What
Can I Do with a Major in...Theater?
Theater
Description of Major
The BFA in Acting provides a professional,
conservatory-style environment for the aspiring dramatic actor. With
its focus single-mindedly on training students to have the skills
necessary to find employment in the competitive world of the
professional theatre upon graduation, it offers a training regimen
that is rigorous, demanding and one that requires the utmost in
commitment and dedication from the select number of students who are
accepted for admission.
Objectives in this Field of Study
The goal of the Department of Drama
at the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music is to
provide professional conservatory-style training for dramatic actors
and directors within the framework of a major public university.
Specifically, the degree program
will:
- Provide a balance between classroom training and
production experience in order to create actors and directors who
understand how process leads to product
- Create work habits within students that will serve
them well in the professional so that they are well equipped for a
productive and successful life in the theatre
- Help students better understand the relationships
between body, mind, and spirit that result in richer and more profound
truths presented on stage
- Train students in a way that will foster an
awareness and appreciation for the vast scope of human knowledge and
its impact upon world theatre
- Commit ourselves as a program to the conservation
of great dramatic literature via its production, as well as to explore
new works in the canon of world literature
Employment Opportunities
Visit
the CCM Drama Website
Theater / Drama Links:
Occupational
Outlook Handbook
Find
a job from Playbill
UC's
College-Conservatory of Music Website
What can I do with this degree?
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AREAS
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EMPLOYERS
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STRATEGIES
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| ACTING |
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
Advertising agencies
Film studios
Television networks |
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, etc. to hone
acting skills.
Prepare a professional resume
that lists your acting experience. It's helpful to 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 resumes to
numerous agencies and offices. Follow up your resume
with several personal visits.
Be aware that more opportunities exist in large cities such as New
York and Los Angeles.
Learn about the entertainment
industry as 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. |
PRODUCING/DIRECTING
Support Staff
|
Theaters
Television/film studios
|
Participate
in the Director's Guild Training Program.
Supplement your program with business courses.
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 someone's
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
Lighting Design
Sound Design
Costume Design
Camera Operation
Hair/Make-up
Special Effects |
Theaters
Television/film studios
Performing arts centers |
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 so that they can be recreated
on stage.
A basic knowledge of history and architecture is helpful. |
WRITING
Scriptwriting
Journalism/Broadcasting
Publicity
Research |
Theaters
Television/film studios
Radio/television stations
Magazines
Newspapers |
Review
plays, movies, and TV shows for your school or local
newspaper.
Join your school's radio or television station.
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 and read a 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
Management (Agents)
Marketing
Fund-raising and Development
Coordination of Volunteers
Administration of Arts Programs
Accounting
Box Office |
Theaters
Arts councils
Corporations
Government
Television/film studios |
Many
corporations sponsor arts programs and have "giving"
departments for this purpose.
Secretarial/clerical positions in theaters and studios are often
stepping-stones to higher ambitions and a good way to make
contacts.
Take business courses to supplement your pro-gram. Obtain a working
knowledge of computers. |
EDUCATION
Teaching
Community Liaison |
Public
and private schools
Colleges and universities
Performing arts centers
|
Obtain
certification for the state in which you wish to teach. Obtain a
graduate degree to teach on the college level.
Many performing arts centers have outreach programs to get students
involved in the arts.
For example, students may be offered ticket discounts to a theater
production. |
GENERAL
STRATEGIES
• Do an internship or an apprenticeship with a
local theater.
• Network: Talk with people working in the field to find out
about jobs and opportunities.
• 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.
• Get your foot in the door: Get involved with productions in
any way you can, and be prepared to do various tasks assigned by stage
managers or producers.
• Join professional groups as an opportunity to make
contacts. |
• Get as much exposure as you can: Participate in local
productions, volunteer with fund-raising efforts for the arts, etc.
• Be aware of scams: Check out the legitimacy of agencies and companies before paying any
sort of fees.
• Have a back-up plan: Develop other skills that qualify you
for other jobs while you wait for opportunities in acting. Be aware
that the unemployment rate for actors
hovers around 85%.
• Be prepared to move to a metropolitan area where more
opportunities exist. |
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Above Information Prepared by the Career Planning
staff of Career Services at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
(1998)
UTK is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA Employer
Web Resources
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This page last updated on
October 9, 2003
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