Student Artist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Description

City Theatre Company, Pittsburgh's leading professional theater dedicated to new plays, seeks to hire Teaching Artists to support its Young Playwrights and Arts Access programs. This part-time, contract-based role is part of a roster of Teaching Artists within the Education department and reports to the Director of Education and Accessibility (Katie Trupiano).

Teaching Artists are key collaborators in City Theatre's work with students, facilitating creative writing, playmaking, and theatre-based learning experiences that center youth voice, creativity, and collaboration. Through in-school residencies, workshops, and project-based programs, Teaching Artists help guide the development of original student work and contribute to City Theatre's broader engagement with schools and communities across southwestern Pennsylvania.

Requirements

City Theatre is seeking Teaching Artists to support two programs within the Education department. Teaching Artists may work in one or both program areas and are encouraged to indicate their interests in the application process. 

YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS TEACHING ARTISTS:

o Facilitate creative writing, playmaking, and theatre-based learning experiences for middle and high school students across southwestern Pennsylvania. 

o Programs vary in length and format, including:

       - Multi-week classroom residencies (10-20 hours across the school year, during the school day)

       - Short-form workshops (approximately 5-hour series, often in after-school settings)

       - Performance-based playmaking labs (5-15-hour series, typically in after-school settings)

o Teaching Artists collaborate with classroom teachers and City Theatre staff to create responsive, student-centered learning environments that prioritize creativity, collaboration, and youth voice.

ARTS ACCESS TEACHING ARTISTS:

o Facilitate inclusive, theatre-based learning experiences designed for students with disabilities, adapting curriculum to meet a wide range of needs and learning styles with most residencies occurring within the city of Pittsburgh.

o Arts Access Teaching artists usually partner with another Teaching Artist for the duration of the residency. This partnership collaborates with classroom teachers and support staff to create accessible, responsive learning environments that prioritize student expression, engagement, and participation.

Successful Teaching Artists will prioritize:

Creating an ensemble-based learning environment

Creative risk-taking

Student voice and authorship

Peer feedback and collaboration

Confidence in storytelling and self-expression

Teaching Artist Engagement

City Theatre Teaching Artists are engaged on a roster basis. Selected applicants join a pool of artists who are matched with programs throughout the school year based on availability, location, experience, and program needs.

While teaching opportunities are offered on a rolling basis, assignment of work is not guaranteed at the time of hiring and typically begins at the start of the academic year with professional learning and training opportunities. 

The majority of City Theatre education instruction takes place between October and March, with some variation depending on school schedules and program type. This timeline aligns with the development cycle of student work leading into City Theatre's annual Young Playwrights Contest, and ultimately, the annual Young Playwrights Festival. Additional opportunities may be available outside of this window, including programming with City Theatre community partners and special projects.

Successful candidates will demonstrate:

o A solid foundation of knowledge in theatre arts and/or playwriting

o Interest in youth leadership and creative voice development

o A commitment to facilitating process-based, student-centered learning environments

o Comfort adapting curriculum to different timeframes and classroom needs

o Ability to work across multiple program formats (workshops, residencies, labs)

o A commitment to centering Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in their artistic and administrative practice

o Experience working with students with disabilities is strongly valued for Arts Access Teaching Artists

Requirements

o Ability to commute to and from classroom locations throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania

o Teaching Artists will be required to obtain the following clearances before entering a school per Federal and Pennsylvania state law. Assistance from City Theatre may be available.

     o Department of Human Services Child Abuse History Clearance

     o Pennsylvania State Police Request for Criminal Records Check

     o Federal Criminal History Record Information (CHRI)

Compensation

Teaching Artists are contracted per-program on a 1099 fee basis. Compensation varies depending on program type, duration, and scope of work. 

Standard Compensation Structures

ARTS ACCESS PROGRAMS:

o $75/hour for planning and preparation

o $25/hour for planning and preparation

o Arts Access Teaching Artists are compensated hourly due to the adaptive and collaborative nature of this work. Programs typically do not exceed 30 hours of in-classroom instruction. Specific hours will be outlined in project contracts.

YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS PROGRAMS:

o Short-form workshops: $350-400

o Multi-week residencies: $750-1,100

o Playmaking Labs: $500-1,500 depending on duration

o Contract fees are based on scope and format and reflect a combination of instructional time, preparation, and overall program responsibility. Exact compensation will be outlined in project contracts.

Teaching Artists may work on multiple programs each semester, depending on their availability, interests, and experience. They are not expected to work across every program type. Assignments are made collaboratively and consider scheduling, location, and program needs.

To Apply

Submit cover letter and resume and references via the online application to Katie Trupiano, Director of Education. No phone calls, please. 

In your cover letter (addressed to Director of Education and Accessibility, Katie Trupiano), please share what draws you to this work, what you hope to bring as a Teaching Artist, and how your experience connects to the skills and priorities described above. Applications will be accepted though July 5, 2026.

Not sure you meet 100% of our qualifications? Research shows that men apply for jobs when they fulfill an average of 60% of the criteria. Yet, women and other people who are systematically marginalized tend only to apply if they meet every requirement. If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply. 

We are dedicated to considering a broad array of candidates, including those with diverse workplace experiences and backgrounds. So, whether you're returning to work after a gap in employment, simply looking to transition, or taking the next step in your career path, we will be glad to have you on our radar. 

ABOUT CITY THEATRE: 

City Theatre is an Equal Opportunity Employer dedicated to building a culturally diverse and equitable environment and we strongly encourage applications from BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) candidates. In building an equitable work environment, the organization values diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skill sets. City Theatre does not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. City Theatre is committed to building a team that reflects its values and encourages all interested candidates to apply. 

Founded in 1975, City Theatre is in its 51st season as Pittsburgh's home for bold new plays. Located in the historic South Side on its four-building cultural campus, the company produces a season of regional and world premieres; its renowned Young Playwrights Festival, now in its 26th year; a season-long reading series of new works in progress; and the annual Momentum Festival. City Theatre's mission is to provide an artistic home for the development and production of contemporary plays that engage and challenge a diverse audience. Its vision is to be the finest mid-sized theater in America. Organizational core values are: Community; Collaboration; Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Accessibility; and Creativity. With an annual average operating budget of over $3.3M, City Theatre is the largest performing arts organization not located in Pittsburgh's downtown Cultural District and is a constituent and core member of the League of Resident Theaters (LORT), Theatre Communications Group (TCG), and the National New Play Network (NNPN). Clare Drobot serves as Artistic Director alongside Managing Director James McNeel. The current full-time staff numbers 23 with over 125 additional part-time, artist, and contractor staff employed each season. City Theatre is governed by a board of 22 community volunteers (Barbara Rudiak, board president). Learn more at CityTheatreCompany.org