Theater 2008-2009

Back to AcademicJobSearch Home

Editing Suggestions


 * When adding news about a search, place three equal signs before and after the name of the school, plus a web link (using square brackets around the link plus a space and whatever you want the link itself to say) and the date in parentheses. Please click edit next to the name of the job you are editing and start each new sub-entry with a "star." Thanks!

Who are you?
(It's been suggested we add the following, these are the categories that occurred to me, edit at will.)


 * Already have a TT position: 2
 * VAP: 2
 * Lecturer 1
 * Adjunct: 2
 * Post-Doc: 2
 * Recent Grad PhD: 1
 * Recent Grad MFA: 1
 * ABD: 4

Amherst College - Assistant Professor of Directing
(Deadline: 15 October)
 * Received Rejection Letter 11/6


 * Received Rejection Letter 11/20

Appalachian State University (NC) - Theatre Generalist

 * (Deadline: January 15)

Auburn University
(Deadline: February 1 2009 )

Augsburg College - Assistant Professor, Generalist
(Deadline: December 15th) --Can you say how/when you heard about this? Also, what is a written interview?
 * received next phase of hiring process: a written interview: early January
 * Week of 1/5: phone contact first, then the 'application' was sent via email. It's 5 questions about how the candidate will support Augburg's various missions--diversity, Christian values, experiential learning, etc...

Ball State University - Lighting/Sound Design and Theatre History
(Deadline: 17 November)
 * 2 Positions Available

on a "shorter" list of candidates for the Theatre History position at BSU! Think of yourself as a 'semi-finalist.'"
 * Re: Theatre History job, rec'd email 12/15 "to inform you that you are now

Baylor University - Assistant/Associate, Lighting Designer

 * Artist/scholar

Berea - Assistant Professor/Generalist
(Deadline: 15 October)
 * Received confirmation of materials Oct 15th or so? Also, got lovely short congratulatory email from department chair when I emailed to update that I'd successfully defended.


 * Scheduled phone interview for week of Dec. 8

They got a nice unstable one interviewing on campus... should be interesting to see how it all shakes out.
 * the previous post is a bit cryptic... Wld you mind elaborating?

University of British Columbia- Theatre Studies
(Deadline: 5, December, 2008)
 * Received confirmation of materials Nov 30. Candidates to be contacted within two months after 5 December.

Brown University/Trinity Rep- Director of Movement/Physical Theatre
(Deadline: 15, August, 2008)

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo - Assistant Prof/Generalist
(Deadline: 10, October, 2008)
 * Has anybody heard anything about this search? I have to assume they've contacted a short list by this point?


 * They brought me in for an on campus visit the week of Thanksgiving, but I've not heard anything since.


 * Well, thanks for the update. I didn't even get a confirmation of materials from them. Blah.


 * I didn't receive any confirmation of materials, either! Sad that we have to look to this wiki for updates!


 * I just checked the status of my online application, and it says "No longer under consideration." I guess that is my rejection letter.


 * Oh yeah, hah. Talk about impersonal.


 * I had a short-list phone interview mid-November but also haven't heard a darn thing. I assume if above person got a campus visit than it's nil. But they wanted someone who could teach 3 classes PER quarter. add em up. 9 a year. woosh.

University of California at Santa Barbara, Assistant Prof of Acting
(Deadline: November 2)

Carnegie Mellon - Open Rank Prof. of Playwriting (running grad PW program)
(Deadline: Mid-November)


 * I hear through the grapevine that CMU has instituted a total hiring freeze. I assume that covers this one.


 * ugh-thanks.

Christopher Newport University- Assistant Professor
(Deadline: December 1st)

Colby College- Assistant Professor/Generalist
(deadline Dec 1)
 * Phone interview scheduled week of Dec 8


 * Contacted via email for phone interview x2


 * If you haven't already seen it, check out the Chronicle thread on Colby. There is a link to a tenure denial case thats gives some really interesting insight on the tenure process at Colby.


