Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre

Overview

The Department of Theatre Arts at Utah State University invites applications for an Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre. We seek a collaborative artist-educator who can teach across the core Musical Theatre curriculum, provide instruction in voice and speech, dialects, and Musical Theatre history, and serve as a Music Director for departmental productions and related educational projects.

This position will help shape the continued development of USU’s BFA Musical Theatre program by connecting rigorous classroom instruction with rehearsal, performance, and professional preparation. The successful candidate will place student success and the student experience at the center of their teaching, mentoring, creative work, and recruitment. We welcome applicants whose academic, professional, and educational experiences demonstrate the ability to cultivate emerging artists and contribute to a collaborative theatre community.

The appointment will strengthen the department’s integration of acting, musical storytelling, vocal expression, and production practice while contributing to the College’s educational and creative mission. In keeping with USU’s land-grant mission, the faculty member will connect disciplinary expertise with educational opportunities and community engagement that benefit students and the communities the University serves.

Responsibilities

Teaching and curriculum

• Teach core undergraduate Musical Theatre courses, which may include acting, directing, voice, dialects, Musical Theatre History, repertoire development, and performance studio or laboratory courses.
• Design clear learning outcomes, provide constructive feedback, assess student progress, and adapt instruction to students’ preparation and learning needs.
• Collaborate in curriculum development in conjunction with the Head of Musical Theatre, course sequencing, and the ongoing assessment of student learning. Course assignments and teaching load will be established through the approved role statement.

Music direction and creative activity

• Serve as Music Director for assigned departmental musicals and related performance projects; responsibilities may include score preparation, vocal coaching, ensemble rehearsals, coordination with directors and choreographers, and collaboration with musicians and production personnel.
• Establish and sustain a program of research and/or creative activity appropriate to a tenure-track appointment, which may include music direction, professional artistic practice, performance, or scholarship in Musical Theatre and related fields.
• Integrate creative practice into student learning and provide meaningful opportunities for students to participate in rehearsal, performance, and other experiential learning.

Undergraduate mentorship and student success

• Mentor undergraduate students in academic and artistic development, creative projects, experiential learning, audition preparation, and career planning.
• Help students connect coursework with production experiences and professional goals; collaborate with academic advisors and campus resources to support progress toward graduation.
• Foster a respectful, supportive classroom and rehearsal environment with high expectations, clear communication, and attention to sustainable vocal practice and student wellbeing.

Graduate mentorship

• As appropriate to available graduate programs, assignments, and faculty eligibility, mentor graduate students through creative or scholarly projects, professional development, and committee service. Specific graduate responsibilities will be established with the Department Head and relevant graduate program leadership.

Recruitment, service, and engagement

• Participate actively in student recruitment through auditions, prospective-student events, outreach to secondary schools and educators, and regional or national recruitment opportunities.
• Collaborate with colleagues in Theatre Arts and related disciplines and contribute to departmental, College, University, and professional service.
• Develop educational and community engagement opportunities that connect Musical Theatre training with USU’s land-grant mission and expand access to the arts.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• An earned terminal degree appropriate to the discipline, such as an MFA, DMA, or PhD in Acting, Musical Theatre, Theatre, Music, or a closely related field, completed by the appointment start date.
• Minimum two years of university-level teaching experience, post graduate school.
• Demonstrated ability to teach core Musical Theatre performance courses and additional courses aligned with the candidate’s expertise. Evidence may come from university teaching, professional training, workshops, coaching, or comparable educational practice.
• Music Direction experience in Musical Theatre, including score preparation, vocal coaching, and leadership of ensemble rehearsals.
• Functional keyboard proficiency sufficient to support Musical Theatre coaching and rehearsal.
• A record of creative and/or scholarly work and a viable agenda appropriate to an Assistant Professor appointment.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with performers, directors, choreographers, musicians, and other colleagues.

Preferred qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to teach in one or more of the following areas: acting, directing, voice and speech for actors, dialects, and Musical Theatre history. Breadth of teaching expertise across these areas is particularly desirable.
• Evidence of effective instruction and mentoring, with a clear commitment to student learning, student success, and constructive feedback.
• Successful college-level teaching across multiple areas of the Musical Theatre curriculum.
• Professional Musical Theatre music direction experience.
• Experience conducting instrumental ensembles or coordinating pit musicians.
• Experience with contemporary Musical Theatre styles and singing voice pedagogy.
• Experience developing curriculum or contributing to a growing degree program.
• Experience mentoring student creative projects, capstones, or professional preparation.
• Evidence of effective student recruitment and outreach to schools, educators, or community arts organizations.
• Experience with arranging, notation software, or rehearsal technology that supports teaching and production work.
• Experience connecting artistic practice with community engagement and expanded access to arts education.

