What You Need To Know About a Degree in Theater Arts
The last thing a parental wants to hear from a college-bound offspring is, “I’m going to major in theater!” This immediately conjures three career paths: (1) acting in plays, (2) teaching drama in school, and (3) waiting tables in a restaurant. When it comes to student loans needing to be paid off, is it any wonder that Mom and Dad would aggressively encourage the pursuit of a more “sensible” curriculum?
My own parents would have thought the same thing. In fact, they were so adamant against my acting at the local melodrama theater, I got a job in civil service, moved into a studio apartment, and continued acting anyway. By the time I started my own production company and went back to college, the decision to choose a major was an easy one. I knew what industries I wanted to work in—publishing, advertising and media—and, frankly, I recognized the unlikelihood of being taken seriously if I walked in with a degree in Theatre Arts. Who would want to hire an actress when they could instead get someone who majored in Communications with an emphasis on Audience Analysis and Message Design?
Yes, I was still acting and directing, but the umbrella of a Communications degree gave me the latitude to float my resume to businesses which not only paid well but also facilitated more networking opportunities than treading the boards.
That said, I’m a firm believer in following one’s passion. If you live, breathe, and sleep theater, and devote your years at university to earning a diploma in all things theatrical, it’s helpful to consider some career options in which this background could open doors … and pay bills.
Playwriting
I’ve been teaching playwriting for over 30 years now and one of the things I’ve discovered is that the most savvy and creative scripticians tend to be people who previously spent time onstage. Having walked the walk and talked the talk, they have a much better sense of pacing, structure, dialogue, and character development than those who have only sat in the audience. In their mind’s eye, former actors can also envision what the stage physically looks like and realistically grasp how long it takes for costume changes and swapping out set pieces and backdrops. This bodes well for competitions and for producers seeking new works. In addition, virtual platforms are receptive to plays which lend themselves to subscription streaming.
Sales
Actors are consummate storytellers. The skill sets it requires to convince audiences of the characters they are portraying can be applied just as easily to persuading potential buyers to open their minds, their hearts and their wallets. Actors can adapt to any situation (i.e., home, office, showroom) because to them it is just another performance arena for their talents to shine. Salespeople are always in demand. Find a product or service which excites you and use the interview as an opportunity to show what you can bring to the table.
Real Estate
If your degree specialization is in set design and lighting, opportunities abound with staging services for realtors. Take a tour of any upscale open house and it’s no coincidence that all the furniture, accent pieces, lighting, and even aromas such as freshly baked cookies have magically come together to entice prospective homeowners. If you know how to cleverly dress and light a theatrical set to make it look as if real people live there, your backstage talents will be appreciated in setting the stage for real people who want to fall in love with a new Home Sweet Home.
Project Management
Throughout my years working for other people, I often found myself on committees. More often than not, I was the leader of said committees because of my experience as a theater director. I always quipped that if I could get the best performances out of actors, I could bring out the best in anyone else. Directing teaches you the discipline to set and maintain deadlines, assign tasks and embrace flexibility. This also has applications to event planning and recruitment roles such as “auditioning” new talent for your business “cast” and providing the “rehearsals” they need to succeed. For me, this further extended to training new docents for a number of California’s historic tourist attractions such as the Governor’s Mansion, the Railroad Museum and Sutter’s Fort.
Cable TV and Local Access
If you’ve ever produced a YouTube video, you know the amount of work that goes into attracting a viewership. The popularity of DIY productions is alive and well at cable television and local access stations. Unfortunately, the passion that many participants have for launching their own talk shows or programs about cooking, crafts, or book clubs isn’t always matched by—well, any watchable talent to speak of. As a trained actor, director, sound technician, etc., you could become an important asset to their efforts as well as build a diversified portfolio. Don’t rule out voiceover work, either, whether it’s for commercials, public service announcements, training guides, webinars or video games (especially if you have an arsenal of unique character voices).
A Few Alterations
Last but not least, if your focus is on costume design, there will always be community theaters, opera companies, and drama departments which can use you. While theater productions per se are on hold as of this writing, there are other businesses which will value your skills with a needle and thread and your extensive knowledge of fabrics. Dry cleaners, department stores, costume rentals, boutiques, and couture apprenticeships provide opportunities for professionals who know how to take things in, let things out, alter hemlines and use dyes. Nor should you rule out museums which feature period clothing in their displays. Not only are wardrobes on exhibit subject to routine maintenance but new acquisitions often require repairs which won’t compromise their historical integrity. A perfect fit for a designer who knows what s/he is doing!
Meet the Author, Christina Hamlett
Former actress and theatre director Christina Hamlett is an award-winning author whose credits to date include 43 books, 209 stage plays, and squillions of articles and interviews. She is also a script consultant for stage and screen and a professional ghostwriter.