Assistant Teaching Professor of Theatre

JOB TITLE

Assistant Teaching Professor of Theatre

LOCATION

Worcester

DEPARTMENT NAME

Humanities & Arts Department

DIVISION NAME

Worcester Polytechnic Institute - WPI

JOB DESCRIPTION SUMMARY

Worcester Polytechnic Institute's Humanities and Arts Department invites applications for an Assistant Teaching Professor in Theatre, specializing in scenic and/or costume design, to begin in August 2025. We seek an experienced design educator to teach courses, mentor student projects, and support productions for a small theatre program at a STEM-oriented institution with highly motivated and technically savvy students.

Applicants must be prepared to teach Fundamentals of Theatrical Design, Scenic Design, and Costume Design; and should have significant expertise in one or more adjacent disciplines, such as projections/digital media, scenic art, period styles, costume history, costume technology, hair & makeup, masks/puppetry, etc. Expertise in developing technologies and non-theatrical entertainment is of particular interest.

The position requires teaching excellence, strong mentorship skills, flexibility, and cultural sensitivity. In their application materials, candidates should demonstrate the ability to teach engaging, project-based courses; to mentor students of mixed experience levels through production experiences; to think about entertainment design beyond traditional theatre structures; and to contribute to an evolving culture of diversity and inclusion.

JOB DESCRIPTION

About WPI Theatre

As a division of the Department of Humanities & Arts, WPI Theatre presents two major productions per year and offers courses in a wide array of theatrical sub-disciplines, including acting, playwriting, dramatic literature, design, and technical production. Courses are scheduled over four 7-week terms (two terms per semester), and productions run over two 14-week semesters (Fall & Spring). Like many WPI academic experiences, these offerings employ a project-based learning approach, in which students learn by doing. WPI students may study theatre as part of the 6-course Humanities and Arts undergraduate requirement; they may also pursue a minor or a major concentration in Theatre. In addition to managing its own activities, the Theatre faculty provide informal support to WPI’s various performance-based student organizations, which produce plays, musicals, comedy shows, and other events.

Position Expectations:

The teaching load for this position is the equivalent of eight courses per year—which includes all the following activities:

• Teaching 7-week courses in design or other related fields
• Mentoring students through semester-long production experiences & credit-bearing projects (typically 2 productions per year, includes weekly meetings & assignments)
• Managing enrollments & assignments for club- and department-sponsored production credit courses (shared by all Theatre faculty, allocated for optimal workload equity)

Additional responsibilities include:

• Collaborating with other Theatre faculty about the general operation of the program, including: mission & vision setting, curriculum & policy development, season planning, production oversight, supervision of student workers, and informal mentorship of student theatre organizations.
• Participating in initiatives conducted by the Humanities and Arts Department
• Engaging in service to the department and/or the broader university

This is a 9-month faculty position, allowing for both external & internal opportunities (such as professional development, research, or additional teaching) during the summer months.  This position is on WPI's “teaching track,” which provides secure long-term contracts, with opportunities for promotion.

Candidate Qualifications

• MFA in theatrical design or a related field (other degrees will be considered for candidates with significant professional experience)
• Demonstrated success in classroom teaching and advising at the university level (at least 3 years, preferably including project-based, experiential learning)
• Professional experience in scenic design (including props, model building, 2D & 3D drafting, basic scenic/props fabrication) and costume design (including hair & makeup, hand & digital rendering, and basic costume construction)
• Extremely strong collaboration, communication, organization, and problem-solving skills, including the ability to work across disciplines with faculty, staff, and students of various experience levels
• Expertise with a broad range of entertainment/design contexts (amusement parks, escape rooms, cruise ships, comedy shows, etc.) and technologi