Theatre Director Teacher

Independent Contractor

Theatre Director/Teacher

Job Description

The Maybelle Center is building a city where all people experience a sense of belonging–and “all” includes Portlanders living with mental illness or economic poverty. Since 1991, we’ve created inclusive opportunities to experience belonging that help reverse human isolation and its root causes, so people feel like they matter and play a role in our shared future. Find out more at maybellecenter.org.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and dedicated theatre director/teacher to provide guidance and direction to our community theatre troupe members. The theatre teacher’s responsibilities include preparing for each rehearsal and performance, theatre basics, improv and acting techniques to troupe members, helping recruit theatre participation and provide communication about theatre practices and performances. Promptly resolving conflicts among theatre members, pivoting approach when necessary and offering trauma informed support. You should also have strong networking skills for building and nurturing community partnerships for collaborative projects and performances throughout the city. The theatre teacher will work alongside the programming team in areas of outreach.

To be successful as a theatre director/teacher for the Maybelle Center, you should be fun, creative, assertive, and passionate about improv and co-created performance art and have an understanding about the importance of accessible arts programming Ultimately, an outstanding theatre teacher should be able to interpret various styles of learning at all levels of experience and demonstrate exceptional communication, leadership, and organizational skills at all times. Maybelle Center will provide training around trauma informed care and de-escalation techniques.

Theatre Director/Teacher Responsibilities:

• Instructing troupe members to warm up before rehearsals and performances.
• Work alongside staff and members in areas of outreach and community engagement. 
• Work alongside members, deciding on appropriate performance pieces for the troupe to perform based on venue, occasion, and the skill level of troupe, with input from troupe participants.
• Provide scripts as necessary for troupe participants (per agreed budget)
• Co- establishing and enforcing member relationship/participation agreements. 
• Scheduling theatre rehearsals and encouraging troupe members to attend rehearsals regularly. Outreach calls and communication with members.
• Providing the necessary guidance and direction during rehearsals to assist troupe members in achieving rehearsal and performance goals.
• Understand Maybelle’s mission and our member-led approach. 

Theatre Director/Teacher Requirements:

• Proven experience working as a theatre teacher.
• Sound knowledge of a variety of performing arts genres.
• Strong leadership and listening skills.
• Adaptability in teaching techniques for a variety of learning needs and experience. 
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Effective communication skills.
• A passion for accessible arts.
• Patient, creative, and assertive.

Job Conditions and Compensation:

This position is an independent contractor role that follows a seasonal schedule: April–June, followed by a summer break, and resuming August–October. The theatre troupe meets once per week for a 90‑minute rehearsal, with additional rehearsals scheduled as needed leading up to performances. The troupe typically presents two community performances each year—often at the community center—along with an additional performance at our annual Arts Festival, tentatively scheduled for October 2nd. A final rehearsal and performance schedule will be determined once the position is filled.

Rehearsals take place in a small classroom on site at the Maybelle Center. The contracted Theatre Director/Teacher will receive $190 for each 90‑minute rehearsal, with total compensation not to exceed $6,000 per year.

HOW TO APPLY
Interested candidates should email a résumé and cover letter, to jwyant@maybellecenter.org with “Maybelle Theatre Director + Name” in the subject line. All documents should be in PDF format and should not exceed 10 Mb total.

Maybelle Center believes that our staff should reflect the diversity of our community. We welcome all.

More Info about our organization maybellecenter.org.

Location
Portland, OR

Contact Email
jwyant@maybellecenter.org