Assistant Professor of Performance
Overview: Illinois Wesleyan University invites applications for the position of Assistant Professor of Performance (Tenure Track) in the School of Theatre Arts. The start date for this position is August 15, 2026. The person hired into this position should have expertise in musical theatre and will be expected to teach Acting as part of the first-year training sequence, Audition Techniques, and Acting the Song.
The School of Theatre Arts seeks industrious colleagues whose work in higher education, artistic or scholarly achievements, and professional service has prepared them to contribute to a legacy of thoughtful collaboration, rigorous creative training and pedagogy, and student-centered teaching. Our team culture embraces a multiplicity of backgrounds, worldviews, and expertise within its student, faculty, and staff constituencies. We welcome applications from any candidate whose experience, identity, and viewpoint might broaden and strengthen the quality of our work, ambition of our goals, and perspectives as storytellers.
About the Tenure Track: At Illinois Wesleyan, Tenure Track faculty engage students through six teaching assignments each year, pursue productive scholarly or artistic work, serve as academic advisors, and engage in departmental and campus-wide service. After receiving feedback on formative reviews in the second, third, and fourth years of employment, a case for tenure and promotion is submitted in the fall of the sixth year.
Tenure track faculty are eligible for sabbatical following six complete academic years of full-time service and every seven years thereafter. Additional professional development opportunities include the possibility of start-up funds, the potential for junior faculty leave, and support for the development of external grants. The Thorpe Center for Curricular and Faculty Development supports faculty in their teaching and scholarly or artistic work including peer-to-peer mentoring, workshops, internal grants, and assistance with instructional design and technology.
About IWU: Founded in 1850, Illinois Wesleyan University (IWU) is a nationally ranked, small, private undergraduate liberal arts university with highly selective admission criteria and a tradition of teaching excellence emphasizing the integration of the liberal arts and professional education. We are strongly committed to fostering an environment that values varied perspectives and backgrounds.
Located in central Illinois, Bloomington-Normal is a metropolitan region with a small town feel, about two and a half hours from three major cities (Chicago, St. Louis, and Indianapolis) and easily accessible via Amtrak, local airports, and major highways. Our proximity to other regional markets (Detroit, Cincinnati, Louisville, Madison, Milwaukee, Minneapolis) makes “Blo-No” a convenient home base for travel to short-term and seasonal contract opportunities.
About SoTA: The School of Theatre Arts (SoTA) trains well-rounded and enterprising storytellers who excel at creative problem-solving, collaboration, and communication. Our students engage deeply with theatre and creative media while developing skills that empower them to thrive in multidisciplinary professional contexts. The program serves a vibrant community of over 75 students across four unique degrees, as well as minors and certificates.
Description: This position requires substantial engagement with performance curricula and student mentorship across the program. The successful candidate will teach a scaffolded sequence of introductory-through-advanced performance, focusing on musical theatre and actor preparation for the field. The successful candidate is expected to collaborate across the season as a Director for mainstage and workshop productions. SoTA faculty also work together to fulfill our commitment to the university’s Shared Curriculum.
Responsibilities:
- A six-course teaching load (3/3) per year, divided between production assignments, the core teaching described above, and other individualized areas of expertise: e.g. Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA), Acting for Audiovisual Media, etc.
- Academic advising and student recruitment within the discipline
- Co-facilitation of professional development opportunities for students alongside other faculty, most notably as coordinator of the annual Senior Showcase(s) in New York City and/or Chicago
- Scholarly or artistic achievement
- School and University service
Qualifications:
- MFA in Musical Theatre, Acting, or other closely related fields and a strong commitment to excellence in undergraduate education. Preference will be given to candidates with prior teaching experience at the university level.
- Demonstrated artistic/professional development, professional experience, and connections to regional markets for actors.
- Additional preferred qualifications may include membership with the United States Actors Equity Association (AEA), SAG-AFTRA, Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDCS), and/or affiliations with the Association for Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE), Musical Theatre Educators’ Alliance (MTEA), National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT), and others.
- Individuals specifically equipped to further contribute to production pursuits through other specializations are encouraged to apply.
Compensation and Benefits:
- The salary range for this position begins at $60,000-$63,000 based on experience.
- This is a nine-month appointment.
- The final candidate will pass a pre-employment background investigation.
- An overview of Employee Benefits is available online.
Application Information: Please submit the following as a single PDF:
- a cover letter addressing qualifications
- a curriculum vitae
- a statement that:
- explains your philosophy as both a teacher and collaborator
- addresses how your practice in the classroom and production process fosters environments that value a wide range of perspectives and backgrounds
- names and contact information for three professional references
- unofficial copies of all academic transcripts
- portfolio or website, if available
Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position has been filled.
Applications and questions can be directed to the Theatre Operations Specialist: Mena Williams (mwillia8@iwu.edu)