CPT is seeking ongoing, part-time Supporting Teaching Artists (CMHA CAN, CAN Academy) to assist in implementing CPT Education programming beginning in the Fall. Theatre experience is a plus. We are looking to build a strong core of artists who are dedicated to creating work to further racial and economic justice.

CMHA CLEVELAND ACT NOW (CMHA CAN) 

CMHA Cleveland Act Now (CAN) takes place in partnership with the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) at community centers for children and families who live in public housing. Under the guidance of CPT Teaching Artists, young artists learn how to create and perform their own plays, dance, poetry, music, and visual art. These multidisciplinary performing arts activities improve academic skills, instill empathy and responsibility, build character, and enhance creative thinking. The students regularly perform at CMHA community centers as well as arts festivals throughout Cleveland. CMHA CAN is offered in four CMHA communities: Lakeview Terrace, Woodhill Homes (currently paused due to community renovations), Outhwaite Homes, and Riverside Park. 

CLEVELAND ACT NOW ACADEMY (CAN ACADEMY) 

Cleveland Act Now (CAN) Academy is a free performing arts program for younger teens and youth from Cleveland and surrounding neighborhoods, held on-site at Cleveland Public Theatre. The Juniors program serves youth ages 7-10, and the Seniors program serves youth ages 11-14. Young artists engage in rigorous (and fun!) theatre training, learning acting fundamentals, script analysis, storytelling techniques, and play creation.

SKILLS REQUIRED 

• Experience in at least one theatre-related arts discipline (dance, drumming, singing, acting, creative writing, etc.) 

• Experience teaching children and/or teenagers 

• Takes initiative in learning environments and has strong classroom engagement skills 

• Ability to travel to multiple sites (CMHA CAN) 

• Demonstrated ability to be or become a strong role model for Cleveland youth 

• Energy, responsiveness, flexibility, creativity 

• Attention to detail, ability to work independently 

• Openness to learning new techniques in the creation of original performance material

SUPPORTING TEACHING ARTIST, CMHA CAN — JOB RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Successfully supporting Teaching Artists & Site Coordinators in implementing CMHA CAN, actively engaging with youth as they build storytelling skills (incorporating body, voice, and ensemble) and community 

• Collaborating with CMHA CAN and/or CPT Staff from applicable departments to successfully present artistic work at assigned sites. 
  • CMHA CAN youth present one fully produced performance of original work in late February/ March and present additional community performances throughout the year. 

• Attending training and/or meetings with EDU programming teams and the Director of Education to share outline highlights, session progress, questions, and opportunities regarding program implementation (1-2 hours weekly) 

• CMHA CAN team hours are either 3:30pm-5:30pm or 4:00pm-6:00pm Monday-Thursday, depending on site assignment.
  • CMHA CAN Outhwaite (M/W) team hours are typically from 3:30 pm-5:30 pm at Outhwaite Homes Community Center
  • CMHA CAN Riverside (M/W) team hours are typically from 4:00-6:00 pm at Riverside Park Community Center.
  • CMHA CAN Lakeview (T/TH) team hours are typically from 3:30-5:30 pm at Lakeview Terrace Community Center. 

• CMHA CAN ensembles meet twice weekly; CMHA CAN STA could be placed at any of the three locations. 

• Completing other duties that relate to the CMHA CAN programs as determined by Teaching Artists & Site Coordinators (recruitment/promotion, communication, record keeping) and/or Director of Education. 

• This role pays $16-18/hour, depending on experience.

SUPPORTING TEACHING ARTIST, CAN ACADEMY — JOB RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Mentoring students through scene creation and production process 

• Arranging snacks for students 

• Prepping and coordinating materials needed for the day 

• Modeling positively contributing participation in the room  

• Successfully support CAN Teaching Artist & Site Coordinator and CAN Academy Teaching Artist in implementing CAN Academy curriculum during which youth will build storytelling skills (incorporating body, voice, and ensemble work) and community. 

• Collaborating with CAN Academy and CPT Staff from applicable departments to successfully present artistic work at assigned sites 

• Attending meetings with CAN Academy team and/or Director of Education to share outline highlights, session progress, questions, and challenges of program implementation 

• Other duties that relate to the CAN Academy program as determined by CAN Academy Teaching Artist & Site Coordinator and/or Director of Education 

• CAN Academy team hours are typically Monday through Thursday from 3:30pm – 6:30pm at CPT, with some exceptions on show, training, and post-programming days.
  • The Juniors cohort meets on Mondays and Wednesdays, while the Seniors cohort meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays. CAN Academy STA(s) will support one or both cohorts. 

• This role pays $16-18/hr.

We are looking to fill these positions as soon as possible. We will accept submissions through September 5, 2025. 

CMHA CAN Supporting Teaching Artist candidates, please send a resume and letter of interest to Cassandra Miller, CMHA CAN Teaching Artist and Site Coordinator at cmiller@cptonline.org. Please include three professional references in your submission. 

CAN Academy Supporting Teaching Artist candidates, please send a resume and letter of interest to Kristi Little, CAN Academy Teaching Artist and Site Coordinator at klittle@cptonline.org. Please include three professional references in your submission. 

ALL CANDIDATES: In your email, the subject line should be your last name followed by “CMHA CAN TEACHING ARTIST,” or “CAN Academy TEACHING ARTIST.” No phone calls, please.

CPT STAFF DESCRIPTION 

CPT cares passionately about reflecting our community and pursuing equity at all levels of the organization. We value hard work, kindness, generosity, grace, and passion. A majority of plays produced at CPT are by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color artists, and in the past five years, CPT has undertaken work to accelerate and formalize its growth to become a fully anti-racist organization.

CPT’S CORE EDUCATION PRINCIPLES 

CPT education programs follow four guiding principles that reflect our pedagogical, political, and aesthetic approaches to education, and are deeply interrelated.

• Empowerment: Together we create original works of theatre, and our participants contribute to the spoken words, the movement, and the production elements. This layered approach engages participants dynamically, resulting in pride and ownership of the final product.
• Equity: We strive to bridge the gap between the heard and the unheard by centering rarely shared stories with a wider audience. Our work brings awareness to issues such as racial and economic justice, nurturing relationships that cross the invisible boundaries of race and class. We believe representation matters, and we are committed to engaging Teaching Artists who are representative of the communities with whom we collaborate.
• Excellence: We encourage the development of the whole artist, nurturing an artist’s personal, interpersonal, and artistic growth. This environment of self-mastery calls participants to own their greatness with pride, be accountable to their peers, and be engaged, curious, and connected to their community.
• Enthusiasm: We approach the artistic process with openness, rigor, intention, and joy! Our programs cultivate an enthusiastic learning environment that supports creative expression while nurturing a high degree of discipline and focus. We encourage our participants’ creativity, and we also challenge them to explore as many levels of their creative potential as possible.

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 eight to ten 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 resident 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 $3.1 million a year. CPT has 24 full-time staff members.

CPT COVID-19 WORK POLICY 

CPT Employees are strongly encouraged to be fully vaccinated.