Cleveland Public Theatre (CPT) is hiring Teaching Artists for our nationally recognized Student Theatre Enrichment Program (STEP) 2025. Available roles are temporary, full-time positions beginning June 2, 2025 and ending no later than August 6, 2025. Exact start dates depend on the role. The STEP Technical Assistant earns $650/week, the STEP Teaching Artist earns $685/week, and the STEP Technical Director and Lead Teacher earns $850/week. Set salaries are based on candidate experience and range of skills. 

JOB TITLES & DESCRIPTIONS 

STEP Technical Director and Lead Teacher: The artist in this role supervises a group of teenage Tech Ensemble members in implementing the set and sound needs for the STEP outdoor touring production, including a basic sound system and a 16’ x 20’ stage. The STEP TD/Lead Teacher gives 6 hours of daily instruction in technical theatre skills and supervises teens while building scenic elements. The position requires extended hours closer to production but will average 40-50 hours a week. This role serves as the supervisor for the STEP Tech Assistant and reports to the Director of Education. 

STEP Technical Assistant: The artist in this role supports the STEP TD/Lead Teacher in supervising the work of the STEP Tech Ensemble and reports to the STEP TD. The position may require some extended hours closer to production but will average 40-50 hours a week. 

STEP Teaching Artists: The artists in these roles have strong playwriting, acting, music, and/or dance skills and are integral in guiding young artists in the creation of an original performance which tours throughout the greater Cleveland area. The position may require some extended hours but will average 40 hours a week. STEP TAs report to the Artistic and Education Associate, who serves as the Program Director for STEP. 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION 

CPT’s Student Theatre Enrichment Program (STEP) is an arts-based job training program that engages Cleveland teens in a powerful, 8-week intensive (4 weeks for Technical Ensemble) that focuses on excellence in performance, play creation, physical theatre, writing, production, and set design/construction. Students ages 14-19, presenting a wide range of performance experience, are eligible for participation and earn money while learning and practicing valuable job skills such as timeliness, communication, commitment, and teamwork. Under the guidance of CPT artists, teens develop an original play and then tour it to public greenspaces, theatres, and community organizations throughout the city of Cleveland. Since its beginning in 1994, STEP has received multiple awards and recognitions, including those from the City of Cleveland, The President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Celebrating over 30 years of empowering artmaking, STEP is the longest-running arts-based, job-training program in Cleveland and has been utilized as an international model for engaging youth. STEP ensembles, comprised primarily of Black and Brown artists, see themselves as a positive and inspirational force and are able to witness their work’s invaluable impact on the larger Cleveland community. Youth are onsite approximately 6 hours a day during creation and work through an adjusted schedule while on tour. 

STEP TECHNICAL DIRECTOR / LEAD TEACHING ARTIST RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE: 

• Collaborating with full STEP creative team and CPT Staff from applicable departments to successfully present outdoor performances during a two-week tour with teen artists 

• Leading/supporting the management of a two-week local tour with teens 

• Creating and implementing curriculum providing foundational instruction on set design, set construction, properties work, lighting, sound, and stage setup to teen artists from June 30 to no later than August 6 from 9:30am-5:30pm, M-F.  

• Hours will shift when on tour (July 24 – August 3) and are TBD until the performance schedule is finalized. Performances typically take place during afternoon and evening hours. 

• Serving as a strong role model for youth 

• Sharing relevant communication with parents/guardians 

• Supervising STEP Tech Assistant; managing assignments and support 

• Leading and assisting in production needs, including, but not limited to: set design, set construction, sound support, set up and strike of stage platforms 

• Driving tour production truck (small box truck—no special license required)  

• Operating minivan and/or 12-passenger van to transport materials and/or STEP artists to and from performance sites 

• Complete training (June 2-6, 9am-5pm) *This represents the STEP TA Training Schedule. The STEP Technical Director will join a portion of this training with additional time for lesson creation and shop setup during this week.  

• Create detailed and accurate lesson plans, attendance records, and session progress notes for the program as indicated by Director of Education 

• Attending meetings with Director of Education and wider STEP Team to share outline highlights, session progress, questions and challenges of program implementation  

• This position earns $850/week. 

Additional Information: 

• Beginning July 7, youth are onsite approximately 6 hours a day, Monday-Friday (11:00am-5:00pm), with adjusted hours during the tour. The last day of the program for youth will be August 3, 2025. 

• Following CDC guidelines, we will determine health protocols for youth and staff as we receive information about infection numbers. 

