Working in Theatre Career Videos
Learn about what theatre professionals do, and how they got their jobs. You can also take our Career Quiz to find out what types of jobs might be right for you!
Actor
Actors bring characters to life onstage. They are independent artists who usually work on a per-show basis, although some theatres have acti...
Artistic Director
Nearly all theatres have an artistic director who makes the major creative decisions for the organization. This person works with an artisti...
Box Office and House Management
If you like working with the public, have great organizational skills, and consider yourself a good troubleshooter, consider working with th...
Carpentry/Electrics
Once scenic and lighting designers create the look and feel of a production, carpentry and electrics professionals step in to make their des...
Casting Director
A casting director helps other members of a creative team decide which performers should be hired for a play or musical. A casting director...
Choreographer
A theatrical choreographer creates the dance elements in a play or musical, and often teaches them to actors, singers, and dancers. Choreogr...
Company Manager
This person takes care of the everyday needs of artists involved in a production, from handling their payroll to setting up their travel and...
Creative Professional
There are many jobs that value and encourage creativity! Theatre training can be helpful for everyone from lawyers to classroom teachers. So...
Dancer
Dancers are featured in plays and musicals as well as performance that blurs the line between theatre and dance. Professional dancers usuall...
Design Tech
Most theatres employ wardrobe professionals and sound and lighting engineers who attend every performance and make sure the technological an...
Designer
There are many types of designers, including costume, scenic, lighting, projection, and prop designers. They are usually hired on a per-show...
Development/Fundraising
Most theatres are nonprofit organizations, which means they exist to serve the public good. Because of this, many have fundraising professio...
Director
A director shapes a production of a play or musical by guiding artists toward a creative vision. Directors are usually independent artists h...
Dramaturg
A dramaturg works with playwrights and/or artistic staff to help develop a play for production. If the playwright is alive, a dramaturg will...
Education
Many theatres have education departments that help people learn more about theatre. Some people in theatre education work with children, hos...
Finance, Data Management & Information Systems
Working in theatre isn’t just being onstage or in the wings. Technology has made buying a ticket to a show simple for audience members, bu...
Literary Manager
A literary manager reads and evaluates plays for a theatre company and makes suggestions to the rest of the artistic staff about which plays...
Management
Theatre management is a broad term that covers many types of jobs. Some focus on the general operations of a theatre space, making sure the...
Marketing/Communications
Most professional theatres have marketing and communications professionals on staff. Jobs range from publicists who work with the media to g...
Musical Theatre
Musical theatre is a genre of theatre where music plays a major role in moving the story forward. In addition to the actors, directors, desi...
Playwright
A playwright is an independent artist who creates work for the stage. Some have a specialized degree in playwriting, while others majored in...
Producer
This term can have many meanings within theatre, but it usually refers to a person who manages all aspects of a production, from overseeing...
Production Manager
A production manager works with designers, the technical crew, and the management team to make sure the technical elements of a show are com...
Stage Crew
Also known as run crew, stagehands, or backstage crew, these professionals work backstage during performances to keep the show running smoot...
Stage Manager
A stage manager works with a director and other artists to keep a production organized and on schedule. They help to run rehearsals, making...
Teaching Artist
Teaching artists are independent contractors hired by a school, theatre, or other organization to teach theatre. Unlike theatre teachers, te...
Technical Director
A technical director is a highly trained, skilled theatre professional with deep knowledge about the design and technical aspects of the art...
Theatre Teacher
Theatre teachers work for public or private elementary, middle, and high schools, passing their love for theatre on to the next generation....
What's Your Theatre Career Path?
If you’re curious about careers in theatre and wondering which ones might be right for you, we’ve created a quick quiz to help you think about the type of job you might want within the arts and what kind of lifestyle and education that career path requires.
Take the Quiz