Assistant or Associate Professor Musical Theatre - California State University Fullerton

The Department of Theatre and Dance in the College of the Arts at California State University, Fullerton, invites applications for a full-time tenure track Assistant or Associate Professor to lead the Musical Theatre program. Appointment begins Fall 2021.



California State University, Fullerton is a minority-serving institution and an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer with a strong commitment to increasing the diversity of the campus community and the curriculum. CSUF fosters an inclusive environment within which students, faculty, staff, and administrators thrive. Individuals advancing the University’s strategic diversity goals and those from underrepresented groups are particularly encouraged to apply.



This is a leadership position where the primary responsibilities will include teaching undergraduate courses in Musical Theatre, contributing to the production season, and curriculum development. Expertise in any of the disciplines of musical theatre will be considered. Specifically: acting, direction, music direction, choreography, and/or voice. Our Department strives to further CSUF’s identity as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) that welcomes and embraces diversity. We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate through their teaching, research/creative activities, and service that they will contribute to a climate of inclusivity, diversity and excellence.



The Department

The Department of Theatre & Dance serves approximately 535 Majors, with 18 Full-time and 30 Part-time Faculty and 9 Full-time Professional Staff, and offers: BFA Degrees in Acting and Musical Theatre; BA Degrees in Theatre, Design & Production, and Dance; and MFA Degrees in Directing and Design & Production. The yearly season consists of up to 10 Main Stage and 8 Studio Series (productions performed, designed, and staffed by students). These include plays, musicals, dance, and opera, produced in 5 spaces, utilizing a variety of faculty directors, graduate student directors, and guest directors. Our BFA in Musical Theatre program has a national reputation, with our alumni recently performing on Broadway and in National Tours in such productions as Mean Girls, Hamilton, Beautiful, School of Rock, and the revival of A Chorus Line. The Department of Theatre and Dance at California State University, Fullerton, is fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre and the National Association of Schools of Dance and is a member of University Resident Theatre Association and United States Institute for Theatre Technology. For more information about the department, please visit:

http://www.fullerton.edu/arts/theatredance/.



Position

A series of retirements puts our Musical Theatre program in a period of transition, providing an extraordinary opportunity for a highly motivated leader to develop and implement a vision of training for the musical theatre performing artist in the 21st century. The primary professional responsibilities of this instructional faculty member are: teaching undergraduate courses in musical theatre; directing, choreographing and/or performing (specific to the expertise of the candidate) in Mainstage productions, Studio Series, showcases, and workshop productions of musicals, as part of the regular assignment; and providing leadership and vision in the area through curriculum and policy development, student performance and course assessments. In addition, faculty responsibilities include advising students, maintaining office hours, recruitment of a diverse population of students and faculty (both adjunct and full-time), service in Department, College, University, and system-wide committees, and working collaboratively and productively with colleagues. Positive tenure and promotion decisions require excellent teaching; an active and successful program of scholarly research and/or creative activities in the discipline; and strong leadership contributions to Department, College and University committees and to external professional organizations that serve the broader disciplinary community.



Required Qualifications:

• MFA or MM in any performance discipline; BFA in Musical Theatre with considerable professional and/or academic experience will be considered.

• Professional experience in the candidate’s discipline (Broadway, National Tours, major regional theatres operating under full professional union contracts).

• Evidence of successful university/conservatory teaching in musical theatre and student mentorship experience.

• Knowledge of musical theatre literature: classical, contemporary and cultural.

• Ability to collaborate effectively with a wide and culturally diverse range of students, faculty, staff and administration.



Preferred Qualifications:

• Evidence of successful experience at a university or college for three (3) years or more years.

• Evidence of leadership.

• Evidence of curriculum development and/or a strong vision of musical theatre artist training for the 21st century.

• Experience and/or interest in developing new works in musical theatre.

• Expertise in current pedagogical trends in musical theatre.



Application Procedure

A complete online application must be received by electronic submission in order to receive consideration. To apply, please visit http://hr.fullerton.edu/careers/Faculty.php to complete the required online Fullerton application, search for position #498293, and provide the following required materials:

• Letter of application responding to your experience related to the required qualifications and discussing your teaching philosophy and pedagogical practices with musical theatre students. Please include priorities for BFA musical theatre training and curriculum.

• Curriculum Vitae

• Candidate Statement on Commitment to Inclusive Excellence:

Diversity, Inclusion and Equity are fundamental to the mission of CSUF. Diversity, as reflected in our student body, refers to the variety of personal experiences, values, and viewpoints that arise from differences of culture and circumstance. Such differences include race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, religion, language, differing abilities, socioeconomic status, geographic region, and more. Please discuss how you would include anti-racist and inclusive policies in your teaching and pedagogy, to create a just and equitable classroom. Explain how your experiences and/or qualifications enhance your ability to contribute to the students, faculty, and staff who are members of our diverse CSUF community.



• A list of three references with relevant contact information. (name, preferred contact number and email)



Semi-Finalists:

Semi-Finalists may be asked to submit additional information such as:

• Links to recent recordings of musical theater productions and/or rehearsals that you have had a leadership role.

• Current course outlines, course assignments, and assignment rubrics.



Finalists:

• Over a one-day period, finalists will be invited to participate in a series of interviews and teaching demonstrations via Zoom. Finalists will also be asked to present their vision of a 4-year arc of B.F.A study in Musical Theatre. Current course outlines, syllabi, course assignments, texts and rubrics may also be requested.

• Finalists will be asked to submit three letters of recommendation. Please have these ready for the referents to submit should you move forward to this phase of the search. On the References page of the online application, enter information and email addresses for three referents who will provide a confidential letter of reference for your application. A request via email along with information on uploading the letter will be sent. You will be able to verify that each letter has been received by CSUF by logging back into the recruitment system. Please do not submit letters of recommendation until asked to do so.



Please do not send additional materials until requested to do so. The finalists for the position will be contacted when to submit and are required to submit all materials for full consideration.



Please direct all questions about the position to: Dale A. Merrill, Dean, College of the Arts at dmerrill@fullerton.edu with “Musical Theatre Search” in the subject line or call 657-278-3256.



To be assured full consideration, all application materials must be received by January 18, 2021. The anticipated appointment date is August 16, 2021.



Additional Information



The position will be at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor, commensurate with rank, experience, and qualifications. Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications and is subject to budgetary authorization and any California State University System faculty contract increases. Summer research grants, moving expenses, start‐up funds, technology package and a reduced teaching load may be available. An excellent comprehensive benefits package is available that includes health/vision/dental plans; spouse, domestic partner and dependent fee-waiver; access to campus child-care; a defined-benefit retirement through the state system, along with optional tax sheltering opportunities. For a detailed description of benefits, go to http://hr.fullerton.edu/payroll_benefits/HealthCarePlans.php



Multiple positions may be hired from this recruitment based on the strength of the applicant pool.



The person holding this position is considered a ‘mandated reporter’ under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.



A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate can be formally offered a position with the CSU. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect application status of applicants or continued employment of current CSU employees who apply for the position.



Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified applicants with disabilities who self‐disclose.