 * Just heard that there were over 130 applicants for this job-- probably similar figures for many others this year


 * Received email (1/8) that materials were received and requesting candidates to take the EOE online survey (X2)
 * Email said that they would be "finalizing their process by April." Not sure what that means? Maybe that's when they expect to make an offer?
 * invited for campus visit Feb.x2
 * were you one who had a phone interview in Dec.? A: Yes.x2

University of Dallas- Drama Lit/Directing
(Deadline December 1)

Denison University - Assistant Professors of Acting and Directing
(Deadline: 1 October 2008 information)
 * 2 posts available


 * Pre-interviews at ATHE 2008


 * Departmental secretary informed me that they've narrowed down to four interviews.

Fairfield - Assistant Professor, Acting
(Deadline Dec 1)
 * Recieved email that application was recieved.


 * Nice to the point rejection letter (late December) reporting a total of 170 applicants.

Florida State University - Assistant Professor of Voice and Performance
(Deadline: 3 October)

Furman - Assistant Professor
(Deadline: Dec )

University of Houston
(Deadline: )

University of Incarnate Word
(Deadline: )
 * Anyone heard anything from Incarnate Word?

Lehigh University - Asst. Professor of Playwriting
(Nov. 10th deadline)
 * Sent in app 9/15 was asked for further info 10 days later. Have heard nothing since.


 * Phone interview set up for week of Dec. 8th (received e-mail 12/4)


 * Sent in app the day it was due and received confirmation soon after but nothing since.


 * Campus interview (scheduled 12/18 for Jan./Feb.)

Loyola University Chicago--Theater History/Assistant Prof.
(Deadline: Jan. 1)
 * ATHE has this as a 1/15 deadline

Loyola, Maryland - Assistant Professor
(Deadline: Dec 1)
 * Anyone know anything about this one, I haven't so much as got a we got your stuff letter.
 * I haven't heard anything either (1/14)
 * just crickets here too (1/14) wonder if the lack of follow up is a function of the online app process.

Missouri State University - Assistant Professor/Acting-Directing
(Deadline: October 15)

Mount Saint Mary
(Deadline: )
 * Has anyone heard anything from Mount St. Mary College?

NYU Ad
(Deadline: Dec 15 )
 * acknowledged receipt via email (1/12)

University of Idaho - Assistant Professor/Acting-Directing-Voice

 * rejection letter: Mid December

University of Massachusetts, Amherst

 * (Deadline Nov. 15) Housed in English Department this was a Dramatic Literature and Performance position


 * Letter acknowledging receipt of materials received late November (undated on actual letter)


 * Rejection Letter received December 12 (also no date typed on letter itself but nice cordial rejection)


 * Notified via a very nice email that the search has been suspended. (12/16) :<


 * Damn! That was the place from which a faculty responded to an earlier query of mine about hiring freezes and was told to "go for it" because searches go forward and stop for a variety of reasons. I was wondering whether that attitude was Pollyannaish. Turns out, yes.

University of Nebraska- Lincoln (3), Acting/Directing, Theatre Studies and Assistant/Associate Professor of Theatre and Film/Digital Arts
(Deadline: January 15, Theatre/Film/Digital is January 9)
 * Letter (dated 1/6) of receipt of materials for Theatre Studies search received 1/12 (FYI, maybe I missed it due to application blur, but my list of materials was missing an online "Faculty/Administrative" form completion that needed to be done through the UNL HR site.)

University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill - Assistant Professors of Theatre History and African/Asian Theatre History
(Deadline November 14)
 * 2 positions


 * Out of curiosity, where was this job posted --perhaps I missed in in CHE, MLA, and ATHE . . but if not, I am wondering what other source I should be looking at.


 * I would also suggest Artsearch and HigherEdJobs.com, the latter will send you postings via email tailored to your specific interests free of charge.


 * rec'd rejection letter dated Dec. 15 (for Ass't Prof of Theatre History position)
 * rejection letter dated Dec. 18th arrived today (1/9) for theatre history position (X3 and call me sensitive but I find the delay btw date written and sent a bit bad form even with the holiday break. Sorry. I'm crabby.)
 * yup. just got mine today too (1/12) with the date of the 18th of Dec. nice job UNC.

Theater History: one campus interview
 * Did someone have an interview campus, if so when did that occur?


 * I have one, hasn't happened yet.


 * I heard they are canceling the search. Anyone else hear that?


 * Where'd you hear this? When?


 * I heard it from a theater prof. at another UNC campus. Maybe reliable, maybe not. Was in relation to all UNC schools losing funding for searches because of budget.

