Theatre

 

Career and Major Information
Related Career Titles
Web Sites
Salary Information

 

The Associate of Arts degree in Theatre at Walters State Community College is designed to fulfill the freshman and sophomore level course requirements of a bachelor’s degree; however, the curriculum is not specific to a particular college or university.  A student will need to consult a WSCC faculty advisor or an advisor at the intended transfer institution to determine individual course requirements for the four-year school.  The link to the Humanities Division at WSCC is: http://www.ws.edu/humanities/default.asp.

 

Career and Major Information:

 

A Theatre major can help prepare students for career opportunities in performing and/or producing or in related areas like advertising, television, film, education, and recreation.  Actors experience keen competition for roles, long periods of inactivity between performances, and frequent rejections in auditions.  Producers oversee business and financial decisions of a production, hire staff members, and coordinate the activities of writers, directors, managers, and agents.  Directors make creative decisions by interpreting scripts, expressing concepts to set and costume designers, advising cast members, and conducting rehearsals.  There is constant pressure, and evening and weekend work is part of life.  Formal dramatic training is an asset and can include courses in broadcasting, stagecraft, communications, film, drama, and acting.  Employment in theatre is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2010.  Expanding cable and satellite televisions programs should increase demand.

 

Related Career Titles:

 

Acting Coach	Talent Scout
Actor	Model
Advertising/Marketing Specialist	Playwright
Agent	Producer
Amusement Part Entertainer	Prop Manager
Announcer	Public Relations Specialist
Art Director	Radio/TV Announcer
Booking Manager	Tourism Director
Casting Director	Set Designer
Copy Writer	Stunt Coordinator
Costume Designer	Stage Manager
Critic	Sound Designer
Director	Make-up Artist
Instructor	Lighting Designer

 

Theatre Websites: 

 

BackStage.Com: all behind-the-scenes jobs in the live entertainment field

 

Showbiz Jobs.Com http://www.showbizjobs.com/

 

Actors, Directors & Producers (Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2004-2005)

http://www.bls.gov/oco/

 

American Association of Community Theatre http://www.aact.org/

 

The University of North Carolina at Wilmington

http://www.uncw.edu/stuaff/career/Majors/theater.htm

 

 

 

Salary Information:

 

Median annual earnings of salaried actors were $23,470 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $15,320 and $53,320. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $13,330, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $106,360.

 

Median annual earnings of salaried producers and directors were $46,240 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $31,990 and $70,910. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $23,300, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $119,760. Median annual earnings were $56,090 in motion picture and video industries and $38,480 in radio and television broadcasting (OOH 2004-2005).

 

Salary figures quoted are based on national figures.  Local or regional salaries may be lower.

 

 

 

Citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2004-05 Edition, Actors, Producers, and Directors, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos093.htm