Practitioner in Residence, Stage Management - Theatre

Columbia College Chicago actively promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion as vitally important to its present and future success. These principles are essential to the educational experiences of our students, staff, and faculty.

The Theatre Department of Columbia College Chicago seeks applicants for a Practitioner in Residence position in the stage management concentration, theatre major beginning August 2022.

The faculty member will teach courses in stage management, production management, crew, and collaborate with the production manager in the supervision, oversight and management of technical operations. This position implements systems and processes that assures the safe, efficient, effective and equitable operations of the Classic Theatre, the Courtyard Theatre, The Sheldon Patinkin Theatre and Studio 404. The faculty will teach three classes per semester, which includes 1 course release per semester to perform significant service to the department in the mentorship of student stage managers and the successful management of 35 show annual season. The successful candidate is a skilled theatre professional who has general knowledge across a broad range of theatre technologies and will effectively navigate the complexities of a multifaceted work environment and ambitious production calendars. Effective teaching and student mentorship in the context of a diverse student body is a vital aspect of this position.

In addition to expertise in their field, successful candidates must exhibit excellent teaching and scholarly credentials and be passionate about undergraduate education.

The Theatre Department at Columbia College Chicago houses majors in Acting (BA and BFA), Musical Theatre (BA and BFA), Comedy Writing and Performance, Design and Technology, and concentrations in Directing, Playwriting, Stage Management and Theatre Studies. With over 800 students, the Theatre Department’s mission is to provide undergraduate students with a comprehensive education in the practices and processes of creating theatre and live performance. In addition to its majors, the department offers minors in Acting, Stage Combat, Theatre Directing, Playwriting, and Devising for Collaborative Performance. The department works actively to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion as vitally important to the making of theatre and the educational experiences of its students and seeks to root out discrimination of all kinds in classes and productions.

The School of Fine and Performing Arts (SFPA) houses academic programs in visual arts, performing arts, business, and marketing. Home to more than 110 full-time faculty and nearly 3,500 students, the SFPA community is deeply committed to rigorous exploration of a wide range of artistic practices and economies, with strong focus on a diversity of contemporary styles and current industry trends. Across SFPA, we challenge the next generation of artists, scholars, managers, performers, designers, makers, and entrepreneurs to master the skills and interrogate the foundations of their creative disciplines; imagine new futures; and contribute to the vibrant arts communities of Chicago and beyond.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Teach at the undergraduate and, as appropriate, at the graduate level in areas assigned by the Department Chair, teaching courses in stage management, production management, and stage crew.
• Engage with the broader scholarly and professional communities.
• Provide production management support for departmental productions and the MFA in Acting and Contemporary Performance
• Supervise load in and tech work during evenings and weekends
• Supervise and ensure a safe work environment at technical rehearsals—responding to production needs as they arise and working with student and faculty stakeholders to ensure timely progress
• Ensure adherence to established policies and procedures for load in, tech rehearsals, and strike
• Recommend changes of policy and procedure to the Production Manager to improve efficiency and safety
• Sit in on production meetings for student directed projects, playwriting projects, etc.
• Serve as an advisor to student stage managers including regular one‐on‐one meetings
• Contribute to the development, planning and implementation of a high-quality, inclusive curriculum consistent with the Columbia College Chicago commitment to equity and social justice.
• Commit to continuing professional development.
• Provide service to the college, profession and community.
• Actively follow and promote Columbia College Chicago policies.

We seek individuals with a demonstrated ability to work with students from a wide range of social and cultural backgrounds, and whose creative, scholarly and/or professional work aligns with our commitment to dismantling systems of privilege and oppression. All faculty members are expected to advance the College's DEI mission. For more information on the office of Academic Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion please visit: colum.edu/diversity.

Required Qualifications

• MFA in Stage Management. Candidates with a post-secondary degree and significant professional experience at the highest level may also be considered.

Desired Qualifications

• Professional experience and college teaching experience are highly desirable where applicable.
• Candidates should demonstrate broad knowledge and experience in the subjects they would teach.
• Working knowledge of PC and Macintosh based productivity software, as well as functional familiarity with industry standard theatrical software and able to learn other software as needed
• Prior supervisory experience of a team in a dynamic environment.
• Experience advising and training students preferred
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with various groups
• Problem solving skills
• Experience with and evidence of commitment to the development of inclusive curriculum consistent with the Columbia College Chicago commitment to equity and social justice.

Application
To apply for this position, submit the following materials online:

• A cover letter outlining the applicant’s background, qualifications, and vision for the position.
• A curriculum vitae.
• An Evidence of Inclusive Excellence Statement describing actions you have taken to support and advance diversity, equity, access and inclusion in service, teaching, or research/creative activity. Please be succinct with your response.
• Contact information for three references. References will not be contacted without prior consultation with the applicant.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee and is subject to change based on the needs of the department and/or college.

About the College

Columbia College Chicago is a private not-for-profit college for creatives serving nearly 7,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Columbia College is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission. Located in downtown Chicago’s South Loop, the College is centered in one of the world's most lively urban cultural areas. Its many competitive advantages include its strong reputation in the creative industries, outstanding faculty and passionate students, impressive technological and physical resources, and a sincere commitment to bringing diverse voices and experiences into proximity with each other to shape new forms of creative practice.

At Columbia, we offer a rewarding work environment for our faculty and staff. We take pride in offering competitive benefits with affordable health, dental and vision coverage; flexible spending accounts; commuter benefit program, life and accidental, death & dismemberment coverage; paid and unpaid leave options; work/life benefits; educational assistance programs; and retirement and financial planning benefits.

We invite you to join our talented faculty and staff and become part of our collective aspiration to ensure Columbia prepares students for success in their creative fields through innovation, engagement and real-world experiences.

Additional Information

• Position is subject to a background screening.
• This is a non-union position.
• This position is overtime exempt.

Columbia College Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all local, state, and federal laws and regulations concerning civil rights. The college does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law.