Assistant Professor in Acting (Tenure Track)

The Department of Theatre and Dance at The University of Texas at Austin invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor in Acting with a trajectory of creative activity/research accomplishment consistent with the expectations of a flagship, tier-1, research University. The successful candidate will have an ability to teach a range of classes that include introductory scene-study and skill building courses and advanced coursework in two or more of the following specialties: Shakespeare/heightened language, movement for the actor, voice and speech for the actor, acting for camera, and/or professional development. The successful candidate will demonstrate a robust history of acting in or directing of classical and contemporary plays and continuing work in the profession. Knowledge of African-American and/or Latinx theatrical repertoires and traditions are especially welcomed. The department encourages balancing professional rigor with human-centered, consent-based practices.

The successful candidate will serve as faculty in the Acting Area, which includes BA Theatre and Dance and BFA Acting degrees. The Acting Area's priority is to cultivate well-rounded artist citizens with a broad range of skills who are able to compete in and contribute to the shifting landscape of the performing arts and entertainment fields with agency and innovation. The faculty encourage students to develop concrete skills in acting with roots in theatre while simultaneously emphasizing the application of those skills to a variety of contexts and disciplines. The Acting Area supports and is supported by programs in Dance, Directing and Playwrighting, Drama and Theatre for Youth and Community/Theatre Education, Live Design and Production, and Performance as Public Practice. This position requires relocation to Austin, TX.

As an integral part of the thriving creative culture of Austin, Texas, the Department of Theatre and Dance offers an array of programs to prepare artists, scholars, and teachers to make profound contributions to theatre and dance through engaging study, interdisciplinary collaboration, and exceptional performance experiences. The department has 35 full-time faculty members and 18 full-time staff members and is housed in well-equipped facilities, which include black box, proscenium, and lab theatres, teaching and practice spaces, and state-of-the-art design and computing labs. The department produces six large scale and numerous small productions per year, including the largest student-driven biennial New Works Festival in the country.

The University of Texas at Austin is a flagship, tier-one research institution situated in Austin, Texas, a city known for its vibrancy, quality of life, and active engagement in the arts. The University has been awarded the Seal of Excelencia, designating it as a Hispanic Serving Institution.

Minimum salary: $80,000

Start Date: August 2025.

Required Qualifications:

• Terminal degree in acting or a related field.
• Accomplishment in creative activity/research consistent with the expectations of a tenure-track position at a research-focused institution.
• Demonstrated ability to teach introductory scene-study and skill building courses and advanced coursework in two or more of the following specialties: Shakespeare/heightened language, movement for the actor, voice and speech for the actor, acting for camera, and/or professional development.

Preferred Qualifications:

• History of working in the field of acting for more than one of the following areas: theatre, dance, transmedia/performance, other live performance, virtual and/or augmented reality, digital game, or television/film.
• Demonstrated ability to proactively engage students in emerging professional development and employment strategies related to acting.
• Administrative experience sufficient to maximize opportunities for engagement with our learning communities and the profession.
• Demonstrated interest and/or experience in human-centered, consent-based practices in acting training.
• Knowledge and experience with African-American and/or Latinx theatrical repertories and traditions.
• An expansive history of work in the fields of live performance sufficient to engage productively with colleagues in content areas of the department other than acting.

Review of applications will begin December 1, 2024. The position will remain open until filled.

To apply for the position, please submit the following documents to Interfolio:

• A letter of application that speaks to the required and preferred qualifications of the position
• Curriculum Vitae
• Links to examples of creative research
• A list of three professional references and contact information (letters will be requested for short-listed candidates)

Additional materials, such as full letters of support, may be requested at a later date.

For additional inquiries email theatreanddance@utexas.edu.

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.