Careers for Theatre Majors

Students are naturally concerned about that date, not really all so far off, when they will enter the job market. And so are their families: who don't look forward to paying those bills forever! And some students who are talented in theatre skills and are attracted to it shy away from it as a major, worrying that the Theatre major won't open many doors to them.

First - and, of course, the first choice for many - is the life of the performer of one sort or another. Our programs in Music Theatre and Theatre prepare graduates well for entry-level professional work. 80 percent of our 2006 graduates are working in the professional theatre.

In Ohio, our graduates are working for  CATCO, Columbus Children’s Theatre, Tecumseh!, and Huron Playhouse, Nationally, our graduates are working for  Screen Actors Guild, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Roundabout Theatre Company, New York Public Theatre, Theatreworks/USA, and have been seen on Numb3ers, Law and Order and All My Children, among others.

Click here to find out about one of our long-term successful graduates.

Theatre is, admittedly, a highly competitive life and one without much security – the national rate for theatre performance majors employed after graduation is less than 25 percent. By contrast, those graduates with a Production Design Technology emphasis, or even simply an interest in technical theatre are likely to be in demand, particularly if they've developed skills in design, lighting and sound. Still others find a satisfactory life in the business side of theatre, as box office managers, publicity directors, producers, agents and casting directors. Our Multi-Age Drama/Theatre Education majors are well-equipped to teach children from age 3 all the way through high school.  And more opportunities are out there in the mass media of television and film - opportunities for which theatre majors may be especially well suited.

Theatre prepares you for other jobs, too.

Last, we should point out that surveys suggest that the majority of college graduates end up in a career that has no direct application to their majors at all. All theatre graduates report that theatre provides exceptional preparation in demanding responsibility, cooperation, and the ability to think and act quickly. And virtually all theatre majors indicate that their greatest satisfaction comes in working on the favorite activity, even if it is only on the community theatre level.  You can read an excellent paper on this subject by acclaimed theatre educator Louis Catron by clicking here - you must have Word to read the document.

Theatre is not merely a preparation for a career, it's fine preparation for life.

If you would like more information about the Theatre program at The University of Findlay, please contact:

Scott Hayes, Theatre Program Director
Office: Egner 103
Phone: (419) 434-4562
hayes@findlay.edu