Middle School Theater Teacher

Job Description:

The Blake School seeks to hire a creative, dynamic and inspirational Middle School theater director to oversee a flourishing curricular and co-curricular program. This is a full-time position beginning with the 2021-22 school year.

Applicants must complete the online job application, provide links to recordings of recent classes or productions led by the applicant and provide digital copies of programs from recent productions directed by the applicant. 

Blake is particularly interested in candidates who will enrich the diversity of identity, lived experience and thinking that makes a community strong and empowers students to engage across differences. Blake offers a highly competitive salary and benefits package, as well as significant support for local and national professional development opportunities.

Application review will begin immediately. Blake will typically cover the travel and lodging costs for finalist candidates visiting from out of town.

Experience and Skills:

Experience and Skills

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

• Create, develop and sustain innovative and thoughtful course curricula in accordance with current best practices in the field and with the school’s mission and values
• Collaborate with Middle School arts faculty to sustain a cohesive program in visual and performing arts
• Collaborate closely with the technical director, musical director, videographer and choreographer as appropriate to produce the fall play and spring musical
• Maintain and organize the school’s inventory of props and costumes
• Communicate with families regarding updated production information 
• Oversee and manage the Middle School theater budget
• Collaborate with Upper School and Lower School theater arts instructors to develop curriculum and foster cross-divisional communication and coherence
• As a full-time Middle School teacher, serve as an advisor to a group of approximately 10 students and assist with supervision during recess, lunch and passing times

Minimum Qualifications

• Demonstrated excellence as an actor, director and theater arts professional
• Bachelor of Arts/Fine Arts in acting, directing, theatre arts, theater education or a related field; Master of Arts/Fine Arts preferred
• Ability to differentiate instruction for students of varying abilities
• Demonstrated experience directing theater productions for middle school-age students
• Demonstrated knowledge of both traditional and contemporary theater repertoire, including works by diverse playwrights and cultural traditions
• Ability to teach a variety of acting skills including expressive movement, healthy and expressive vocal technique, improvisation, character development and script work as well as other current acting techniques
• Ability to envision, manage and direct theatrical performances for young actors
• Familiarity with theatrical styles and productions from a variety of cultures
• Excellent interpersonal skills and strong organizational ability
• Respect for and interest in mentoring young actors
• Creative, joyful approach to learning and teaching
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Demonstrated and continuing interest in professional development related to the discipline as well as adolescent growth and development, education and pedagogy and intercultural competence