Job posting: illusion theater education outreach specialist
Application Deadline: November 13, 2026
Location: Minneapolis, MN; hybrid/on-site options available
Schedule: Three-quarter time/ annual salary range 35K to 39K
Reports to: Executive Producing Director
Supervisor: Education Director
About Illusion Theater:
For more than 50 years, Illusion Theater has created theater that illuminates the illusions, myths, and realities of our times and catalyzes personal and social change. Its education programs use theater to engage young people in meaningful dialogue, build understanding, and support informed, healthy decisions.
Position Summary:
The Education Outreach Specialist supports the development, coordination, delivery, and evaluation of Illusion’s education programs, including Keepin’ It Real and the new Opioid Prevention Program. Working closely with the Education Director, Producing Directors, Artists, Educators, Students, and Community Partners, this staff member helps ensure programming is accurate, engaging, culturally responsive, age-appropriate, and effective in school and community settings.
The position combines teaching, school outreach, scheduling, youth facilitation, educational content development, research, documentation, and departmental communications.
Key Responsibilities:
• Coordinate school and community programs: Schedule performances, workshops, classroom visits, and follow-up activities. Communicate with school partners and prepare artists and facilitators with site-specific information. Adapt plans to changing schedules, attendance, staffing, and other logistical needs.
• Develop educational content: with the Education Team create and revise discussion guides, workshop curricula, classroom activities, focus group materials, and program summaries. Incorporate student and educator feedback, relevant research, and expert guidance.
• Engage and Teach young people: Lead or support classroom discussions, theater workshops, and student focus groups. Build trust, encourage participation, and listen carefully to students’ experiences and perspectives.
• Document and evaluate: Maintain consistent records of program activities, attendance, student responses, and educator feedback. Organize focus group findings, support evaluation processes, and recommend improvements to content and delivery.
• Support writing and outreach: Draft and edit grant and funding summaries, board updates, newsletters, partner communications, and promotional materials. Collaborate with Marketing Staff to communicate program goals, reach, and impact.
• Maintain relationships and administration: Serve as a Liaison to schools and community organizations; maintain calendars, contacts, schedules, and planning documents; participate in staff meetings and organizational events; and contribute to shared team responsibilities.
Essential Qualifications:
• Strong writing, editing, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Experience working /teaching with youth in schools, arts education, community programs, or related settings.
• A Collaborator who can work well with youth, teaching artists, school and community staff, grant officers and other
• Understanding of adolescent development, youth health and wellbeing, and school operations.
• Ability to facilitate thoughtful discussions and communicate effectively with diverse students, educators, artists, and community partners.
• Ability to synthesize feedback into clear summaries and practical recommendations.
• Sound judgment, attention to detail, flexibility, and confidence managing multiple priorities and changing circumstances.
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience developing educational materials, facilitating youth focus groups, supporting program evaluation, or writing nonprofit communications and grant reports. Familiarity with Minneapolis schools or Minnesota youth-serving organizations, and education or training in theater, education, public health, youth development, or a related field.
Ideal Candidate:
A thoughtful listener, clear communicator, and organized collaborator who values youth voices and uses theater to build trust, connection, reflection, and change.
To Apply:
Send cover letter and resume to Tree O’Halloran, Associate Producing Director, tohalloran@illusiontheater.org. The Illusion Theater is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Applicants of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
Illusion theater auditions for spring 2027
AUDITIONS for Illusion Theater's spring productions (Keepin' It Real & Everybody's Favorite Mothers)
WHEN
Sunday, October 25 from 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Tuesday, October 27 from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
WHERE
Illusion Theater at the Center for Performing Arts
3754 Pleasant Ave. South Ste. 321w
Minneapolis, MN 55409
There is free street parking in the neighborhood.
Please enter the main lobby doors on 38th Street and go to the third floor.
SEEKING
AEA and Non-union actors for:
Keeping it Real
(7) Male/Female/Non-Binary, White & BIPOC Actors – union or non-union; ages 18-25;
Everybody's Favorite Mothers
(1) 20’s. Cis-Gay Male or Male-presenting, of Jewish heritage
(1): 50’s-60’s, Cis- Female, of Jewish heritage
(1) 50’s-60’s, Cis-Male, Of Jewish Heritage
(1): 20’s, White, Cis-Gay Male or Male-presenting
(1): 20’s, Cis-Gay Female or Female-presenting, BIPOC
(1) Any gender; BIPOC actors encouraged to apply
TO RESERVE AN AUDITION TIME:
Please prepare a 2 minute contemporary monologue.
You can sign up for an audition slot here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4EA5AA29A5F9C43-66724964-auditions Headshots & Resumes may be emailed to Tree O'Halloran at tohalloran@illusiontheater.org.
ABOUT THE PLAYS
Keeping it Real
Illusion Theater's Educational Tour encompasses all the frankness, fun and failure that happens in high school. This interactive performance piece is built from stories of older teens who tell their truths to younger teens. Over the course of the performance the teen audience gets to interact and discuss how they would act if they were in the situation, deepening the impact and long-term benefits of the work. This production is performed in Illusion Theater's space in The Center for Performing Arts and also tours to local and regional junior high schools.
Rehearsals: February 15 - 21, 2027
Performance: February 22 - March 12, 2027
Character Descriptions:
Keepin It Real is an ensemble production and actors will play a variety of roles including high school students, teachers, and parents.
Everybody's Favorite Mothers by James Still
A theatrical celebration of unconditional love and unlikely activism that started in the summer of 1972 when one mother marched in a parade with her gay son. Jeanne Manford and her husband Jules went on to co-found a support group for parents which became known as PFLAG. The play is also about young queer men and women coming out, standing up to power, and accelerating the fight for gay rights. With violence now against the transgender community and LGBQT+ youth at an all-time high, Everybody's Favorite Mothers isn't nostalgic - it's a warning that there's still work to do, and that history can inspire us to find ways
Rehearsals: February 22 - March 18, 2027
Performances: March 19 - April 4, 2027
Character Descriptions:
Morty Manford — A brilliant, energetic, sometimes pushy young gay activist in his early 20s. He argues passionately for legal protections and visibility, using humor and intensity to mask the cost of constant struggle
Jeanne Manford — Morty’s warm, practical fifth-grade math teacher mother. Initially wary of activism but never ashamed of her son
Jules Manford — Morty’s thoughtful, gentle father, in his early 50s. More hesitant than Jeanne at first, he carries guilt and concern but grows into a supportive co-founder and steady partner
Mike — A witty, flamboyant young gay man from Kansas and the son of a minister. Newer to activism than Morty,
Leena — A sharp, uncompromising lesbian activist and woman of color. She challenges the male-centered, exclusionary tendencies of the gay-rights movement while fighting on multiple fronts, including women’s equality and trans rights.
Maria/Principal - Portrays Maria Von Trapp in fantasy sequence and is the principal at Jeanne's school