William Shakespeare wrote “all the world’s a stage” in 1599. At the time he penned those immortal words, Shakespeare was also a stakeholder in the Old Globe Theater in London. Shakespeare obviously didn’t have a theatre degree but he immersed himself in all aspects of stagecraft—onstage and off—including props, special effects, costuming and makeup, scenery design, and box office management.
More than four centuries later, Shakespeare’s plays are still performed throughout the world. They are among the thousands of dramas, comedies, tragedies, musicals, and operas staged every year. Whether a show is performed on Broadway, a community theater stage or on television, film, video, or radio it is brought to life by professionals who have earned a theatre degree. These people apply their talents to a wide range of artistic expressions associated with acting, dancing, writing, makeup and costume production, set design, and lighting and sound production. A theater degree is also beneficial if you want to work in the hands-on world of stagecraft as a set carpenter, electrician, box office manager, or arts administrator. The theater also thrives thanks to the work 0of those schooled in fund raising, publicly, and grant writing.
People who work in theater must possess a broad range of organizational, artistic, technical, and communications skills. This makes them valuable employees not only in theater but in any job. Theater professor and director Louis E. Catron talked to one CEO who told him why theater majors are in demand in the corporate world: “Her company has found that theatre-trained applicants are valuable employees because they’re energetic, enthusiastic, and able to work under pressure…. They generally have polished communications and human relations skills, and they’re experienced at working as members of a team toward a common goal. Most importantly… theatre graduates have a can-do confidence based on their experience of successfully meeting difficult challenges.”
A theater degree increases your chances of finding employment in a highly competitive world. By focusing on talent, drive, and education, an associate of arts degree in theater gives you a VIP ticket to choice jobs in the performing arts—and beyond.