We're Hiring! Adult Actor for STELLALUNA (Temporary/Understudy)
JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
ADULT ACTOR FOR STELLALUNA (TEMPORARY / UNDERSTUDY)
POSITION PURPOSE
The Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine (CMTM) is seeking an adult actor understudy for the musical STELLALUNA, adapted for the stage by Saskia Janse, based on the book by Janell Cannon with music by Guus Ponsioen. This show will perform in CMTM’s Maddy’s Theatre in February, 2026.
Actors work closely with the production director and castmates, including youth actors. They report directly to the Theatre Production Manager.
We are seeking one adult performer to understudy the roles of Stellaluna and Mother Bat. Stellaluna is portrayed with a puppet and both Stellaluna and Mother Bat are signing roles that integrate American Sign Language (ASL) into the production. Familiarity with ASL is required for this understudy position.
POSITION SUMMARY
Attend scheduled rehearsals
Learn the blocking, choreography, and ASL lines based on what the principal actors have established during rehearsals
Honor the rehearsal and call schedule, including responsible communication around conflict(s)
Uphold the integrity of the production during performances
POSITION REQUIREMENTS
Familiarity or fluency in American Sign Language (ASL)
Energized by CMTM’s mission and values (listed below)
Experience working in professional and/or community theatre settings is a plus
Experience working in children’s theatre is a plus
Dedication to creating theatre for family audiences
Excellent organizational and classroom management skills
Excellent communication skills
Available for the duration of the rehearsal and performance process. Actors will be asked to disclose conflicts, which will factor into the casting process. Additional conflicts disclosed after casting may affect your position in the show.
Work with kids and teens from the crew program during performances
Actors with unique physical, artistic, and/or musical abilities are encouraged to apply
PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF WORKPLACE / ROLE
High-energy performances
It is expected that lines, songs, and blocking will be memorized
Blocking and choreography may include sitting, standing, walking, kneeling, running, squatting, jumping, and reaching.
There is dark blue light backstage and bright lights onstage.
Noise level varies between loud and quiet.
Actors may be asked to assist with scene changes as needed.
Actors may be asked to puppeteer
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions.
This job description is intended to provide guidelines for job expectations and the employee's ability to perform the position described. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills, and abilities. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate. This document does not represent a contract of employment, and the Organization reserves the right to change this position description and/or assign tasks for the employee to perform, as the Organization may deem appropriate.
SCHEDULE
Temporary per diem position, January 26-February 22.
Attend tech week: January 26-January 29, 6-10 PM
A 2-hour put in rehearsal will be scheduled based on the availability of the team
Performance calls are two hours long. Guaranteed Performances as Stellaluna:
February 1, 11 AM
February 5, 11 AM
February 8, 11 AM
February 12, 11 AM
February 15, 11 AM & 3 PM
February 20, 11 AM & 3 PM
February 22, 11 AM & 3 PM
COMPENSATION
$18.23 / hour
Earned Paid Leave (EPL): 1 hour of paid leave for every 40 hours worked.
CMTM has a system of pay that offers a base rate based on position. This system is designed for equity, and as such, we do not have the ability to negotiate the compensation listed above.
HOW TO APPLY
Email theatre@kitetails.org with a brief letter of interest.
Apply by Thursday January 15, 2026 5pm.
CMTM encourages candidates to apply even if they do not meet every single requirement above. At CMTM, we enjoy helping individuals grow professionally. If this role excites you and your past experience aligns with these qualifications, we encourage you to submit an application.
ABOUT CMTM
At the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine, we set the stage for every child to imagine and learn through play.
We value Belonging.
Everyone belongs at the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine. We believe each person has value and worth; we celebrate what makes each of us unique and what binds us together as a strong community
We value Play.
We embrace the power of play to build resilience, spark creativity, and ignite a child’s imagination. Play inspires our work, our physical spaces, our storytelling, and our learning experiences.
We value Community.
We center community in all we do. We strive to be an inclusive partner and resource in order to build strong, lasting relationships.
We value Curiosity.
We believe curiosity inspires children to explore, build empathy, and connect with others. Learning fueled by curiosity leads to a deeper understanding of self and the world around us.
We value Trust.
We provide safe, inclusive experiences and spaces to ensure that the community’s trust is earned and upheld in all that we do.
The Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine is an equal opportunity employer.
We value diversity amongst our team and leadership. Applicants will not be discriminated against because of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, disability status, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, medical condition, or any protected category prohibited by local, state, or federal laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
We are committed to making our facilities and programs accessible and safe for all members of our community, staff, and volunteers. We are actively working to increase accessibility and usability of our website, building, and educational activities. Supervisors work collaboratively with employees to make accommodations and modifications to accommodate the employee’s needs, including physical changes, assistive technologies, accessible communications, and policy enhancements. In doing so, we adhere to the available standards and guidelines and, in many cases, go beyond the guidelines to uphold our philosophy that our staff should have a safe and welcoming work environment where they can learn and grow. For a full description of our facility’s accessibility, please visit: www.kitetails.org/accessibility