North Dakota State University
(Deadline: )
 * Interview November 2008

UNC-Greensboro - Asst. Prof Acting/Movement
(Deadline: )

Northwestern - Assistant Professor Director and Orginal Work
(Deadline: Dec 15)
 * 2 Positions

Oklahoma State University
(Deadline: )

Ohio State University - Open Rank Theatre TT
(Deadline: 1 October 2008 information)
 * looking for a "Teacher/Scholar/Artist"


 * To whomever deleted this search --please see the pages of rants on deleting things from the wiki


 * I will be having a phone interview on Friday, January 9.

Ohio Northern - Open Rank Theatre TT
(Deadline: )

Reed College - Asst. Professor- Theater Generalist
(Deadline Dec. 3rd)
 * failed search last year


 * a failed searh that apparently involved SIX campus visits. Hopefully, they're better organized this year. Also check out the 'universities to fear' thread for dirt on the attitude applicants have experienced from their deans and some faculty


 * true on the six campus visits. They will be more organized this year I am sure.


 * I'll take a free trip to Portland. I've always wanted to visit there. :)


 * Did anyone else confirm with the department in the late summer or early fall (I forget the exact date) about keeping an active file for this reopening search? I'm just wondering if that was a wise move or not and whether I'll get included or left out of a new stack of applications.


 * I got the same letter and did the same thing. I think it is fine. I did send an updated c.v., letter, recs. thought to ad to the file. They changed their ad slightly too.


 * phone interview this morning (jan 8). x2


 * I'm curious--how interested did they sound to you about playwriting on the phone? A: seemed like playwriting was a secondary concern to me.
 * I got the same feeling. Playwriting was not the primary concern. They care about how you teach Theatre History, connect ur own research to teaching, and deal with productions in a small department.


 * As one of the finalists last year, I think I can shed a little more light on this last question. The search is ostensively to replace Craig Clinton, who has taught playwriting there for many years. As a small department, they are looking for someone who can wear numerous hats, but I think last year there was a lot of ambivalence about exactly how much to replicate the past and how much to create a new balance. Hence the interest without insistence on playwriting. Hopefully, there will be more clarity this time.


 * The above is interesting. I'm not that interested in teaching playwriting and said that on the phone. Dunno if that was bad or not, but they seemed not to care.


 * invitation for campus visit 1/12


 * can you tell me when the visit is scheduled for?


 * late Jan/Early Feb

Rider University - Assistant Professor, Acting
(Deadline: Until Filled)
 * Failed search last year


 * Pre-interview at ATHE


 * Contacted in Oct to see if still interested.

Saint Ambrose University - Assistant Professor - Generalist
(Open Until Filled)
 * Has anyone heard anything from St. Ambrose aside from a confirmation of materials/EOE form?


 * The position is no longer listed on the St. Ambrose HR site...I am guessing it has closed?


 * I called SAU HR, and they said that they filled the position yesterday. Did anyone interview there/hear from them?


 * A friend of a friend interviewed with them, but didn't get the offer.


 * Rejection letter received (12/8).


 * Their November and December Newsletter names the four candidates http://web.sau.edu/TNewsletter/2008-12.html


 * Nice, I hope none of those people were searching on the downlow. Although it does seem odd that there were no women considering the usual number in the applicant pool. Did qualified female applicants avoid this job description collectively for some bizarre reason - or is there something else at play and this committee got outed by its own depts newsletter.


 * I was thinking the same thing about no women! Seems odd to bring four men to campus...

Salem State College-Assistant Professor (2) Theatre History and Movement
(Open Until Filled)
 * Has anyone heard from Salem State? I just went and checked their job listings page and noticed that the two positions are no longer there.  I hope this does not indicate a hiring freeze!


 * I just called the SSC HR office, and they told me that the positions have been removed because applications are now being reviewed.

University of Scrantron
(Deadline: *The post I saw said applications postmarked by Dec. 1 would receive "full consideration" )
 * Has anyone heard from University of Scranton? Any MLA interviews set up with them?


 * My friend got a call for an interview today (12/10).


 * Called today (12/10) to ask if going to MLA. Not going, fine, promised forthcoming phone interview in next month.*


 * Rejection Letter received (12/11) x2 (got mine 12/22; merry xmas!)


