The inclusion of a resource on this page does not imply an endorsement of all the content contained within. Visitors are encouraged to supplement these resources with their own research. For further help, or to report a broken link, please contact the department.
About Theatre
For Parents
For Students
About Theatre
There are many great reasons to become involved in theatre, as well as to study theatre in preparation for work in a variety of fields. These resources will shed light on the value of theatre as a means of personal growth, an academic pursuit, and a much-needed form of expression and entertainment.
- from the 海角论坛 Career Planning and Networking Center
- from Backstage.com
- from TheatreWashington.org
- from ChangeAgent.Wordpress.com
- from CollegeCandy.com
- from BuzzFeed.com
- from UMDCareers.Wordpress.com
- by Louis E. Catron
- from brokeGIRLrich.com
- from Chronicle for Higher Education
From the Royal Opera House in London, The Opera Machine presents an extraordinary multi-angled view of the intricate theatrical process behind the scenes during a performance. Choose from 17 different camera angles and three different sound mixes or follow the prompt book. This interactive website inspires an immense appreciation for all the work that goes into making a show happen.
The American Theatre Wing video series 鈥淲orking in the Theatre鈥 provides an excellent look at what it鈥檚 like to work in theatre and just how varied the jobs available are.
For Parents
While parents will find many of the resources on this page useful, these articles speak directly to concerns many parents have regarding the value of theatrical and liberal arts as academic pursuits.
- from The Kennedy Center鈥檚 ArtsEdge
- from The 4th Frog Blog
- from The Wall Street Journal
- from HechingerReport.org
- from The Wall Street Journal
- from US News & World Report
- from Forbes
For Students
These resources are provided to help students have a positive and successful college experience.
海角论坛 Resources for New Students
Maximize your potential for success at 海角论坛.
- from CollegeInfoGeek.com
- from LiveCareer.com
Be awesome at college.
College becomes what you make of it, this site will help you get the most out of it!
- by C. Austin Hill at OnStageBlog.com
- from Miss Manners at St. Louis Post-Dispatch
海角论坛 Career Planning and Networking Center
Planning for your future after college should start early in your college career; the Career Development Center provides resources and services to help with career planning, resume writing, job applications, and interviews. See below for more resources specific to theatre.
The inclusion of a resource on this page does not imply an endorsement of all the content contained within. Visitors are encouraged to supplement these resources with their own research. For further help, or to report a broken link, please contact the department.
Resumes
A resume is critical to obtaining work and should be continually updated and tailored as needed to every position applied for. Resume formats for technicians and actors are very different; resources for both are provided.
Get help with your resume with the 海角论坛 Career Planning and Networking Center
- from Rose Bruford College
- from The Houston Chronicle
- Shelley鈥檚 Guide to Technical Theatre Resumes: , , from USITT Sightlines
- from DailyActor.com
- by Deb McAlister
- from New York Film Academy
Cover Letters
Cover letters are often an essential part of an employment application and should be custom tailored to every position applied for. These resources provide general writing and industry-specific tips.
Get help with writing a cover letter with the 海角论坛 Career Planning and Networking Center
- from ResumeBuilder.com
- from Backstage.com
- forum discussion from SMNetwork.org
Recommendation Letters
Letters of recommendation are often requested in support of employment or graduate school applications. These resources provide suggestions from professors and professionals about how best to request letters of recommendation.
海角论坛 Career Development Credential Folder Service
Use this service to collect materials that support your application for jobs and admission to graduate school, and to forward those materials on to potential employers and schools.
- from St. Olaf College
- from The Huffington Post
- So You鈥檇 Like a Letter of Recommendation? from Jessica Eckstein
Portfolios & Interviews
Obtaining professional design work or admission to graduate school both require an interview and the presentation of a design portfolio. These resources provide tips and expectations regarding portfolios, portfolio presentations, and interviews.
- by Matthew Grenier from the USITT 2016 National Conference
- from Rafael Jaen鈥檚
海角论坛 Career Planning and Networking Center
Find many useful resources regarding interviews, including , a mock interview service that will help you practice for interviews.
For Actors
Obtaining acting work of course revolves around the auditioning process. These resources present discussion and provide suggestions regarding how to approach this process. Be sure to also check out the job sites further down the page; many job sites include helpful career advice and tips regarding auditions.
- from Acting in London
- from ThoughtCatalog.com
- 21 Things to Make Casting Directors Happy in the Audition Room from Backstage.com
- from Stages Theatre Company
- from ThePreparedPerformer.com
- from Backstage.com
- from New Line Theatre鈥檚 The Bad Boy of Musical Theatre
- from Burke Moses鈥 Musical Theater Acting Craft
- from Backstage.com
- from at Webster University
- from Bitter Gertrude
For Technicians
Getting started as a director poses its own unique challenges. These resources include discussions and suggestions on how to be effective and successful as a director.
- from John Caird in The Guardian
- from Kerry Hishon
- from Pioneer Drama Service
- The 12 Biggest Mistakes Directors Make by Frank Hauser and Russell Reich
- by Chris Hill in The Guardian
- from Michael Daehn
- from Quora.com
For Technicians
Useful resources for technicians that don鈥檛 fall into other categories. These resources include sources of information, additional training and certifications, and personal tools.
