Theatre Arts

What Can I Do With This Discipline/Major?

For helpful resources on your career opportunities, explore the “What Can I Do with This Major” guides for theater.

Some common career titles for this major include:

Actors
Producers and Directors
Dancers and Choreographers

Other Job Titles:

Box Office Manager
Carpenter
Costume Designer
Costume Shop Manager
Draper
Electrician
House Electrician
House Manager
Lighting Designer
Master Carpenter
Master Electrician
Pattern Maker
Production Manager
Projection Designer
Properties Artisan
Properties Master (supervisor)
Publicity Designer
Publicity Manager
Set Designer
Shop Carpenter
Shop Foreman
Sound Designer
Stagehand
Stage manager
Stitcher
Technical Director

For additional career information on duties, education and training, pay, and outlook for hundreds of occupations, visit the Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Additional Resources

Careers in Theatre

Internships and Research Opportunities

Getting applied experience in your field is critical. The following resources will allow you to learn more about your department’s opportunities and process, as well introduce you to other major-specific internship posting resources. For more information, email Professor Jay Herzog, TU Theatre Department Internship Coordinator.

Research/Internship Opportunities:

Consider interning abroad! Search for opportunities by using the keyword "internship."
Center Stage
Everyman Theatre
Single Carrot Theatre
South Eastern Theatre Conference
Theatre Project
Wooly Mammoth Theatre
Log in to Handshake to access Going Global and search for international internships

Careers and Jobs

The resources below are a starting point for your job search. In addition to making use of the Internet to do research, we encourage you to talk to people in the fields you are interested in (don’t forget to use TU’s Tiger Mentor Network) to learn more about specific opportunities and organizations.

Sample Resumes and Interview Questions

For major specific resume samples, we encourage you to look at the Sample Theatre Arts Resume (PDF) in additional to our Sample Resume Database.

Below are sample interview questions for your field. In preparing for the interview, you’ll also want to review common interview questions (PDF) asked of all majors, thoroughly research the organization, dress professionally, and visit the interview skills section of the Career Center’s website. You can practice your interview skills online via Big Interview or schedule a mock interview with a Career Center staff member.

Interview Questions

Typically directors do not ask questions after your audition. Here are some tips to make sure your audition is successful.

Here are some other questions you should reflect on to better prepare you for possible conversation.

Why theatre?
What professional theatre productions have you seen recently?
What has been your most rewarding experience in theatre thus far- how has it shaped your professional goals?
Describe a challenge you faced in a recent production, and how you handled it.
What additional skills do you possess that would be an asset to our company?
What designers do you admire?
Why do you want to be a designer/theatre technician?
What are your long-term professional aspirations?
What have you read recently that inspired you?
With what kinds of technical equipment are you proficient (types of power tools, industrial equipment, software, etc.)
In what period/genre do you most enjoy working? With which do you feel weakest?

Professional Associations

Professional associations offer many benefits to students, often including reduced-price membership, mentorship programs, “careers in…” information, job and internship listings, field-related conferences and publications, and much more. Be sure to check out sections on the associations’ websites related to students, education, careers, etc.

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