Job Posting for SCHOOL HOUSE ROCK at FHS

Guest Director (School House Rock Live, Jr.)

Harvey S. Firestone High School in Akron, Ohio, is now accepting applications to fill the position of GUEST DIRECTOR for the upcoming production of School House Rock Live, Jr. The guest director reports to and works closely with the theatre director on the direction of a 45-minute theatre production of a touring production specifically designed for students in grades K through 5. The guest director will be responsible for setting and fulfilling an appropriate rehearsal schedule and to work directly with a student choreographer.

This production of School House Rock Live, Jr. has one scheduled performance to be held at the Akron Civic Theatre on Sunday, November 18, 2012. Auditions are tentatively scheduled to be held Monday, September 24, 2012. Rehearsals are tentatively scheduled to begin Monday, October 15, 2012.

Firestone Theatre is a highly respected, pre-professional theatre education program housed at Firestone High School, a large public urban school with a highly-diverse community of learners.

This is a part-time position with somewhat flexible hours generally scheduled for weekdays between the hours of 3:30 and 7:00 p.m.

Tasks, Activities, and Responsibilities

The Guest Director will:

·              assume responsibility for all creative aspects of a production with a cast of not more than 9 students

·              collaborate with theatre director in the creation an appropriate rehearsal schedule

·              maintain established rehearsal schedule to the greatest extent possible

·              establish good attendance practice by starting and ending each rehearsal according to the published schedule

                ·              conduct rehearsals without the direct supervision of the theatre director

·              make consistently positive contributions to the creative process

·              serve as a mentor / role model to high school students, sharing knowledge, skills, and guidance

                ·              maintain and reinforce an environment of safety for all students and staff

·              assume reasonable responsibility for the general upkeep of rehearsal space

                ·              work collaboratively with theatre staff, student leaders, and parent volunteers on the creative process as appropriate

·              maintain an “open door” policy for all rehearsals so that other members of the production team and/or school administrators may observe without prior notice

Skills and Qualifications

The candidate must:

                ·              be an experienced educational theatre professional

                ·              have demonstrated creative experiences working collaboratively with young performers

·              be subject to an official background check before working with minors

·              possess at least a high school diploma or GED

The outstanding candidate will:

                ·              possess excellent organization and communication skills

                ·              be reliable with a strong work ethic and professional behavior

                ·              practice patience, creativity, and flexibility

                ·              easily work collaboratively as part of a team

                ·              work well with people from a wide variety of backgrounds.

Potential Rehearsal Schedule

A successful candidate will:

                ·              plan an appropriate rehearsal schedule with approval of the theatre director

                ·              work a mutually agreeable but as yet undetermined number of rehearsal hours

                ·              be available mostly during the after-school period weekdays from 3:30 – 7:00 p.m.

                ·              be available for production and other meetings as appropriate

Details of Compensation

The Guest Director will:

                ·              be paid a mutually agreeable stipend as a community resource, seasonal employee

·              not technically be an employee of Harvey S. Firestone High School or the Akron Board of Education.

                ·              not be eligible for any fringe benefits

To Apply:

Send cover letter and resume to Theatre Director, Harvey S. Firestone HS, 333 Rampart Avenue, Akron, OH 44313.

Deadline:  Wednesday, August 29, 2012. E-mail applications will also be accepted to FirestoneTheatre@gmail.com

Program Description

Harvey S. Firestone High School is the home of the high school component of the district’s nationally recognized Visual and Performing Arts Program. Students select from five successful programs: choral music, dance, instrumental music, fine art, and theatre. Each program is intensive and designed for the serious student who is intent on pursuing an arts career.

Firestone Theatre is the play production component of this program and features a full season of plays and musicals. We provide students with pre-professional opportunities to appear on stage and to contribute to the creative process via a backstage or support role. Firestone students are not just actors but also designers and technicians; our students design sound, lights, scenery, props, ad many other aspects of production.  Students run the equipment, pull props, play an instrument for the musical pit, focus lights, sell tickets, serve as ushers, and record sound effects as well as build, paint, and move scenery. A few especially talented students have earned the privilege of directing a production in the annual festival of one-act plays.

Firestone students are active in state and area activities of the Educational Theatre Association. Hundreds of students have attended conferences and other events as part of the Thespian Troupe 5570. A number of students have received the Bob Fose Memorial Scholarship which represents the highest individual award given to a Thespian in the State of Ohio. Dozens of Firestone students have successfully competed in the Individual Theatre Events Competition at the State Thespian Conference. Students have earned first place in categories such as Monologue Performance, Solo Pantomime, Duet Pantomime, Duet Musical Theatre, Solo Musical Theatre, Stage Management, and Prop Design.

Six Firestone Theatre productions have been selected by the Ohio Educational Theatre Association since 1997 as featured, full-length productions at the State Thespian Conference. Those plays include Macbeth (2008), for colored girls who have considered suicide /  when the rainbow is enuf (2006), The Servant of Two Masters (2004), Dear Gabby: the Confessions of an Over-Achiever (2010 and 2000), The Seagull (1999), and Much Ado About Nothing (1997). These selections represent the highest honor available to high school theatre productions in the State of Ohio.

One Firestone Theatre production, The Seagull, was invited as a featured production to the International Thespian Festival in 1999.