What are the responsibilities and job description for the Assistant Professor position at Cleveland State University?
Job Summary
The Department of Theatre and Dance in the College of Arts and Sciences at Cleveland State University seeks a full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professor to teach scene design and technology in its thriving theatre and dance program beginning August 17, 2026.
The successful candidate will have expertise in scenic design, scenic painting, and design technology as well as additional experience in at least one of the following areas: props, production management, stage management, and costume design.
Duties include teaching six courses per year; serving as designer on at least one main-stage production per semester; serving as an academic and design advisor to students of design and technology; continued professional creative activities, and/or research and scholarship; and service and committee work for the department and university.
The candidate will teach a variety of courses in design and technology including Principles of Production and Design, Scene Design I and II, Stage Properties, and Scenic Painting. Additional courses may be offered based on the candidate’s area of expertise and interest. The candidate will also design the scenery for the department’s season, supervise and mentor student designers and technicians, and work collaboratively with faculty, guest artists, and the director of production.
Theatre and Dance at Cleveland State University is based in the liberal arts tradition. The Department is a resident company within Playhouse Square, the largest performing arts producing organization in the United States outside of Lincoln Center. CSU Theatre and Dance productions are performed at the Allen Theatre Complex, located in the heart of the vibrant theatre and arts community of downtown Cleveland. The Allen complex houses three state-of-the art theatres, including a small blackbox, a large blackbox, and a large proscenium. The Department is fortunate to have well-maintained, renovated facilities and state-of-the-art equipment that exceeds that of many programs. The CSU Theatre and Dance program operates at a level on par with many professional theatre organizations, and its faculty prepare students to enter the profession after graduation.
CSU aspires to be a national leader in social and economic mobility and an excellent place to learn and work. The university is committed to becoming a nationally recognized, student-focused public research institution that provides accessible, affordable, and engaged learning opportunities for all.
Minimum Qualifications
The Department of Theatre and Dance in the College of Arts and Sciences at Cleveland State University seeks a full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professor to teach scene design and technology in its thriving theatre and dance program beginning August 17, 2026.
The successful candidate will have expertise in scenic design, scenic painting, and design technology as well as additional experience in at least one of the following areas: props, production management, stage management, and costume design.
Duties include teaching six courses per year; serving as designer on at least one main-stage production per semester; serving as an academic and design advisor to students of design and technology; continued professional creative activities, and/or research and scholarship; and service and committee work for the department and university.
The candidate will teach a variety of courses in design and technology including Principles of Production and Design, Scene Design I and II, Stage Properties, and Scenic Painting. Additional courses may be offered based on the candidate’s area of expertise and interest. The candidate will also design the scenery for the department’s season, supervise and mentor student designers and technicians, and work collaboratively with faculty, guest artists, and the director of production.
Theatre and Dance at Cleveland State University is based in the liberal arts tradition. The Department is a resident company within Playhouse Square, the largest performing arts producing organization in the United States outside of Lincoln Center. CSU Theatre and Dance productions are performed at the Allen Theatre Complex, located in the heart of the vibrant theatre and arts community of downtown Cleveland. The Allen complex houses three state-of-the art theatres, including a small blackbox, a large blackbox, and a large proscenium. The Department is fortunate to have well-maintained, renovated facilities and state-of-the-art equipment that exceeds that of many programs. The CSU Theatre and Dance program operates at a level on par with many professional theatre organizations, and its faculty prepare students to enter the profession after graduation.
CSU aspires to be a national leader in social and economic mobility and an excellent place to learn and work. The university is committed to becoming a nationally recognized, student-focused public research institution that provides accessible, affordable, and engaged learning opportunities for all.
Minimum Qualifications
- MFA in Scenic Design. Appropriate terminal degree completed by July 1, 2026;
- Demonstrated excellence of teaching at the university level;
- Five years or more of professional scene design experience.