of one course assignment. The position participates actively in both the academic and artistic life of the department.

The Department of Theatre & Performance centers innovation, experimentation, and interdisciplinary creative practice rooted in Black performance traditions and informed by global aesthetics. We prepare students to lead across the evolving landscape of theatre and performance through the integration of artistic practice, critical inquiry, collaboration, and creative exploration.

We invite candidates interested in connecting historical and cultural inquiry with contemporary theatre-making and in developing inventive, interdisciplinary courses that support experiential learning and expand the curriculum. We welcome candidates who approach theatre history and dramatic literature through critical inquiry, examining cultural context, artistic form, representation, and their relationship to contemporary theatre-making. Areas of interest and experience might include African American, Black, and diasporic theatre traditions; global and transnational theatre; performance criticism; new work development; directing and devising; digital and emerging technologies; arts advocacy; and community engagement.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate excellence in undergraduate teaching and advising within a collaborative liberal arts environment; enthusiasm for working with students across levels of experience; and a commitment to critical inquiry and artistic practice as integral to teaching and learning. We value culturally affirming and inclusive pedagogical practices, strong interpersonal and collaborative skills, and an interest in engaging students across disciplines through theatre-making, dramaturgical inquiry, and creative practice.

Qualifications

Primary Responsibilities

• Teach undergraduate courses in Theatre History, Dramaturgy, Script Analysis, African American Theatre, Theatre Insight, and additional courses within the candidate’s areas of expertise and departmental curricular needs.
• Serve as production dramaturg for departmental productions, with one full production dramaturgy assignment per academic year eligible to substitute for one course assignment.
• Support and mentor student production dramaturgs throughout the research, rehearsal, and production process.
• Collaborate with directors, designers, performers, and student dramaturgs to integrate dramaturgical inquiry into the production process.
• Mentor students in dramaturgical inquiry, critical writing, script analysis, and production dramaturgy.
• Contribute to new work development and other creative projects within the department.
• Develop interdisciplinary and experiential learning opportunities that connect critical inquiry with theatrical practice.
• Participate in curriculum development, assessment, recruitment, advising, and other departmental initiatives.
• Participate in departmental and College service.

Preferred Qualifications

• African American, Black, and/or African diasporic theatre.
• Global and international theatre traditions, including transnational exchange and migration.
• Performance criticism and critical writing.
• Directing and/or devising.
• Interdisciplinary approaches to theatre-making.
• Production dramaturgy and new work development.
• Digital media and emerging technologies in theatrical practice.
• Arts advocacy and community engagement.
• Mentoring undergraduate creative work and student-generated projects.

EEO Statement

Spelman College is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are asmoke-free campus.

Documents Needed To Apply

Required Documents

1. Cover Letter of Interest
2. Transcripts (unofficial)
3. Curriculum Vitae
4. Teaching Philosophy
5. Sample Syllabus
6. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement