VP Area: Theatre School

Department: Theatre School

FLSA Status: Exempt

Benefit Eligibility:  Yes

The School of Theatre at Oklahoma City University invites culturally and academically diverse applicants for a tenure-track Assistant Professor in Lighting Design & Technology position beginning August 2024. The Lighting Design & Technology program at OCU prepares students for sustainable, professional careers in theatre and the entertainment industry. We combine a comprehensive curriculum offering conservatory-style training with a robust production season.

This is a nine-month, tenure-track faculty position. The successful candidate will join our professional artistic community with primary teaching and mentoring duties in lighting design and technology, teaching upper and lower-level courses in lighting design and technology. The faculty member may occasionally design on the mainstage, but most shows are designed by students and the focus will be to mentor them on our realized productions.

Oklahoma City is the 20th largest city in the United States. Our campus is in the Uptown district of OKC, just minutes from downtown. Our environment encourages the synthesis of the professional craftsperson with the passionate artist. The D&P program offers five partnerships with OKC performing arts organizations for students to gain professional experience during their college career.

OCU is committed to building a diverse and inclusive faculty, staff, and student body. We welcome applications from members of groups traditionally underrepresented in the faculties of higher education institutions. The School of Theatre is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and are aligned with our university’s overarching vision and mission. Further, we aspire to engage in our work in equitable and inclusive ways, and desire to work with a team member who is committed to our university and Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion’s strategic goals.

 Teaching, Scholarship, and Service Requirements

• Head of the Lighting Design & Technology emphasis within the BFA Design & Production Program
• Teach rotating courses including Lighting Design, Lighting Design II, Museum, Fashion, & Special Events Lighting Design, Advanced Electrical Production, Lighting Programming, and Stage Lighting. There is space for new course development by the faculty members as well.
• Serve as Resident Lighting Design for Theatre and Opera/Musical Theatre mainstage productions on occasion
• Mentor student lighting designers, assistant designers, and technicians
• Collaborate on oversight and evaluation of Electrics Supervisor (full-time staff member)
• Attend production meetings, designer runs, cueing sessions (as needed), tech and dress Rehearsals
• Actively participate in School of Theatre-based recruitment and retention activities including travel to regional and/or national interview events
• Service on school & university committees
• Excellence in teaching is the primary factor in successful promotion and tenure decision-making; maintaining a professional profile as a designer or technician who can connect the profession to the classroom is also valued.

Required Qualifications

• MFA in Lighting Design
• 3 years of university-level teaching experience required
• 3 years of professional lighting design experience expected
• Experience in managing staff and/or mentoring students or interns on productions
• Proficiency with ETC consoles and moving light programming
• Proficiency in relevant design software including: Vectorworks Spotlight, Lightwright, etc.

Desired Qualifications

• • Basic show networking protocol experience
• • Experience with pre-visualization software such as Augment3D, Capture, etc.
• • Experience with other lighting consoles such as Hog, GrandMA, etc.
• • Membership in United Scenic Artists, local 829 would be a plus

Required Application Materials:

• Letter of application
• Curriculum vitae
• Brief statement of teaching philosophy
• List of references
• Link to website or digital portfolio materials

 School of Theatre

The School of Theatre offers comprehensive and diverse undergraduate-focused programs with tracks in professional and applied theatre training. We offer a BFA in Acting, BFA in Design and Production, and a BA in Theatre Innovation & Entrepreneurship in a program that has gained a national reputation and currently has a steady population of around 200 majors. We also offer an MFA in Screen Acting that is taught in Los Angeles and London. The School of Theatre is a part of the Margaret E. Petree College of Performing Arts which includes the Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Entertainment and the Wanda L. Bass School of Music.

The nationally recognized Design and Production area supports the mainstage and studio productions for the School of Theatre and the Opera & Musical Theatre program in the Bass School of Music. The school has partnerships with two local professional theatre companies: Oklahoma Children’s Theatre and Lyric Theatre. The Design and Production area has three additional partnerships: Oklahoma City Ballet, Music Theatre Wichita and Factor 110.

The School of Theatre prepares young theatre artists for a sustainable, professional life. Our faculty inspire undergraduate students in a rigorous, disciplined, and collaborative academic and production environment. Our program is grounded in the philosophy of putting theory into practice from the classroom to the stage to produce creative, culturally aware, and highly effective theatrical artists. More information on our programs and productions can be found at: www.okcu.edu/theatre