Theatre Studies Careers
Being Successful in the Field
A career in the arts takes patience, dedication, and luck! Keep in mind, the unemployment rate for actors hovers around 85 percent. Consider pairing theater with another career interest or major to open up more job opportunities.
Theater develops verbal and written communication, public speaking, and teamwork skills. These transferable skills are valued by many types of employers.
There are many ways to be involved in the theater while waiting for an opportunity and pursing other career options.
Get Involved
- Network with people working in the field to find out about jobs and opportunities.
- Join professional groups as an opportunity to make contacts.
- Volunteer with fundraising efforts for the arts.
- Complete an internship or apprenticeship with local theater.
- Participate in summer stock.
Stay Informed
Read newspapers and periodicals related to the theater to keep up with new developments. Read the "trades"--magazines and newspapers that report events in the entertainment industry. Read the "Theater" section of daily newspapers to find out about upcoming productions.
Seek Opportunity
Be prepared to move to a metropolitan area where more opportunities exist.
Be aware of scams. Check out the legitimacy of agencies and companies before paying any fees.
Related Fields
Performing
Employers
- Community theaters
- Regional theaters
- Commercial theaters
- Summer stock theaters
- Dinner theaters
- Children's theaters
- University theater groups
- Touring companies
- Industrial shows
- Show groups
- Amusement and theme parks
- Television/film studios
- Radio stations
Strategies
- Participate in acting workshops, courses, and seminars to get advice and experience and to make contacts with others in the field.
- Join unions or actors' guilds to stay abreast of opportunities and developments in the field. Get as much acting experience as possible.
- Perform in school productions, community theater, summer stock, etc. to hone acting skills.
- Prepare a professional resume that lists your acting experience.
- Have your resume attached to or printed on the reverse side of an 8" x 10" photograph of yourself.
- Be prepared to make the rounds.
- Distribute your resume to numerous agencies and offices.
- Followup with several personal visits.
- Be aware that more opportunities exist in largecities such as New York and Los Angeles.
- Learn about the entertainment industryas a whole: Take courses on entertainment law, business, management, etc.
- An extensive network of contacts is essential.
- Get to know people working in your field and related areas.
Directing
- Direction
- Technical Direction
- Casting
- Stage Management
- Support Staff
Employers
- Theaters
- Television/film studios
Strategies
- Participate in the Director's Guild Training Program.
- Develop leadership skills through participation in campus and community organizations.
- Experience with fund-raising is important.
- Volunteer to do this with local theaters and arts councils.
- Learn what types of permits and insurance are needed to film or perform in certain areas.
- Volunteer with directors in local theaters to become familiar with the environment.
- Serving as an assistant is a great way to get started in this area.
- Gain directing experience by participating in college productions.
Behind the Scenes
- Set Design/Construction
- Property Design
- Lighting Design
- Sound Design
- Costume Design
- Camera Operation
- Hair/Make-up
- Special Effects
- Wardrobe
- Prop Management
- Broadcast Technology
- Riggers
- Electricians
Employers
- Community theaters
- Regional theaters
- Commercial theaters
- Summer stock theaters
- Dinner theaters
- Children's theaters
- University theater groups
- Touring companies
- Industrial shows
- Show groups
- Amusement and theme parks
- Television/film studios
- Radio stations
Strategies
- Learn to work well in a team.
- Develop a sense of artistry and creativity.
- Become involved in the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE).
- This organization can give you information about becoming an apprentice as well as help you make valuable contacts.
- Get experience. Offer your services to school and local theaters.
- Read industry magazines and books to learn about your area.
- For sound design: Become familiar with computer technology as digital sound effects and electronic music replace traditional means of sound design.
- For costume design: Supplement your program with courses in art history and fashion design.
- Learn about different eras in history in order to recreate on stage.
- A basic knowledge of history and architecture is helpful.
Writing
- Playwriting
- Screenwriting
- Journalism
- Publicity (Press Agents)
- Research
Employers
- Theaters
- Television/film studios
- Television stations
- Magazines
- Newspapers
- Freelance
Strategies
- Review plays, movies, and TV shows for school or local newspaper.
- Theatrical press agents publicize and promote theatrical productions.
- They write press releases, arrange press conferences, and other media events.
- Take courses in related areas such as public relations, advertising, and business.
- Reporters spend time on the set absorbing everything.
- They interview actors as well as craftspeople.
- Get as much writing experience as possible: Write for the college newspaper, enter play writing contests, etc.
- See many different productions and shows.
- Read variety of scripts to see how scripts are developed.
- Researchers gather information for movie writers.
- They may also track down photographs or historical documents to make the film more authentic.
Business
- Producing
- Management
- Agents
- Marketing
- Fundraising and Development
- Coordination of Volunteers
- Administration of Arts Programs
- Box Office Sales
Employers
- Theaters
- Arts councils
- Television/film studios
Strategies
- Secretarial/clerical positions in theaters and studios are often stepping-stones to other positions and a good way to make contacts.
- Take business courses to supplement your program.
- Obtain a working knowledge of computers.
- Gain a thorough understanding of theater.
- Develop skills in leadership, negotiation, budgeting, and fundraising.
Education
- Teaching
Employers
- Public and private schools
- Colleges and universities
- Performing arts centers
Strategies
- Obtain certification for the state in which you wish to teach.
- Obtain dual certificationfor more teaching opportunities.
- Get experience in various areas of theater, as well as working with young people.
- Obtain a graduate degree to teach on the college level.
- Develop one or two areas of expertise within theater arts.
Other Professions
- Actor/Actress
- Advertising/Marketing Manager
- Booking Agent-Resort Industries
- Campaign Director
- Children’s Theatre Director
- Community Affairs Liaison
- Convention Director
- Costume Designer
- Costume Shop Supervisor
- Development Officer
- Director, Tourism
- Events Coordinator
- Fashion Merchandiser
- Fund Raiser
- Journalist
- Lighting Designer
- Minister/Clergy
- Museum Manager
- Non-Profit Arts Manager
- Professor/Theatre
- Props Designer
- Puppeteer
- Recreational Supervisor
- Sales Rep-Theatre Industry
- Scriptwriter
- Set Designer
- Set Designer Specialist
- Sound Designer
- Stage Manager
- Stunt Performer
- Teacher (HS/College)
- Technical Theatre Manager
- Theatre Company Manager
- Theatre Educator
- Theatre Manager
- Travel Guide
- Voiceover Artist
- Universal Information Specialist
| Name | Office | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tom Powers | Centennial West 211 | tpowers@ilstu.edu | (309) 438-2899 |