Seeking directing fellow for KUNG FU ZOMBIES VS SOUTHEAST ASIAN GIRL SCOUTS
SEEKING DIRECTING FELLOW
work alongside and under the mentorship of MU ARTISTIC DIRECTOR FRAN DE LEON
Apply by July 24, 2026
art by Aleksandra Gurneau/KNOCK, inc.
About the Directing Fellowship
Theater Mu is seeking an emerging or early-career director, based in Minnesota, for a hands-on fellowship working alongside artistic director Fran de Leon during the world premiere of Kung Fu Zombies vs Southeast Asian Girl Scouts, written by Saymoukda Duangphouxay Vongsay.
The directing fellow will be embedded in the full arc of a mainstage production, from early ideation through opening, gaining direct exposure to how a director builds a show from the ground up.
Because Fran de Leon is directing this production in her capacity as artistic director, the directing fellow also gets a closer look at how an artistic director balances the demands of directing with the broader artistic and organizational leadership of a company. It's an unusual opportunity to see both roles play out at once, in the same person, on the same production.
The directing fellow will work alongside the director, designers, and production team throughout the process.
Because this production centers Southeast Asian American stories, history, and cultural practices, the directing fellow will also build cultural awareness that goes beyond craft, gaining insight into how research, community input, and lived experience shape a production with this kind of specificity and care.
SYNOPSIS
Three Southeast Asian Girl Scouts are keeping their Saint Paul, MN, community together during the zombie apocalypse. Between helping their elders, doing food runs, and building campfires, they've probably earned, like, four Gold Awards each. This genre-bending world premiere is the finale of playwright Saymoukda Duangphouxay Vongsay's Kung Fu Zombies trilogy, but all you need to know is that, for some reason, these zombies know kung fu.
Fellowship at a Glance
Positions available: One
Eligibility: Emerging or early-career directors based in Minnesota
Stipend: $1,000
Duration: July 2026 through November 15, 2026
Location: Twin Cities; rehearsals at the Theater Mu studio, 755 Prior Ave N #107, Saint Paul, MN; tech and performances at Frey Theater, 2004 Randolph Ave, St. Paul, MN 55105
Additional benefits: complimentary tickets to the production, mentorship meetings, alumni network access
Qualifications
REQUIRED
Knowledge of the tech process and its purpose.
Ability to take notes and update data-based software throughout the process.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills and interpersonal skills.
Excellent observation, listening, attentiveness, and awareness skills.
Experience, ability, and commitment to working with individuals and teams that are mixed across lines of difference such as race, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, ability, age, class, and immigrant status.
The ability to work well under pressure and to respond calmly and efficiently to frequent changes during the production and rehearsal process.
Reliability: While hours can be flexible, you must be open to evenings and weekends, reflective of the dynamic schedule of the theater.
Access to personal or public transportation to get to meetings, rehearsals, etc.
A commitment to Theater Mu's mission and values as an arts organization built upon social justice, exemplary theater, and Asian American stories.
Must be 18 or older to apply.
DESIRED
1+ years of academic, professional, or internship experience in direction, OR 1+ years of academic, professional, or volunteer experience as a theater artist in any area.
What the Directing Fellow Will Do
Pre-Production and Design (July through mid-September)
The directing fellow joins Fran de Leon and the design team from the earliest stages, learning the design timeline, the ideation process, and key deliverables, while getting a firsthand look at how directorial vision becomes concrete design direction.
Research and Dramaturgy (concurrent with pre-production)
Working with the director and design dramaturg, the Directing Fellow helps develop research strategies specific to the world of the play, learning how research gets gathered, distilled, and applied to design and staging decisions, including the cultural context and community knowledge that inform a story like this one.
Rehearsals (beginning Sept 22, 2026)
The directing fellow moves into the rehearsal room at the Theater Mu studio, observing how the director and cast build the show day to day.
Tech and Previews (Oct 21-30, 2026)
The directing fellow moves into tech with the production at Frey Theater, watching how the director, designers, and production team coordinate as design and staging elements come together on stage, through previews on October 29-30.
Opening and Run (Oct 31-Nov 15, 2026)
The directing fellow rounds out the residency by seeing the production through opening night and into its run, closing the loop on the full journey from first idea to final performance.
ABOUT THEATER MU
Theater Mu is the largest Asian American theater company in the Midwest, producing bold new work centered on the Asian American experience.
ABOUT THE PRODUCTION
Kung Fu Zombies vs Southeast Asian Girl Scouts, written by Saymoukda Duangphouxay Vongsay, is the world premiere finale of her Kung Fu Zombies trilogy. It is directed by Theater Mu artistic director Fran de Leon.
How to Apply
Send a resume and cover letter to info@theatermu.org (subject: KUNG FU ZOMBIES Director Fellow Application). Applicants must submit by July 24, 2026, but eligible candidates will be reviewed on a rolling basis.