Work With Us

Village Theatre classes are intentionally led by two Teaching Directors working together.

We believe students benefit when two engaged adults share responsibility for the classroom. Our Teaching Directors can divide students into smaller groups, provide more individual coaching, respond to different student needs, and bring complementary strengths to the rehearsal process.

This is not a lead teacher and assistant model.

Both Teaching Directors are expected to actively teach, direct, collaborate, and contribute to the success of the program.

Strong collaboration is therefore one of the most important qualities we look for when adding someone to our team.

Teaching Directors may be responsible for:

• Teaching theatre skills, games, exercises, and performance techniques

• Directing scenes, songs, choreography, or productions

• Leading warm-ups and rehearsals

• Creating a welcoming and structured classroom environment

• Supporting students with different experience levels, personalities, and learning needs

• Working collaboratively with another Teaching Director

• Communicating professionally with Village Theatre leadership

• Helping prepare students for dress rehearsals and performances

• Supporting student arrival, dismissal, attendance, and classroom routines

• Representing Village Theatre professionally at our partner schools and program locations

Responsibilities may vary depending on the specific class or production.

There isn’t one perfect background for a Village Theatre Teaching Director.

You may be a classroom teacher, theatre educator, director, actor, choreographer, musician, teaching artist, college theatre student, youth-program professional, or someone whose experience combines several of those areas.

We are especially interested in people who:

• Enjoy working with children and teenagers

• Believe theatre should be welcoming and accessible to all students

• Can provide structure while still creating a fun and creative environment

• Communicate clearly and professionally

• Are dependable and prepared

• Handle challenges calmly and respectfully

• Are comfortable collaborating rather than needing complete creative control

• Are willing to learn Village Theatre’s teaching and production approach

• Can travel reliably to assigned program locations

• Want to contribute to a growing theatre education organization

Previous professional theatre experience can be valuable, but an impressive performance résumé alone does not make someone a great Teaching Director.

How you work with young people matters enormously to us.

Some applicants may be invited to participate in paid hands-on training before being assigned to lead a Village Theatre program.

During training, prospective Teaching Directors join one of our existing classes and learn directly from current Village Theatre leadership. Training may include observing our two-director model, participating in activities, working with small groups, leading portions of class, assisting with rehearsals, and gradually taking on greater teaching responsibility.

Teaching Director Apprentices are currently paid:

$50 for each regular class attended

and

$50 per hour for scheduled dress rehearsal and performance-day training

Participation in training does not guarantee a future Teaching Director assignment. It gives both the applicant and Village Theatre an opportunity to determine whether the partnership is a good fit.

We are currently building our Teaching Director team as Village Theatre prepares for future classes and programs, including training opportunities beginning now and new classes opening in Spring 2027.

Teaching assignments may take place at multiple Village Theatre partner schools and community locations.

Schedules vary by program, but many of our classes take place on weekday afternoons after the school day. Some positions also require evening dress rehearsals, performances, or occasional weekend availability.

Applicants may also have opportunities to join our substitute Teaching Director pool.

Because many Village Theatre programs take place on school campuses, Teaching Directors must meet the background-check and campus-access requirements of the school where they are assigned.

Village Theatre will coordinate required school clearance with selected Teaching Directors before they begin working on campus.