Acting III for Musical Theatre

The Chicago High School for the Arts seeks dynamic part-time teaching artists for the 2024-2025 school year to teach in all areas of the Theatre Conservatory: 

• Technique classes offered in movement, dance, vocal performance and voice for the actor

• Ensemble classes offered for musical theatre students and acting students

• Theory classes including theater history, literature and text analysis.

Position Summary: 

The ideal candidate will be a specialist in the field and will have the passion and skills to create a learning environment that will offer rigorous pre-professional arts training that challenges students to achieve at high levels. Instructors at ChiArts will be required to differentiate instruction, design lesson and unit plans that properly assess student achievement, and encourage skill development and critical thinking. 

The ChiArts Theatre Conservatory offers a rigorous program of instruction at the highest artistic and academic level. The program has a mission to prepare students for admission into competitive college/university programs and/or to work in the profession. Students in the Theatre Conservatory have the unique experience of working with a range of artists from the Chicago theater community, giving them unique insights into and experiences with professionals in the field.

The Theatre Conservatory currently includes two programs: Acting and Musical Theatre. The Acting major focuses on a progression of study that includes acting, voice and speech, movement, history of theatre practice and literature, stage production and design, periods and styles, and devising new work. The Musical Theatre major works with faculty from the Theatre, Music, and Dance conservatories and focuses on a progression of study that includes acting, vocal technique, dance, music theory, keyboard, chorale, the history of musical theatre practice, and literature, stage production and design, and devising new work.

Acting III for Musical Theatre (2 semesters)

Using the musical theatre canon post-1960s, the class focuses on refining acting choices when performing solo, in the scene, or in a song.  As in the sophomore year, the class works with the students’ Vocal Techniques and Repertoire and Dance instructors to approach all angles of the selected abridged version of a musical as the cornerstone of the repertoire.  Students use the librettos and lyrics as springboards into character development and scenic arc, breaking down the beats of the work to put it back together as a more cohesive whole and building upon the previous years to emphasize honesty, specificity, and choice in their acting.  Performance Requirements: Winter Musical Theatre Showcase (Fall) and Musical Theatre Curtain Call (Spring).

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Classroom and professional duties include, but are not limited to the following:
• Embrace and promote the ChiArts vision, mission, educational approach, goals, and core values
• Prepare structured lessons that encourage and foster skill development, critical thinking, applications, and ethics.
• Instruct conservatory-level courses, serving students with various learning styles, abilities, and needs.
• Submit course documentation, including syllabus, unit plans, lesson plans, assignments, assessments, and all materials used in classroom instruction on a timely basis.
• Employ outstanding classroom management skills and implement the school code of conduct.
• Regularly assess student achievement, skill mastery and career development skills.
• Manage classroom administration and record keeping including: grades, attendance records, student progress and documentation of student work.
• Regularly communicate with students, parents and other ChiArts staff to share artistic progress, encourage positive behavior, and resolve behavioral and artistic issues.
• Attend and participate in faculty and administrative meetings, parent conferences, open house, other school functions, and in- service professional development sessions.
• Collaborate with the staff to develop “best practices” tailored to the unique philosophy and instructional approach of ChiArts and to the needs of its student population.
• Collaborate with other ChiArts artistic and academic faculty and the larger arts community.
• Perform other duties as the needs of the school and needs of the students may demand (e.g., competitions, exhibits.)
• Work with academic staff to ensure student’s overall success at ChiArts. 

SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS (please note that these are preferred but not always required):

• Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of five (5)  years of training in theatre and/or music
• Minimum of seven (7) years of professional experience in theatre or course-related field
• Minimum of five (5) years of previous teaching experience at a pre-professional or professional level.  Prior experience teaching high school students is strongly preferred.
• Experience teaching related coursework is mandatory.
• Illinois State Teacher Certification is preferred, but may not be required
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Excellent curriculum development and course documentation skills
• Excellent classroom management ability

SALARY

Part-time position

Pay will be commensurate with experience and qualifications

APPLICATION PROCESS:

Qualified applicants should send the following materials: 

1. Cover Letter 
2. Resumes (teaching, performance, other related resumes)
3. Salary History and Requirements
4. 3-5 Professional References:  Name, position, telephone number, and email.

No phone inquiries please. Do not send videos, portfolios or other materials.

Finalists may be asked to submit additional materials at a later time and to teach a sample class. Be aware that every item listed on a resume is subject to verification, and that any offer of employment is contingent on a successful background check.

No phone inquiries, please. Do not send videos, portfolios, or other materials.

The Chicago High School for the Arts (“ChiArts”) began its life as part of a quest for greater diversity among Chicago’s arts and cultural institutions.  ChiArts continues that quest by building holistic diversity at all levels, including students, faculty, staff, and board of directors.  As part of that continuing quest, ChiArts embraces and carries into effect the Illinois Human Rights Act and the Chicago Human Rights Ordinance.