About This Major
- Theatre
- Major/Requirements
- Course Descriptions
- Productions
- Photos
- Facilities
- Alumni
- Faculty
- Handbook
- Scholarships
- Careers in Theatre

Theatre at Ozarks

Careers in Theatre

What jobs will be available after I graduate?

General Information
Complete an internship or an apprenticeship with a local theater. Participate in summer stock.

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 and get involved with productions in any way you can. Be prepared to do various tasks assigned by stage managers or producers.

Join professional groups as an opportunity to make contacts.

Volunteer with fundraising efforts for the arts.

Be aware of scams. Check out the legitimacy of agencies and companies before paying any fees.

Be prepared to move to a metropolitan area where more opportunities exist.

A career in the arts takes patience, dedication, and luck!

Have a back-up plan. Be aware that the unemployment rate for actors hovers around 85%. Develop skills that qualify you for other jobs while you wait for opportunities in acting. Consider pairing theater with another career interest or major to open up more job opportunities.

Theater helps students develop 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 pursuing other career options.

Job Outlook:
Employment of actors, producers, and directors is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through 2014. Although a growing number of people will aspire to enter these professions, many will leave the field early because the work—when it is available—is hard, the hours are long, and the pay is low. Competition for jobs will be stiff, in part because the large number of highly trained and talented actors auditioning for roles generally exceeds the number of parts that become available. Only performers with the most stamina and talent will find regular employment.

Expanding cable and satellite television operations, increasing production and distribution of major studio and independent films, and continued growth and development of interactive media, such as direct-for-Web movies and videos, should increase demand for actors, producers, and directors. However, greater emphasis on national, rather than local, entertainment productions may restrict employment opportunities in the broadcasting industry.

Venues for live entertainment, such as Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters, touring productions, and repertory theaters in many major metropolitan areas, as well as theme parks and resorts, are expected to offer many job opportunities. However, prospects in these venues are more variable, because they fluctuate with economic conditions.

Related Links:
U.S. Department of Labor - Actors, Producers and Directors
The Art and Science of Theater
Screen Actors Guild
Stage Managers' Association
Educational Theatre Association