POSITION: Teaching Artists
DEPARTMENT: Education
REPORTS TO: Director of Education
CLASSIFICATION: Part-time; Project-based; Non-Exempt (eligible for overtime)
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS: $25 - $75/hr depending on type of work; paid sick and bereavement leave; staff holiday pay; access to participate in a 403(b) retirement plan; complimentary and discounted tickets; institutional professional development opportunities; free parking within walking distance, and additional perks.
LOCATION & SCHEDULE: This is an in-person position reporting to our administrative offices and theaters located at 91 University Place in Princeton, NJ, with requirements to be on-site at McCarter or in local schools and community centers during mutually agreed upon schedules that vary by program. Weekly schedule will vary, with some weekend hours dependent on assigned program.
START DATE: Contract opportunities are available throughout the season, from September 1 through June 30.
POSITION SUMMARY
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)
Aan 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.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS & DUTIES
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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.
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Develop, submit, and execute engaging, age-appropriate lesson plans aligned with program themes and learning objectives.
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Provide direct instruction and facilitation to students, demonstrating strong classroom management and responsive teaching practice.
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Partner with and support the Assistant Teaching Artist(s) and Artist-in-Training staff assigned to each class or program.
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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.
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Track and document attendance, student participation, and any behavioral or safety incidents, and report to Education staff as required.
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Engage appropriately and warmly with students, parents, and caregivers throughout the program, including during drop-off, pickup, and incidental contact.
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Attend and actively contribute to training sessions, planning meetings, and other Education department gatherings as scheduled.
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Respond to communications from Education staff and colleagues in a timely manner via email, phone, and in person.
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Receive and incorporate constructive feedback from the Director of Education and Education staff regarding lesson planning and facilitation practice.
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Under the direction of the Education staff, understand, respectfully communicate and facilitate alignment
with all program guidelines and policies as set forth by McCarter.
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Execute appropriate emergency procedures calmly and precisely if a safety situation arises, including communicating with Education staff and following McCarter protocols.
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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.
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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.”
QUALIFICATIONS
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Possess a positive, energetic and inclusive attitude, while exhibiting behavior that makes all campers and staff
feel safe and welcome.
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Previous teaching experience with K-12th grade students and adults.
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Skilled at crafting theater-focused lesson plans.
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Proven ability to set priorities and take initiative, functioning independently as needed
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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.
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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.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
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CPR/AED/First-Aid Certification.
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Bilingual in English and Spanish, or other languages.
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Experience working with neurodiverse learners and students with varying access needs.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
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Led by our core values, McCarter fosters and expects a culture of care and respect for the wellbeing of our staff. We seek individuals who share our commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive workplace, where diverse perspectives are valued and respected.
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Work will be completed in a variety of spaces and rooms, subject to HVAC cooling and heating, both here at McCarter and at other locations in the greater community. There is possibility for some work to be done outside, as well.
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This position entails extended periods of standing while moving and engaging in physical activity (e.g. 4-5 hour intervals), manual dexterity for occasionally operating office equipment, and the ability to read and interpret documents, while sporadically requiring lifting and carrying objects up to 10 pounds (e.g. acting cubes and other minor scenic elements), engaging in repetitive tasks, sitting, walking, bending, and reaching within the office and classroom environment, including navigating stairs. These tasks are part of the role; reasonable accommodations are available.
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Position may be expected to use personal transportation in order to travel to offsite program locations.
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Employees in this role will use a personal mobile device for limited work-related functions, including secure system access through multi-factor authentication tools.
This job posting describes the general nature and level of work expected in this role. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications, and may be modified as needed.
ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW
McCarter is one of the country's flagship theatres, a vibrant center for community and for the performing arts, and a key cultural anchor for Central New Jersey. Located on the campus of Princeton University and incorporated as an independent, charitable nonprofit, the company is a nationally renowned, multi-disciplinary creative hub of arts and ideas, offering theatre, music, dance, spoken word, and educational programs for all ages.
A two-time Tony Award winner, McCarter’s legacy of artistic excellence traces back to the theatre’s first performances in 1930. A home for new play development and world premieres, the company has launched numerous works that have gone on to tens of thousands of performances reaching millions of audience members around the world.
Among the 100,000 community members who directly participate in the company’s work every year, more than 7,500 are students taking part in McCarter’s robust arts-in-education offerings. The company offers more than 20 annual in-school residencies in classrooms in Princeton and Trenton, hosts schools from throughout the region for student matinee performances, and offers need-based scholarships to every one of its dozens of educational after-school and summer programs each year. Co-led by Artistic Director Sarah Rasmussen and Executive Director Martin Miller, McCarter leads with values of “justice and joy, and beauty in belonging,” creating stories and experiences that enliven minds, expand imaginations, and engage communities.
TO APPLY
Please visit our Career Center page to apply for this position. Please include a resume and cover letter with your application - we welcome any additional context you would like to share about your experience and interest in this role. We look forward to learning more about you and the perspective you would bring to the position.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY COMMITMENT
McCarter is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring, supporting, and promoting a diverse workforce and inclusive culture. We seek team members who bring a range of backgrounds and experiences in support of an expansive artistic vision; who are committed to ongoing anti-racism and anti-oppression work, both individually and collectively; and who value collaboration, curiosity, flexibility, and continuous personal and professional growth.
We encourage candidates to apply even if they do not meet every qualification listed. Many skills are transferable, and we recognize that strong candidates may bring relevant experience, intuition, and perspective gained through a variety of paths. McCarter is committed to on-the-job training and mentorship.
McCarter Theatre Center is also committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations throughout the application and hiring process. Applicants who require accommodations may contact Human Resources at (609) 258-6500 or email [email protected].
