School of Music, Director of Musical Theatre - Full-Time, Tenure-Track Assistant Professor

College Overview:

The College of Fine Arts and Design is a center of excellence for the arts and design, as well as a center of innovation for improving and promoting arts education. Founded in 2001, the college combines the experience of Oklahomas oldest public educational institution with groundbreaking thinking about the role of the arts in the 21st century. The College of Fine Arts and Design nurtures leadership qualities in students, thus expanding the scope and qualities of their career opportunities. The institutions emphasis is on student-centered education. This commitment to excellence provides students the opportunity to interact and work closely with over 100 outstanding full and part-time faculty members who are dedicated to developing the artist, scholar, creative professional, educator, citizen, and leader as a whole.

With more than 200 performing and visual arts events every year, the college provides students from a variety of academic disciplines and programs to come together to view exhibits, attend special events, experience performances, take classes, and discuss their work, and ultimately learn to both specialize and think from a global perspective. The College of Fine Arts and Design currently has six academic units, including the Department of Art, Department of Dance, Department of Design, Department of Theatre Arts, School of Music, and the Academy of Contemporary Music. The college also holds specialized accreditations from the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), and the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA).

School of Music Overview:

The UCO School of Music has a current faculty of 32 full-time (of which 24 are tenured or tenure-track positions) and approximately 35 part-time faculty, combined with a full-time professional staff of 8. There are approximately 300 students enrolled in degree programs that include the BA, BM, BME, and MM, within the framework of six divisions: Jazz Studies, Musical Theatre, Piano, Strings (Orchestras), Vocal Arts (Choirs and Opera), and Winds/Percussion (Bands). The University of Central Oklahoma and our curricular offerings are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music. For additional information, please see our website at http://music.uco.edu.

Job Description:

The University of Central Oklahoma seeks a full-time Assistant Professor of Music - Director of Musical Theatre (tenure track). Responsibilities of this position include:

• Directing and producing staged musical theatre productions
• Leading the UCO Musical Theatre program, including season selection and recruitment
• Teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in the musical theatre curricula

The successful candidate will recruit and retain students, support student creative activity and professional development, and contribute to a collaborative faculty environment. Applicants should have experience as a stage director, producer, and performer in musical theatre productions, strong communication and organizational skills, and the ability to teach effectively in varied contexts.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Extensive professional performance experience in the field of musical theatre
• Ability to create effective and innovative stage direction for musical theatre productions
• Ability to effectively teach courses related to training music theatre performers, including but not limited to: acting, professional development, directing, and musical theatre history
• Ability to lead the musical theatre program at UCO, including coordination of all musical theatre productions, recruitment, and professional development efforts for current students
• Strong connections within the musical theatre industry
• Ability to recruit and retain students
• Ability to teach online, face-to-face, and hybrid courses
• Excellent communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills
• Ability to teach undergraduate and graduate students effectively
• Ability to work within a collaborative faculty environment
• Ability to communicate effectively in both oral and written form
• Ability to work effectively and patiently with students
• Other related duties

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Additional area(s) of expertise in musical theatre, which could include: music direction, collaborative piano, choreography and dance, stage combat, and intimacy training

Required Education and Experience:

• A terminal degree in musical theatre or related field. ABD may be considered
• A strong background in success in musical theatre in academic and professional settings
• Experience in stage direction in musical theatre
• Evidence of success in university teaching in subjects related to musical theatre

Preferred Education and Experience:

• 5 years of college teaching experience
• Evidence of success working in non-profit arts organizations
• Experience performing on Broadway/West End, national tours, and/or equity houses

Physical Demands:

Reasonable accommodations (in accordance with ADA requirements) may be made, upon request, to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Required Application Materials:

• Cover letter
• Curriculum Vitae
• Copy of transcript for highest degree earned
• List of at least 3 references

Application Priority Date:

March 1, 2026