Teaching Artist

McCarter Theatre•Princeton, NJ

18h•$25 - $75•Hybrid

About The Position

McCarter Theatre Center is seeking dynamic, collaborative Teaching Artists to lead classes and workshops for students of all ages at McCarter, and throughout Princeton and surrounding communities. These part-time roles are ideal for theatre practitioners with a passion for arts education, community engagement, and inclusive teaching practices. If you’re interested in cultivating a vibrant and educational experience for our students, we’d love to hear from you! At this time, we are specifically seeking the following: Improv Instructor (Adult Programs): An experienced improviser and educator to facilitate adult improv classes for students with a range of experience levels, from curious beginners to developing performers. Ideal candidates bring strong improv training, ensemble-building skills, and experience teaching adults in supportive, engaging classroom environments. Teaching Artists in this role should be comfortable leading active, process-driven classes that emphasize collaboration, creativity, confidence-building, and performance skills. Candidates should have experience facilitating improv exercises, scene work, games, and ensemble-based learning, while adapting instruction to meet the needs of participants with varying levels of experience. Experience teaching both introductory and intermediate-level improv is strongly preferred. Musical Director / Teaching Artist (Youth & Teen Musical Theatre Programs): Collaborative Musical Directors with a background in theatre performance and music education to support our youth musical theatre classes and teen conservatory programs. This role combines musical leadership with arts education, helping students develop foundational musical skills while fostering creativity, confidence, and ensemble collaboration. Ideal candidates have experience accompanying rehearsals, teaching music to children and adolescents, and supporting musical theatre instruction in classroom or rehearsal settings. Teaching Artists in this role should be comfortable leading vocal warm-ups, music rehearsals, theatre-based activities, and age-appropriate exercises that strengthen musical understanding and performance skills. Experience working with students across a range of developmental stages, particularly ages 5–17, is highly valued. Early Childhood Music & Creative Play Instructor (Ages 0–4 with Caregivers): Nurturing, energetic educators with experience facilitating early childhood music and creative play experiences for young children and their caregivers. Ideal candidates understand the developmental needs of infants, toddlers, and preschool-aged children and are skilled at creating welcoming environments that support exploration, imagination, movement, and connection. Teaching Artists in this role will lead engaging caregiver-and-child workshops that incorporate music, storytelling, sensory experiences, movement, and imaginative play. Successful candidates are comfortable facilitating group participation, adapting activities to meet a range of developmental needs, and creating age-appropriate experiences that foster curiosity, creativity, early learning, and joyful family engagement.

Requirements

Possess a positive, energetic and inclusive attitude, while exhibiting behavior that makes all campers and staff feel safe and welcome.
Previous teaching experience with K-12th grade students and adults.
Skilled at crafting theater-focused lesson plans.
Proven ability to set priorities and take initiative, functioning independently as needed
A collaborative, solutions-oriented approach to work, with the ability to build effective relationships across a team of people with diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and work styles.
This position requires a valid background check prior to start and may be subject to periodic re-screening.
Teaching Artists working with youth are expected to comply with New Jersey mandated reporting requirements related to the welfare and safety of minors.

Nice To Haves

CPR/AED/First-Aid Certification.
Bilingual in English and Spanish, or other languages.
Experience working with neurodiverse learners and students with varying access needs.

Responsibilities

Support the Director of Education and Education staff to deliver safe, successful programs across McCarter's Education department, including in-school residencies, after-school programs, camps, and related initiatives.
Develop, submit, and execute engaging, age-appropriate lesson plans aligned with program themes and learning objectives.
Provide direct instruction and facilitation to students, demonstrating strong classroom management and responsive teaching practice.
Partner with and support the Assistant Teaching Artist(s) and Artist-in-Training staff assigned to each class or program.
Foster a safe, welcoming, and inclusive learning environment for all students; adapt facilitation and lesson delivery in response to individual student needs, learning differences, and group dynamics.
Track and document attendance, student participation, and any behavioral or safety incidents, and report to Education staff as required.
Engage appropriately and warmly with students, parents, and caregivers throughout the program, including during drop-off, pickup, and incidental contact.
Attend and actively contribute to training sessions, planning meetings, and other Education department gatherings as scheduled.
Respond to communications from Education staff and colleagues in a timely manner via email, phone, and in person.
Receive and incorporate constructive feedback from the Director of Education and Education staff regarding lesson planning and facilitation practice.
Under the direction of the Education staff, understand, respectfully communicate and facilitate alignment with all program guidelines and policies as set forth by McCarter.
Execute appropriate emergency procedures calmly and precisely if a safety situation arises, including communicating with Education staff and following McCarter protocols.
Prioritize safe working practices while embodying McCarter's safety and community expectations policies to maintain a secure environment for all staff, students, and other collaborators.
Engage in the ongoing work of fostering an equitable and inclusive environment at McCarter. Actively seek ways to improve work practices to ensure greater accessibility, representation, and belonging for all, while upholding and exhibiting our stated values of “justice and joy, beauty and belonging.”