"Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre - Dance (Ranked Renewable Term)"

Position Title:

Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre - Dance (Ranked Renewable Term)

Location:

ACFATHEA

Department:

School of Musical Theatre

Position Type:

Faculty

Qualifications:

Required qualifications:

• Bachelors Degree OR equivalent professional experience
• Minimum 5 years professional musical theatre performance experience
• 3-5 years teaching dance at the undergraduate or professional level
• Professional experience choreographing musicals
• Connections to the industry
• Authorization to work in the United States

Additional desired qualifications:

• Membership in one or all of the following: AEA, SDC, or AGVA
• College or Professional level experience teaching tap, ballroom, partnering and additional dance styles
• Professional experience directing musicals
• Mentoring pre-professional performance students
• MFA in Theatre, Performance, Dance or other related field.

Application Instructions:

Please submit to interfolio:

• A one-page cover letter of interest which may address the candidate's approach to teaching and choreographing.
• Theatrical Resume
• Academic Vita
• Unofficial Transcripts
• Contact information for 3 industry/academic references
• A digital portfolio of your performances/choreography.

The application review will begin January 12, 2026. Review will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Person of Contact: Ashton Byrum, Director of the School of Musical Theatre and search committee chair.

Please visit musicaltheatre.ou.edu and our social media platforms for more information about the SOMT.

Description:

This is a critical teaching position for the School of Musical Theatre (SOMT) and upgrades our current lecturer position to a ranked position with opportunities for promotion and comparable salary increases. The SOMT is renowned for its exceptional training and talented graduates working at the highest levels of the entertainment industry. This faculty member is needed to teach multiple levels of jazz dance requirements in the musical theatre curriculum and may teach additional dance styles and techniques including: tap, theatre dance, hip hop, partnering, contemporary, and choreography. This role may also teach a popular general education elective, "Understanding Musical Theatre" for the broader university student population.

This position contributes to the creative/research activity of the SOMT and the Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts at OU. They will regularly choreograph (and possibly direct) musical theatre productions for the OU Musical Theatre Downtown Series or OU University Theatre Season. These projects are large collaborations between the SOMT, Helmerich School of Drama, and the OU University Theatre production staff.

Full-time faculty members are evaluated on teaching, continued creative activity and research, and service to SOMT, College of Fine Arts, and the University. An important service expectation for all musical theatre faculty is to participate in the recruitment process for the SOMT. For this role, that may involve travel to lead dance calls at national unified auditions, as well as reviewing audition materials from prospective students.