STEP TECHNICAL ASSISTANT RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE: 

• Collaborating with full STEP creative team and CPT Staff from applicable departments to successfully present outdoor performances during a two-week tour with teens 

• Supporting the management of a two-week local tour with teens 

• Supporting the implementation of curriculum and assisting during instruction around set design, set construction, properties work, lighting, sound, and stage setup from June 30 – no later than August 6 from 9:30am-5:30pm, M-F.  

• Hours will shift when on tour (July 24 – August 3) and are TBD until the performance schedule is finalized 

• Leading and/or assisting in sound and stage setup 

• Executing basic set construction support 

• Serving as a strong role model for youth 

• Sharing relevant communication with parents/guardians 

• Driving tour production truck (small box truck—no special license required) 

• Operating minivan and/or 12-passenger van to transport materials and/or STEP artists to and from performance sites 

• Complete training (June 2-6, 9am-5pm) *This represents the STEP TA Training Schedule. The STEP Tech Lead will join a portion of this training with additional time for lesson creation and shop setup during this week. 

• Maintain accurate attendance records and session progress notes for the program as indicated by STEP Technical Director and Lead Teacher 

• Attending meetings with Director of Education and wider STEP Team to share outline highlights, session progress, questions and challenges of program implementation  

• This position earns $650/week. 

Additional Information: 

• Beginning July 7, youth are onsite approximately six hours a day, Monday-Friday (11:00am-5:00pm), with adjusted hours during the tour. The last day of the program for youth will be August 3, 2025. 

• Following CDC guidelines, we will determine health protocols for youth and staff as we receive information about infection numbers. 

TO APPLY: 

Interested STEP Technical Director/Lead Teacher AND STEP Technical Assistant candidates should email a cover letter of interest, a résumé, and three references to Nicole Sumlin, Director of Education, nsumlin@cptonline.org. The subject header should read: [LAST NAME], STEP Technical Director/Lead Teacher or STEP Technical Assistant. No phone calls, please.

 STEP Teaching Artist responsibilities include: 

• Support the creation and performance of a one-hour devised piece to be toured outdoors throughout Cleveland 

• Following pedagogical practices as set forth by CPT Education leadership, creatively co-create a curriculum for and instruct youth in devised theatre and performing arts techniques 

• Assist STEP Director in all areas of program facilitation, applying their skill in playwriting, dance, music, and/or acting in the implementation of program curriculum 

• Model young artist expectations throughout the creative process 

• Implement all notes and directions given by STEP Director 

• Attend pre- and post-session meeting 

• Discuss class plans before implementation and make necessary adjustments 

• Sharing relevant communication with parents/guardians 

• Document plans and implementation of programming 

• Evaluate students and the STEP program 

• Purchase materials as needed 

• Properly record expenses according to preset guidelines, as applicable 

• Complete week of training (June 2-6, 9:00 am-5:00 pm) 

• Attend work hours (June 9 – August 6, M-F, 9:30am-5:30pm).  

• Hours will shift when on tour (July 24 – August 3) and are TBD until the performance schedule is finalized  

• This position earns $685/week. 

TO APPLY: 

Interested STEP TA candidates should email a cover letter of interest, a résumé, and three references to Melissa Crum, CPT Artistic & Education Associate, mcrum@cptonline.org . The subject header should read: [LAST NAME], STEP Teaching Artist. No phone calls, please. 

CPT STAFF DESCRIPTION 

CPT cares passionately about reflecting our community and pursuing equity at all levels of the organization. We value hard work, kindness, generosity, grace, and passion. A majority of plays produced at CPT are by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color artists, and in the past four years, CPT has undertaken work to accelerate and formalize its growth to become a fully anti-racist organization. 

CPT is a nationally recognized center for contemporary performance. Its mission is to raise consciousness and nurture compassion through groundbreaking theatre and life-changing education programs. CPT implements this mission through its annual theatrical season, featuring between eight to ten adventurous professional productions and a robust series of new play development programs that support writers and devisers at multiple points in the creative process. CPT’s acclaimed education programs engage communities in devising new works that speak to contemporary issues and empower participants to work for positive change in our community. CPT is home to resident community ensembles Teatro Público de Cleveland and Masrah Cleveland Al-Arabi, and CPT annually presents Station Hope, a large-scale community arts festival. CPT’s annual budget is around $2.5 million a year. CPT has 24 full-time staff members.