Job Description:

Logo:

Posting Number:

FAC00259PO23

Advertised Title:

Open Rank - Professor of Theatre, Directing/Acting

Campus:

Columbia

College/Division:

College of Arts and Sciences

Department:

CAS Theatre and Dance

Advertised Salary Range:

We offer a competitive salary and benefits package

Part/Full Time:

Full Time

Hours per Week:

40

Position Category:

Full-time Equivalent (FTE)

Basis :

9 months

Work County:

Richland

Tenure Information:

Tenure-Track/Tenured

Job Search Category:

Faculty

About University of South Carolina:

From the Upstate to the Lowcountry, the University of South Carolina system is transforming the lives of South Carolinians through the impact of our eight institutions and 20 locations throughout the state. More than 50,000 students are enrolled at one of eight institutions, including the research campus in Columbia and comprehensive four-year universities in Aiken, Upstate and Beaufort. In addition, our Palmetto College campuses in Salkehatchie, Union, Lancaster and Sumter enable students to earn associate or bachelor's degrees through a combination of in-person, online or blended learning. All of our system institutions place strong emphasis on service - helping to build healthier, more educated communities in South Carolina and beyond.

Inclusive Excellence Statement:

At the University of South Carolina, we strive to cultivate an inclusive environment that is open, welcoming, and supportive of individuals of all backgrounds. We recognize diversity in our workforce is essential to providing academic excellence and critical to our sustainability. The University is committed to eliminating barriers created by institutional discrimination through accountability and continuous process improvement. We celebrate the diverse voices, perspectives, and experiences of our employees.

Advertised Job Summary:

The Department of Theatre and Dance at the University of South Carolina is seeking applications for an Open Rank, full time (9-month), tenure-track position in Directing/Acting. The position will commence August 16, 2024.

Required Education and Experience:

MFA or PhD in Theatre required along with university-level teaching experience.


We seek an outstanding artist/scholar/teacher with primary expertise in directing and acting. Successful candidates will have expertise in theatre methodologies and approaches such as (but not limited to): Black and Afrocentric Acting Methods; Lecoq pedagogy; Devised Theatre; Stanislavski; Meisner; Michael Chekhov; Chicano, Latin American, Indigenous, and/or Asian performance practices or other practices/traditions outside the Western canon.


Successful candidates will demonstrate excellence in teaching, directing, and mentoring students, as well as significant creative accomplishment in the field. Experience working with diverse student populations at the undergraduate and/or graduate level is highly desirable, along with a demonstrated commitment to inclusive excellence and culturally responsive pedagogy. Candidates must be dedicated to building a diverse and equitable learning environment through their teaching, creative inquiry, and collaboration.


Responsibilities include serving as head of the MFA Directing Program; teaching courses in directing and acting for both undergraduate and graduate students; and teaching in other theatre performance areas as qualified. The normal teaching load is 3/3. Contribution to the Department's production program as a director is expected. Additional duties include mentoring students, assisting in student recruitment, and supervising students as teaching assistants and in creative projects. Service on departmental and university committees is expected, as is contribution to program design and curricular development to prepare students for contemporary directing and performance practice.


The Department of Theatre and Dance is a dynamic, collaborative community that includes two of the University's most vibrant and visible programs. Students pursue a strong liberal arts undergraduate education or highly specialized graduate degrees in Acting, Theatre Design and Technology, Theatre Education, and Directing. Students gain practical experience and develop artistic skills through annual public performance seasons, educational conservatories, workshops, film projects, and community-engaged performances.


The Theatre program is committed to high quality productions as an essential component of preparing students for work in the profession. Our students perform in a range of unique venues, from historic, arena-style Longstreet Theatre to our intimate black box, all located across the University's downtown Columbia campus. Our venues include Longstreet Theatre (312 seat arena stage), Drayton Hall (404 seat proscenium theatre), Booker T. Washington Lab Theatre (90 seat flexible black box), and 707 Catawba Studio Theatre (60 seat flexible space).


The Department of Theatre and Dance is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST), National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD) and is a member of the University/ Resident Theatre Association (U/RTA). The department offers the MFA (directing, acting, and design emphasis in scenery, costume, or lighting), MA, MAT, and BA degree programs.


USC Columbia is one of only 56 public universities in the United States to earn both the top research classification (R1) and the top community engagement classification from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The University places a priority on inclusion and active engagement with all the communities that we serve.


Founded in 1801 and located in the heart of the capital city, the Columbia campus is one of the oldest public universities in the country. Home to more than 35,000 students, USC Columbia offers 314 degree programs, including a dozen top-25 programs, according to U.S. News & World Report.


USC Columbia's scholars, researchers, artists, and teachers are the heart of the University. Some 922 tenured faculty, 270 tenure-track faculty, and 621 professional-track faculty are employed full-time and represent a wide range of disciplines and experiences. Faculty at USC Columbia earn numerous accolades, placing the University within the top 5% of public universities in the nation for the number of national faculty awards. The University places a high priority on providing the resources and opportunities for promoting faculty scholarship, research, and creative achievement.

Preferred Qualifications:

Expertise in theatre methodologies and approaches such as (butnot limited to): Black and Afrocentric Acting Methods; Lecoq pedagogy; Devised Theatre;Stanislavski; Meisner; Michael Chekhov; Chicano, Latin American, Indigenous, and/or Asianperformance practices or other practices/traditions outside the Western canon.


Demonstrated excellence in teaching, directing, and mentoring students,as well as significant creative accomplishment in the field.


Experience working with diverse student populations at the undergraduate and/or graduate level.Demonstrated commitment to inclusive excellence and culturally responsive pedagogy.


Dedication to building a diverse and equitable learning environment throughtheir teaching, creative inquiry, and collaboration.

Desired Start Date:

08/16/2024

Job Open Date:

11/27/2023

Open Until Filled:

Yes

Special Instructions to Applicant:

Review of applications begins January 15, 2024, and will continue until the position is filled. Applicants should submit the following materials:
* Letter of Application (cover letter)
* Curriculum Vitae
* Statement of Teaching Philosophy (1 page max)
* Contact information for three references (letters of recommendation will be solicited after initial review) Application materials should be submitted online to: https://uscjobs.sc.edu/.


Inquiries about the search and/or the position may be directed to the chair of the search committee, Dustin Whitehead dw27@mailbox.sc.edu.


This position is open until filled. This employment site is updated on a regular basis. The length of the recruitment and screening process may vary from position to position, depending upon a variety of factors. Should review of your qualifications result in a decision to pursue your candidacy, you will be contacted by phone or email.

Quicklink for Posting:

https://uscjobs.sc.edu/postings/158497

EEO Statement:

The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in educational or employment opportunities or decisions for qualified persons on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender (including transgender), gender identity or expression, genetic information, HIV/AIDs status, military status, national origin, pregnancy (false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, childbirth, recovery therefrom or related medical conditions, breastfeeding), race, religion (including religious dress and grooming practices), sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other bases under federal, state, local law, or regulations.

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