Though not a necessarily a networking resource, this blog provides extremely useful information on the world of production touring; what it鈥檚 like, how to get started, the different departments, bus etiquette, etc.
Extensive forum for discussion, information exchange, and technical advice related to technical theatre.
Industry-wide program that focuses on disciplines that directly affect the health and safety of crews, performers, and audiences. Certifications for arena rigging, theatrical rigging, and entertainment electricians are available.
A certificate program designed to help students and young professionals prove their skills in different aspects of the entertainment industry. Certificates earned help bolster resumes and help employers confirm certain basic skills in their applicants and employees.
Job Sites: On-Stage (Acting, dance, voice)
These resources are provided to help performers find jobs in the industry.
Created by actors for actors, browse 鈥淐asting Calls & Auditions鈥 for postings and 鈥淎cting Tips & Advice鈥 for tons of useful resources, especially pertaining to resumes, cover letters, interviews, and auditions.
Equity is a self-supporting labor association for actors and stage managers funded by members鈥 dues and initiation fees. Go to 鈥淐asting Call鈥 and look for OPEN or 鈥渘on-required鈥 auditions that non-AEA members may participate in.
Audition listings updated daily, info about who is casting what, where and how to submit for auditions.
The largest online casting platform in the US; for actors and performers to find jobs and career advice.
Free job listings for full time, part time, and temporary jobs both on and off stage. Search for Equity and non-Equity auditions.
Set up a multi-media resume for free, subscribe to submit to casting notices or find an agent.
Excellent professional resource with many job postings for auditions, design, tech, stage management, etc.
Professional auditions are held at the SETC annual convention.
Subscription-required career development service for professional performers, directors, choreographers, producers, talent agencies, and casting directors. See the calendar of acting, dance, and voice auditions.
For non-Equity performers and technical artists. Upload a searchable profile. Holds auditions that are attended by summer stock theatres, live entertainment production companies, and independent casting directors.
United Professional Theatre Auditions.
Job Sites: Off-Stage (Admin, management, design, tech, teaching)
These resources are provided to help non-performers find jobs in the industry.
New jobs in arts, culture, education, theatre, museum, library, gallery categories. Free resume posting.
A job posting board for administration, production, and education jobs in the arts. Must pay to access.
Free job listings for full time, part time, and temporary jobs both on and off stage. Search for Equity and non-Equity auditions.
Extensive forum for discussion, information exchange, and technical advice related to technical theatre. Though not specifically a job site, job opportunities can crop up, and there is a lot of discussion pertaining to job finding resources and advice.
For jobs in higher education, search for Theatre.
Huge worldwide directory of TV and film resources. Search jobs and post a profile.
Premier media job listings site.
Focused more on arts administration jobs.
Similar to Mandy.com, search for jobs and find anything you鈥檇 need to make a movie or shoot for TV.
PLASA is the lead international membership body for those who supply technologies and services to the event, entertainment and installation industries. Jobs are more focused on sales, service, and installation.
Excellent professional resource with many job postings for auditions, design, tech, stage management, etc.
The Southeastern Theatre Conference provides extensive resources for its network of theatre practitioners. Find off-stage, backstage, FOH, box office, technical, creative, and administrative job openings and audition notices. Must become a member to apply to jobs through the site.
Membership required to receive job posting notices ($20/year for students, $30/year early career).
For jobs in education. Find the link or search for 鈥淛ob Listings.鈥
The United States Institute for Theatre Technology promotes dialogue, research, and learning among practitioners of theatre design and technology. Jobs posted in all divisions of theatre technology and design.
The premier source of entertainment news. See 鈥淛obs鈥 and search the 鈥淎rts / Entertainment / Media鈥 category.
Other Job Sites
These less industry-specific sites may also be useful for finding work.
Check the art/media/design and tv/film/video categories. Often temporary low pay jobs but might be worthwhile for the experience.
Connecting people who want to do good.
Job postings and career advice. Resume, cover letter, and interview resources.
Job postings and career advice. Resume, cover letter, and interview resources.
Networking
Connecting with others is important for a successful career in the entertainment industry. These resources provide suggestions of different organizations and communities where networking may or commonly does take place. These resources are also great for further information on particular fields within the industry.
(AEA)
(AATE)
Extensive forum for discussion, information exchange, and technical advice related to technical theatre. Though not a job posting site, job opportunities can crop up, and there is a lot of discussion pertaining to job finding resources and advice.
IATSE Local 892: Studio City, California
Responsible for creating some of the most important programs in the industry including the Technical Standards Program (TSP) and the .
The leading tradeshow and conference for live design professionals from all around the glove.
IATSE Local 706: Burbank, California
Online forum for stage managers. There are sub-forums for employment advice and job postings.
The place to be for drama teachers, drama students, and theatre educators everywhere. Play script service for middle and high school. Blog and podcast with lots of useful resources.
Holds state, regional, and national festivals where theater departments and student artists showcase their work and receive outside assessment. Composed of a network of 600 academic institutions.
USITT connects performing arts design and technology communities to ensure a vibrant dialog among practitioners, educators, and students. Holds many events including a national conference. Publishes the quarterly journal TD&T (theatre design & technology).