Cleveland Public Theatre (CPT) produces groundbreaking performances and life-changing education programs inside our mission to raise consciousness and nurture compassion. CPT seeks collaborative theatre artists to fill a unique two-month position with CPT’s nationally-recognized education program, Student Theatre Enrichment Program (STEP). For more information about STEP, visit www.cptonline.org or www.cptonline.org/education/student-theatre-enrichment-program.

Program Description

CPT’s Student Theatre Enrichment Program (STEP) is an arts-based job training program that engages Cleveland teens in a powerful, 8-week intensive that focuses on excellence in performance, play creation, physical theatre, writing, production, and set design/construction. Students ages 14-19, many with little or no previous performance experience, are eligible for participation and earn money while learning and practicing valuable job skills such as timeliness, communication, commitment, and teamwork. Under the guidance of CPT artists, teens develop an original play and then tour it in public parks throughout the city of Cleveland. Since its beginning in 1995, STEP has received multiple awards and recognitions, including those from the City of Cleveland, The President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, and the National Endowment for the Arts. STEP is the longest-running arts-based, job-training program in Cleveland and has been utilized as an international model for engaging youth. STEP ensembles, comprised primarily of Black artists, see themselves as a positive and inspirational force and are able to witness their work’s invaluable impact on the larger Cleveland community.

Description of Positions

The Program Co-Directors/Creators report to CPT’s Education Director. These positions are 8 – 10 week intensive, full-time staff positions and include evenings and weekends. Pay is $750/week. The two Program Co-Directors/Creators are responsible for leading the creation of an original play, with a cast of Cleveland teens who may have little or no theatre experience. This work is done with a team of Teaching Artists (a full-time Lead Teaching Artist- pay $520/wk., and 1-3 part-time Teaching Artists- pay $25/hr., with specific skills such as dance, percussion, and acting coaching). The play is performed outdoors in neighborhoods throughout Cleveland in an 8-12 show run.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

These positions require extraordinary theatre-making, adaptability, professionalism, grace-under-pressure, imagination, overall strength in play production, and the ability to lead script writing and blocking. We are seeking devising/ensemble-based directors and teaching artists with strong leadership skills and a passion for working with teens. Experience in devising theatre is critical, as is a depth of experience working with Black and brown youth and families who encounter daily manifestations of poverty and oppression. Successful candidates will be collaborative and eager to learn and lead. Successful candidates possess excellent organizational skills and a passion to create warm, exciting, and empowering community experiences for our program’s participants.

Program Co-Directors/Creators (2 positions)

The Co-Director/Creators’ responsibilities include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Teaching the basics of acting and performance to teen participants who may have no previous theatre experience
• Creating curriculum and supporting other artists in class planning
• Developing original performance material
• Collaborating with and leading a team of professional artists of various disciplines
• Working with STEP instructors in all areas of program and play development, including script writing, participant evaluation, and management of participants and families
• Acting as a strong role model for youth
• Fulfilling administrative duties as assigned
• Special consideration for ability to tour and manage two weeks of live performances

Schedule

• STEP runs 8 weeks, 4-6 days per week; Full-time hours- 10am-7pm for the majority of the program, running June-August 2021. Job begins onsite June 6 and concludes as early as Aug 9 and as late as Aug 12.

Full-Time and Part-Time Teaching Artists  (1-3 positions)

• Teaching the basics of acting and performance to teen participants who may have no previous theatre experience
• Creating curriculum and supporting other artists in class planning, play development, script writing, ensemble evaluations, and management of participants and families
• Teach specific skills related to dance, percussion, and/or provide acting coaching
• Collaborating with a team of professional artists of various disciplines
• Acting as a strong role model for youth
• Fulfilling administrative duties as assigned
  • One member of this team of Teaching Artists would manage a significant portion of administrative duties for the program and serve as Stage Manager for the run of the production, including tour.

Schedule

• STEP runs 8 weeks, 4-6 days per week; Full-time hours- 10am-7pm for the majority of the program, running June-August 2021. Job begins onsite June 6 and concludes as early as Aug 9 and as late as Aug 12.

CLEVELAND PUBLIC THEATRE

CPT is a nationally recognized center for contemporary performance. Its mission is to raise consciousness and nurture compassion through groundbreaking theatre and life-changing education programs. CPT implements this mission through its annual theatrical season, featuring between 6-12 adventurous professional productions and a robust series of new play development programs that support writers and devisers at multiple points in the creative process. CPT’s acclaimed education programs engage communities in devising new works that speak to contemporary issues and empower participants to work for positive change in our community. CPT is home to community ensembles Teatro Público de Cleveland and Masrah Cleveland Al-Arabi, and CPT annually presents Station Hope, a large-scale community arts festival. CPT’s annual budget is around $2.5 million a year. CPT has 22 full-time staff members.

TO APPLY

Interested and qualified candidates should send a cover letter and resume to Education Director Nicole Sumlin at nsumlin@cptonline.org. Please, make your subject line read: [LAST NAME], STEP Co-Director (or STEP Full-time Teaching Artist or STEP Part-time Teaching Artist). Candidates may be asked to provide additional materials after original application.