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The School of Theatre and Dance of Columbia College Chicago seeks applicants for a Practitioner-in-Residence faculty position in Musical Theatre/Acting beginning August 2026.

The successful candidate will have significant experience in professional theatre as a musical theatre performer, director, and/or acting coach. They will be familiar with a range of acting techniques and styles, as well as music and text analysis, audition and casting processes, and other skills relevant to the musical theatre industry. They will possess the scholarly background to instruct students in the foundational knowledge and skills of the discipline, while also introducing them to musical theatre history and its diverse repertoire of theatrical styles and genres. This person works in collaboration with other full-time faculty in musical theatre dance and voice to recruit students and manage the Musical Theatre BA and BFA degrees. The position will teach 12 credits per semester.

In addition to expertise in their field, successful candidates must exhibit excellent teaching and creative/scholarly credentials and be passionate about undergraduate education.

The School of Theatre and Dance at Columbia College Chicago houses majors in Acting for Stage and Screen (BA and BFA), Musical Theatre (BA and BFA), Comedy Writing and Performance (BA and BFA), Dance (BA), and Theatre Arts: Production and Practice (BA) with concentrations in Theatre Design & Technology, Directing, Stage Management, and Theatre Arts. With over 700 students, the School of Theatre and Dance's mission is to provide undergraduate students with a comprehensive education in the practices and processes of creating theatre, dance, and live performance. The School of Theatre and Dance stages approximately 50 productions a year.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Teach at the undergraduate level in areas assigned by the School Director.

• Engage with the broader scholarly and professional communities.

• Supervise, advise and mentor students.

• Contribute to the development, planning, and implementation of a high-quality curriculum.

• Commit to continuing professional development.

• Provide service to the college, profession and community.

• Actively follow and promote Columbia College Chicago policies.
   

Columbia College Chicago actively promotes access to an expansive array of social and cultural theories, practices and perspectives that are vitally important to the successful delivery of a contemporary creative curriculum and the college's mission to educate students who will author the culture of their times. These principles are essential to the educational experiences of our students, staff, and faculty.

We seek individuals with a demonstrated ability to work with students from a wide range of social and cultural backgrounds, and whose creative, scholarly and/or professional work contributes to a rich educational experience consistent with our mission. For more information, please visit here.

• MFA, Doctorate or other terminal degree in the performing arts (Theatre, Acting, Directing, etc.).

• Candidates with a post-secondary degree and significant professional experience at the highest level will also be considered.

Desired Qualifications

• Professional experience and college teaching experience are highly desirable.

Application
To apply for this position, submit the following materials online:

• A letter outlining the applicant's background, qualifications, and vision for the position.

• A curriculum vitae.

• A statement of teaching philosophy

• Contact information for three references. References will not be contacted without prior consultation with the applicant.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. For best consideration, please apply by June 20.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee and is subject to change based on the needs of the department and/or college.

Position Minimum Annual Salary: $61,000

Position Maximum Annual Salary: $62,000

The salary range provided in this posting reflects what we reasonably expect to pay for this position. Actual compensation offered or earned is dependent on experience, education and other factors including department budget.

About the College

Columbia College Chicago is a private not-for-profit college for creatives serving over 4,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Columbia College is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission. Located in downtown Chicago's South Loop, the College is centered in one of the world's most lively urban cultural areas. Its many competitive advantages include its strong reputation in the creative industries, outstanding faculty and passionate students, impressive technological and physical resources, and a sincere commitment to bringing diverse voices and experiences into proximity with each other to shape new forms of creative practice.

At Columbia, we offer a rewarding work environment for our faculty and staff. We take pride in offering competitive benefits, including affordable health, dental, and vision coverage; flexible spending accounts; a commuter benefits program; life and accidental death & dismemberment coverage; paid and unpaid leave options; work/life benefits; educational assistance programs; and retirement and financial planning benefits. Click here for more information.

We invite you to join our talented faculty and staff and become part of our collective aspiration to ensure Columbia prepares students for success in their creative fields through innovation, engagement and real-world experiences.

Additional Information

• Position subject to a background screening.

• This is a non-union position.

• This is a full-time position.

• This position is overtime exempt.

Columbia College Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all local, state, and federal laws and regulations concerning civil rights. The college does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law.