 * Request for playwriting or creative writing sample (12/15). x2


 * Letter stating receipt of materials received (12/12) indicates preliminary screening of applications "will be completed not later than December 19".


 * Phone interview scheduled for 1/20

Slippery Rock- Assistant Professor
(Deadline open until filled, review starts 1/12)


 * Confirmation of materials (x2)

Smith - Assistant Professor, Acting/Directing
(Deadline Dec 1)
 * Application acknowledgement Dec 5


 * I totally missed this posting ... where was it? I've been pretty diligent with ATHEjobs, ArtSEARCH and the Chronicle. : (


 * It was posted on ArtSEARCH 9/10.


 * Thanks.

Stanford University - Open Rank Performance Creator
(Deadline: 28 October 2008)
 * Any word on this?

Temple University- Assistant Professors of History/Dramaturgy and Voice/Acting
(Deadline: 2 September, 2008)
 * 2 Positions Available


 * Today I got a rejection letter (email form) from the head of the Department saying that they have narrowed down the candidates to three people (for the History/Dramaturgy position). 11/4/08.

Texas Tech University
(Deadline: )

Truman - Assistant Professor, Generalist
(Deadline: )
 * Truman State wants a "Statement of Production Collaboration." Does anybody know what the heck that is? Job doesn't have a contact listed either, so I can't figure out how to get clarification.-- Nevermind. Wrote something. Hope it suffices.


 * Just got an email, this job search is suspended indefinitely.

Wabash
(Deadline:  )
 * Has anyone heard anything from Wabash?


 * Confirmation of materials and a nice note from an administrator (?) when I emailed to update my status on some things from Wabash more recently. Nothing past that.


 * Notified that I had made the short list and that they would determine finalists soon.


 * Notified that I had made the "short list" and finalists would be contacted soon. Of course, I don't know how long the short is.


 * When and how were you notified that you made the short list?


 * I was contacted via email last week.

+++campus interview scheduled for week of Dec. 15+++

University of Washington- Assistant Professor of Movement
(Deadline: 1 September 2008)

Washington U(St. Louis)
(Deadline: 11/1)
 * Received Letter 11/20: Application received; interviews to be carried out at MLA


 * Have heard they want someone with a lot of publications or who will publish a LOT.


 * Telephone call setting up interview at MLA: 12/9. (x4)


 * Q: Did everyone called to interview at MLA hear on 12/9, or are they spreading this out?


 * A: I heard on 12/9.


 * Officially rejected here. (12/12- letters will be going out snail mail this week) Best of luck to those interviewing. It's a fantastic school with lovely people to work with.


 * MLA call 12/12
 * Rejection letter arrived sometime during the week of 12/22. Very succinct but kind. How did MLA interviews go for those who got them?


 * My interview was great, although I didn't make the campus cut (according to the other theatre page). The committee was very familiar with my publications and asked specific insightful questions.  Best of luck to the 2 (3?) of you who have on campus interviews.

Wayne State University- Assistant Professor/Performance Studies Generalist
(Review Date - October 15)
 * new position
 * Campus interviews, late Nov - early December
 * Offer accepted, mid-December

Wayne State University - Assistant/Associate Professor, Scenic Design
(Deadline: Open Until Filled)
 * retirement replacement

Wesleyan University - Theater History Assistant/Associate
(Deadline: 14 November 2008)
 * Received email 9 December 2008: Application received; no mention of further process. Something tells me this one will take a while...


 * email 12-9: materials rec'd, under review. (x5)


 * before Christmas: notification of application moving to 'next phase' of process, indication that they will be in contact again after the new year. Q: That's pretty vague. So they didn't explicitly tell you that you'd advanced to a shorter list or ask you for additional materials? A: Yes, very vague. This is the exact email: "We have selected your materials for further consideration. We will be in contact at the beginning of the spring semester." It was dated 12/10/08. No word since then. (x2)


 * Well, their Spring term doesn't start till Jan 21, so there probably won't be any news before that. I'd be wary of that vagueness in their communications. In my experience, that's typical of search committees who follow a long, meandering process. Hope I'm wrong.

Western Carolina University - Assistant Prof. of Acting
(Deadline: open till filled)

Western Michigan University - Theatre History Assistant Prof.
(Deadline: December 1, 2008 - or open until filled on school website)


 * Did an impromptu interview before Thanksgiving. Note: beware of the word chat, it means interview. x2
 * invited for campus visit Jan.

