Dean, School of Theater

California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) seeks applications and nominations for the position of Dean of the School of Theater. This position requires a candidate with demonstrated leadership abilities, a distinguished national reputation, an adventurous aesthetic and an expansive vision of theatrical practice and possibilities. The successful candidate will have a strong commitment to creative teaching and curricular development as well as a dedication to promoting diversity.  S/he should be able to work in collaboration with the Institute’s other Schools and with the Institute’s administration.

CalArts is a private, accredited arts institute of approximately 1350 students, offering both BFA and MFA degrees in Art, Dance, Film/Video, Music, and Theater, as well as an MFA degree in Writing. Additionally CalArts offers an MA degree in Aesthetics and Politics and a DMA in Music. The Institute promotes collaborative projects that draw upon diverse forms of technical, creative and critical expertise, encouraging work that is experimental in form and challenging both in concept and content.  To showcase such work, CalArts recently launched the Roy and Edna Disney CalArts Theater and exhibition space (REDCAT), a separate entity within the Walt Disney Concert Hall complex in downtown Los Angeles. 

The School of Theater is consistently ranked among the top schools in the nation, with an international reputation for advancing innovation and evolution within the theatrical art form.  There are four interactive branches in the School of Theater:

•    Program in Performance (Acting, Directing and Writing)
•    Program in Design and Production (Scenic, Costume, Lighting and Sound Design, Technical Direction, Stage & Production Management, Producing, Scenic Painting and Video Design for Performance
•    The Cotsen Center for Puppetry and the Arts
•    The Center for New  Performance (the professional producing arm of the Institute)

The Dean joins 40 active professionals, who carefully guide the artistic development of 287 students. The School of Theater, like the other Schools at CalArts, has an active visiting artists program.

The review of candidates will begin in September 2009 and the position will remain open until filled. The projected starting date is fall 2010. Salary and benefits are competitive. Please send a cover letter, CV and names of three references either electronically to dhunt@calarts.edu or by mail to the School of Theater Dean Search Committee, Attention: Diane Hunt, Office of the Provost, CalArts, 24700 McBean Parkway, Valencia, CA 91355.  www.calarts.edu.  EOE.