Theatre Arts Careers

How have LC theatre graduates succeeded professionally?
Nationally and internationally, our Theatre Arts graduates have worked as professional actors, stage managers, producers, technicians and designers at Imagination Stage in Washington, D.C., The Chicago Kids Company, The Arkansas Repertory Theatre, Asolo Repertory Theatre, The Papermill Theatre, TheatreWorks Singapore and The California Theatre Center.

In Atlanta, our graduates have worked at Actor's Express, 7Stages, Horizon Theatre and the Atlanta Center for Puppetry Arts.

While many theatre majors pursue careers in the theatre and associated fields, their study may also lead them to success in such fields as teaching, arts management, public relations, and drama therapy, to name a few.

What are the top non-acting occupations related to theatre arts?

A dramaturge or literary manager serves as a researcher, advisor, writer, and editor for a theatre production. Some of the more common tasks performed by a dramaturge are analysis of the text/story, research into prior productions and historical context, preparing notes for the director, advising the director and cast and writing the audience guide to the play. A distinction made between a dramaturge and literary manager is that a dramaturge has duties related to a specific show. A literary manager (resident dramaturge) has ongoing duties with the theatre company including review and selection of scripts.

Theatre teachers instruct or coach students in the techniques of acting, directing, playwriting, script analysis and the history of theatre. They help students acquire confidence, assurance, speaking skills and timing. They encourage students in their work, direct rehearsals, and guide them in their roles. At the same time, they instruct students in backstage work including set design, production organization, set building, stage lighting and sound, properties, costuming and makeup.

Arts managers are needed in virtually every arts organization from theatre companies to museums, many opportunities exist in this field. For example, a museum is likely to have staff members in education that work with school groups to introduce children to the exhibits. A gallery needs employees with good organizational and computer skills to coordinate exhibits and work with artists to track various art submissions. An opera company, concert hall, or theatre needs boxoffice and front of the house workers to manage ticket sales, write press releases, market the productions in the community, and create visibility. Some theatre companies need general managers to schedule tours, monitor union agreements, and run the business side of performances. Over the last decade, arts management has become a growing field with increasing specialization and training.

For more information about theatre arts-related careers, visit: http://artswork.asu.edu/arts/students/careers/careers14.htm or contact the LaGrange College Career Center at (706) 880-8177.