Assistant/Associate/Professor of Music, Department of Musical Theatre; Acting and Performance

ABOUT THE SCHOOL OF MUSIC, THEATRE & DANCE.  As a comprehensive performing arts school set in one of the world’s finest public institutions of higher education, the School of Music, Theatre & Dance (SMTD) is deeply engaged in the creation, practice, scholarship and pedagogy of music, theatre, and dance.  We aim to provide leadership, nationally and internationally, in all three fields.  We assert and celebrate the value of the arts to the mission of the University of Michigan.  SMTD s strongly committed to diversity and inclusion as means of achieving and sustaining excellence.

University Productions (UProd) presents ten fully-mounted main stage shows each year, serving the departments of Theatre & Drama, Musical Theatre, Dance, and Voice in three different venues. Of these ten, the Department of Musical Theatre presents 3-4 productions per year. These productions are directed by faculty and guest directors, and crewed by students. Additional faculty, guests, and BFA theatre students complete the creative production teams. Undergraduate Design & Production majors work as stage managers, shop assistants, and technicians for each production; some advanced students may design costumes, sets or lighting for these productions. UProd manages all of the professionally staffed production shops.

Duties:  The appointee will teach classes in acting and performance in SMTD’s Department of Musical Theatre; direct one show in our University Productions season; collaborate with the acting faculty in development of a more robust sequential acting curriculum; embody a strong commitment to teaching excellence, creative innovative acting curriculum for a broad range of students of varied identities and backgrounds who seek to explore a range of educational opportunities and career pathways;  recruit and retain students of exceptional promise; develop and maintain a visible national and international profile as a director and pedagogue. The appointed faculty will be expected to: teach in-person instruction, attend and participate in on-campus departmental, and SMTD performances, [direct/choreograph/music direct] in person rehearsal processes when assigned as part of the university production Department of Musical Theatre season; participate in faculty governance, attend faculty and departmental meetings, and serve on faculty, department, and university committees as appropriate.  Additionally, the appointee is expected to collaborate with other artists and scholars at SMTD as well as the university at large. 

Qualifications:

A thorough knowledge of acting techniques, styles and methodologies. A sustained and distinguished record as a teacher, performer and/or director.  Demonstrated ability to empower, advocate for, and value a broad range of students of diverse identities and experiences, as shown through pedagogy, mentoring and service related activities. Demonstrated expertise in teaching having served as a faculty member at an institution of higher learning.  Possess a global perspective and approach to the exploration of artistic training through a lens of specialized expertise that supports the ongoing evolution of the musical theatre industry.  Evidence of successful organization ability.  A Master’s degree in the Fine Arts or equivalent experience is required.