Wooster (The College Of)- VAP
(Deadline: 1/16/2009) (I'm assuming visiting positions go on here? Or in a separate category maybe? Don't hate me. I'm new).
 * Confirmation of materials 12/16


 * Makes sense to me to put VAP's here

Discussion

 * Q: Last year's page got pretty messy. Should we try a format more like Humanities Postdocs or Art History?
 * A: Sure if you know how to format it. Get us started and I'm guessing the rest of us would be happy to follow your lead.
 * A: Okay. Done. When you hit the "history" link, you'll be able to see which particular job searches were updated when.


 * Q: Hey folks whats going on out there? Things seemed to be looking up from last year but then seemed to slow down. Am I off in that interpretation? Although it does seem like there are a good number of good senior positions posted.


 * Q: Has anyone heard of any specific hiring freezes or cancelations in Theatre?
 * A: As far as history/lit positions go, this is the slimmest I've seen it in six years on the market. U of Pittsburgh will be suspending two of three searches in the theatre arts department (only the lighting design position is going forward). Florida State has instituted a sweeping hiring and salary freeze that includes theatre; Berkeley, which otherwise would probably be conducting a search this year or next to replace Sudipto Chatterjee, won't, and may be losing adjunct positions too-- as anyone who skims CHE knows, this is happening just about everywhere. Even places like Harvard, Brown and Cornell are re-evaluating all hires.
 * A: UNC-G has canceled the playwright search
 * A: I actually sent a query out to a professional development listserv about such an issue (wanting to conserve time and funds for applications that might never make it past the posting stage and was told by faculty at a variety of institutions not to be intimidated by the news of possible freezes or cuts because positions disappear and reappear for all kinds of reasons. I'm wondering if that wasn't just some sunshine up my skirt, especially now seeing how little is even making it to the posting stage and how much more grapevine news is appearing about various public (and some private) institutions "tightening their belts."
 * Q: Where is the Berkeley info coming from?
 * A: Don't want to compromise friends, but it's from department fac/staff. Just to clarify, as far as I know nothing has happened to adjunct positions yet; it's all still just talk. But the whole UC system is belt-tightening in such ways.


 * I hope no one is annoyed by my attempt at organization- moving school specific questions, comments to those areas. No harm meant just trying to keep things easy to scan.
 * Frankly I'm just pleased to see people updating and adding things.
 * I have to admit I was intimidated by the format. I did post but I did mess up the format on the page. Some kind person made it look nice for me. I couldn't get the font to be the right size in the heading.
 * Hi there... I was your formatter. It was simpler than you thought. No quotes. Just three equal signs before and three after. And you need to use stars (asterisks) rather than dashes. Thanks for posting!


 * Q: Would folks mind (if they read this far) posting, when they give info about rejections, phone or on-campus interviews, etc. to note whether they are ABD, recent grads, grads who have been out for a while, people on Post-Doc (like myself), people with current tenure-track jobs? I'll go back and change my info. to hopefully encourage the trend. : )
 * Other disciplines just do a statistics survey, in one place (usually at the top of the page). I think I would prefer that to comparing credentials with people who get interviews I don't. Just for mental health reasons. :) Recent grad here, btw.
 * Actually that sounds like a better idea for precisely the "mental health" reason the previous poster indicates. Not that we need anything else to depress our already dampened spirits in this search climate. I edited my previous info inclusion in case someone wants to set up this kind of stats survey.
 * Survey up at top of page.


 * Q: Is it cool if I add a link here to the English: Drama page. There's some overlap and it would be faster for me to just click a link here. If not, please delete. http://scratchpad.wikia.com/wiki/Drama_Film_%26_Speech_2009


 * The winter break silence is making me crazy, does this qualify as cruel and unusual punishment?


 * UGH! I agree!  How are we supposed to live through the holidays with this silence?


 * Q: Has anyone gone/returned from MLA? Just wondering how the climate is/was there for job searchers.
 * A: I went, had a few interviews --only one in a theatre dept.  It was just as crazy as always, although rumor (and I stress RUMOR) had it we were down somewhere near 1/2 of the job interviewing from the prior year.


 * Q: What is the other theater page? I would like to check it...
 * A: See the link a few comments up.