Call for Lead Teaching Artist: Acting, Devising and Vocal Performance

Voices of LA Youth Theatre Ensemble

Contract Period: January through Summer 2027
Primary Location: Lankershim Arts Center, North Hollywood
Program Start: Saturday, January 16, 2027
Application Deadline: Monday, November 30, 2026
Anticipated Contract Value: Approximately $4,550

The City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs Performing Arts Division seeks an experienced Lead Teaching Artist in Acting, Devising and Vocal Performance for the inaugural Voices of LA Youth Theatre Ensemble.

Voices of LA is being developed as the next step for a select group of young performers who have previously participated in youth programming at Lankershim Arts Center. Eight young people, ages 11 to 17, will work together to create an original theatrical production rooted in issues relevant to their communities and prepare that work for public performance throughout Los Angeles.

The program emphasizes youth voice, ensemble development, original storytelling, socially engaged theatre, acting technique, movement, songwriting, research and public performance.

The existing curriculum calls for students to generate original material through Viewpoints, Theatre of the Oppressed and Improvisation, develop that material into a cohesive story, and ultimately prepare the work for live performance through stage skills, character development, rehearsal and technical integration.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Lead Teaching Artist will serve as the primary artistic educator guiding students from early ensemble building through the development and performance of an original youth devised production.

The ideal artist is equally comfortable functioning as a teacher, facilitator, theatre maker and collaborative director.

Responsibilities include:

• Lead weekly acting, improvisation and ensemble building activities

• Introduce students to devised theatre practices and collaborative performance creation

• Facilitate exercises based in Theatre of the Oppressed, Viewpoints, improvisation or comparable ensemble methodologies

• Help students identify and explore community issues through theatre

• Guide young performers in transforming research, lived experience and personal storytelling into original scenes

• Support plot development, scene structure, table reads and script refinement

• Teach character development, physicality, vocal expression and stage presence Incorporate songwriting, vocal performance or music based storytelling where appropriate

• Help establish ensemble agreements and a rehearsal culture grounded in trust, accountability, creativity and respect

• Collaborate closely with the Dance, Movement and Choreography Teaching Artist

• Coordinate acting, movement, music and theatrical elements into a cohesive final production

• Participate in curriculum planning and production meetings

• Support costume, prop, sound, lighting and technical integration as the work develops

• Participate in dress and technical rehearsals

• Support two public performances following the technical rehearsal period

The curriculum progresses from ensemble and skill building into devising, research, songwriting, table reading, character work, costuming, dress rehearsals and technical rehearsals.

IDEAL EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

Competitive applicants will demonstrate substantial experience in several of the following areas:

• Educational theatre

• Youth theatre instruction

• Curriculum development for arts education

• Devised theatre

• Applied or socially engaged theatre

• Theatre of the Oppressed

• Viewpoints

• Improvisation

• Acting instruction

• Ensemble development

• Personal storytelling

• Character and physical theatre work

• Vocal performance

• Songwriting

• Arts integrated learning

• Community based arts practice

• Facilitating culturally diverse groups

• Developing original work with young people

• Guiding a production from concept through public performance

Graduate study in Educational Theatre, Theatre Education, Applied Theatre, Teaching Artistry or a closely related discipline is strongly valued.

Professional experience developing curricula, creating instructional materials and facilitating arts integrated workshops is also highly desirable. The type of background sought includes demonstrated curriculum writing, workshop facilitation, educational program coordination and theatre education experience.

Advanced academic preparation in educational theatre is particularly relevant to this role.

PROGRAM SCHEDULE

Regular student rehearsals are tentatively scheduled to begin:

Saturday, January 16, 2027
12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The instructional curriculum includes eight primary four hour rehearsal sessions conducted during the January through May development period.

During the final rehearsal period, the ensemble will also meet for additional after school rehearsals on:

Wednesday
Thursday
Friday

Times will be confirmed.

The selected Lead Teaching Artist will also support two performances following the technical and dress rehearsal period.

Additional summer performance participation may be negotiated separately based on program needs, artist availability and funding.

COMPENSATION

The anticipated contract value is approximately: $4,550

This figure is based on a projected scope of approximately 60 authorized hours at approximately $75.83 per hour.

Projected hours may include:

• Instruction and rehearsal

• Curriculum preparation

• Production meetings

• Final weekday rehearsal

• Dress and technical rehearsals

• Two post tech performances

The final contract amount and authorized hours will be based on the approved scope of services.

Additional performance support beyond the first two required performances may be negotiated separately.

CITY CONTRACTING REQUIREMENTS

The selected artist must be able to satisfy City of Los Angeles contracting requirements prior to execution of an agreement.

Requirements may include:

• Business Tax Registration Certificate, BTRC

• City vendor registration

• Required insurance documentation

• Tax and payment documentation

• Other City contracting and compliance documentation as applicable

Selection does not constitute authorization to begin work until contracting requirements have been completed.

TO APPLY

Applicants should submit:

• Resume or curriculum vitae

• Brief letter of interest describing relevant teaching and theatre making experience

• Description of teaching philosophy or approach to working with youth

• Two professional references 

• Relevant curriculum, lesson plan or workshop sample when available

• Links to performance, directing, teaching, songwriting or devised theatre work when available

• Confirmation of general Saturday availability beginning January 16, 2027

Send materials to:

Dale Madison
Lankershim Arts Center
Department of Cultural Affairs
Performing Arts Division

dca-lankershimtheatre@lacity.org

Subject: Voices of LA Lead Teaching Artist Application

ANTICIPATED TIMELINE

Call Opens: Friday, November 13, 2026
Application Deadline: Monday, November 30, 2026
Interviews: December 1 through December 4, 2026
Anticipated Selection: By December 7, 2026
Contracting and Onboarding: December 2026 through January 15, 2027
Program Begins: Saturday, January 16, 2027