Required Documents

Along with the online application, please attach:

Curriculum vitae to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Resume/CV”

Names and contact information for at least three professional references, entered in the online application

Link to creative portfolio or professional website to be copied into the question within the application

The Following Documents will be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Documents 1-10”

Cover letter addressing the required qualifications and interest in the position

Teaching and mentoring statement describing approaches to student learning, feedback, student success, and career preparation

Statement of research/creative activity describing current work, future plans, and opportunities for student participation

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

Advertised Salary

$60,000 - $70,000, Commensurate with qualifications and experience, plus excellent benefits

ADA

Employees typically work indoors and are protected from weather and/or contaminants, but not, necessarily, occasional temperature changes.  

College/Department Highlights

The College of Arts & Sciences is at the heart of Utah State University’s land- and space-grant mission. Through transformative learning experiences, we serve learners at all levels of post-secondary education including concurrent enrollment students, undergraduates, graduate students, and lifelong learners. We foster discovery and creativity through rich academic experiences that prepare students to meet tomorrow’s challenges, drive innovation in research and the arts, and make meaningful contributions to our communities.

The College of Arts & Sciences is a vibrant hub where students are inspired to explore, lead, and make an impact. At the heart of Utah State University’s land- and space-grant mission, the college brings together science, humanities, and the arts to empower students with durable skills, hands-on experiences, and lifelong knowledge. Through transformative learning opportunities, we serve learners at all levels—concurrent enrollment students, undergraduates, graduate students, and lifelong learners—fostering discovery, creativity, and a spirit of collaboration. Our faculty, staff, and students advance knowledge, spark innovation, and pursue artistic excellence while engaging meaningfully with our communities. Together, we prepare students to face tomorrow’s challenges and chart their own unique paths forward.

Housed in the College of the Arts and Sciences at USU, the Department of Theatre Arts is comprised of 11 full-time faculty plus adjuncts and Visiting Assistant Professors, 6 graduate students, and over 160 undergraduates. The department offers BFA degrees in Acting, Musical Theatre, Design, and Theatre Education; a BA in Theatre; and MFA degrees in Costume, Set, and Lighting Design. The BFA mission is to prepare students for graduate school or professional careers as performers and designers. The department administers the Lyric Repertory Company, a professional summer repertory theater housed in a Victorian theater located in downtown Logan.

Utah State University is an R1 university under the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education as well as an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST).

University Highlights

As Utah’s student-centered, land-grant research university, Utah State University expands opportunity and strengthens communities across the state through learning, discovery, extension, and engagement. Founded in 1888, USU now holds two Carnegie distinctions: R1 status for very high research activity and the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification. Its innovative research and scholarship is grounded in reciprocal partnerships with local, regional, and global communities, advancing knowledge and serving the public good across Utah, the nation, and the world. With over 50 world-class research facilities and the nation’s second-oldest undergraduate research program, USU prepares students to become active, civically engaged leaders who can address critical societal challenges.

USU enrolls over 29,800 students, both online and in person at locations throughout the state. Utah State’s 30 locations include a main campus in Logan, Utah, residential campuses in Price and Blanding, and six additional statewide campuses, along with education centers serving every county. USU educates students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries. For over 100 years, USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns, serving every county in the state.

Competing at the NCAA Division I level in 16 sports, USU is a proud member of the Pac-12 Conference, which it joined July 1, 2026. The Aggies capped a historic final season in the Mountain West by capturing nine combined regular-season and tournament titles in 2025-26, with five teams advancing to postseason play. This tradition of excellence extends to the classroom, where 232 student-athletes earned academic honors, and to the community, where USU ranked second nationally in Division I service hours, with nine teams placing in the top 10 for community service.

Utah State is dedicated to fostering a community where all individuals feel respected, valued, and supported and where diversity of thought and culture are cultivated. We seek to recruit, hire, and retain people from all walks of life who will champion excellence in education, research, discovery, outreach, and service. We believe that promoting a strong sense of community and belonging empowers and engages all members of USU to thrive and be successful. Forbes recognized our commitment to employees when it named Utah State the best employer in Utah in 2023. Learn more about USU.

The university provides a Dual Career Assistance Program to support careers for partners who are also seeking employment. Additionally, USU is committed to providing access and a reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, contact the university’s ADA coordinator in the Office of Human Resources at 435-797-0122 or [email protected].

*updated 10/26

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In its programs and activities, including in admissions and employment, Utah State University does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state, or local law.

Utah State University is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination including harassment in employment including in hiring, promotion, transfer, or termination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy or any other federal, state, or local law.

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In all circumstances, Utah State University follows state and federal laws related to sex-segregated spaces.

The following office has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or USU’s non-discrimination policies:

Civil Rights & Title IX Office

Old Main Room 405

1475 Old Main Hill, Logan UT 84322

[email protected]

(435) 797-1266

For further information regarding non-discrimination, please visit crtix.usu.edu or contact:

U.S. Department of Education

Denver Regional Office

303-844-5695| [email protected]

U.S. Department of Education

Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

800-421-3481 |  [email protected]

*updated 08/2026