I am only a Sophomore in High School but I'm thinking a lot of my college and future plans. One of my dreams is to become a dancer or actress on Broadway or something of the sort. I have been dancing for 11 years (13 by the time I graduate) and by the time I finish High School I will have four years of Drama clubs and classes and 7 school plays under my belt (small school, not much annual Productions).
However, since College is a lot of money, I don't want to study something that possibly won't get me anywhere. So I was wondering if it is almost essential to Major in Theatre or Dance in college to be in the spotlight, or at least somewhere on stage for something like Broadway. Any help at all would be great, advice would be very helpful.
What do you need to get a career in Theatre?opera music Theatre is a collective endeavor requiring
individual achievement. A single production
may, for example, bring together the skills of
playwrights, performers, designers, and
experts in scene construction and lighting.
Theatre may be the most comprehensive of all
the arts, and the most challenging and
exciting.
While it is true that having a college degree
will not guarantee you a position in the world
of theatre (or any other field for that matter), it
is important to realize that this is the best way
to prepare yourself and to increase your
chances in the job market. Acknowledging
that there is intense competition, given the
incredible number of talented people vying for
each job, you must somehow set yourself
above the others.
A great combination is a college degree with
at least one theatre-related internship,
additional formal training or study, experience
working in the field (such as working crew on a
production, volunteering, teaching drama at a
local arts center, etc.), enthusiasm along with
a positive attitude, and perseverance.
A student concentrating in theatre arts should
emerge from the experience more
knowledgeable, confident, sensitive, and
aware of the benefits of cooperating and
sharing with others. Study in the theatre arts
offers exposure to creative dramatic
expression, primarily in front of live audiences.
It involves study of all types of artistic
performance in theaters, in educational
institutions, on TV, in movies, and outdoors.
All major aspects of performance preparation
are studied. Major areas of specialization
include: acting, directing, theatre history and
criticism, playwriting, design, theatre
technology, theatre studies (education), and
creative drama.
While many theatre majors proceed to 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 do you need to get a career in Theatre?opera sheet music opera theater
The first answerer provided some useful information. However, if you're aiming for a performance career, internships are of no use -- you would never put something like that on an acting resume. All an auditor wants to see from your resume is an idea of the level of professional work you've done.
I strongly recommend a college education. Upon graduating with a degree, if the performance thing doesn't pan out, you will be equipped to teach or work in some sort of arts administraion or arts management jobs, of which there are quite a few. After over 20 years of creative work [mostly onstage], I've been trying to transition into the administrative side of the arts. However, it's proving very difficult, because I never finished a degree in anything -- even though I've got arts experience up the wazoo AND have worked in a lot of administrative environs during periods where I had no arts work, employers are not willing to equate my practical experience with a piece of paper [a degree], even though I know more now than someone stepping out of college with their degree [my private studies with renowned teachers also outweigh what a college student would have experienced, but even that is not given credence].
I dropped out of college because I started getting cast in professional theatre -- frankly, I needed the money. In retrospect I could have managed to stay in school, but there you are. So I recommend you go to college -- the degree will make you marketable in one way or another.
