With unemployment rates hovering around 90%, acting and theater are not the most profitable careers. Luckily, there are many diverse opportunities for theater students.
What do you do with a BA or BFA in theater? The Educational Theatre Association has documented some 26,000 theater programs in elementary and secondary schools across the United States and reports that roughly 11,000 students per year go on to earn a bachelor’s degree in theater. Yet, research published in “Nature Communications” shows that unemployment in the field of acting hovers around 90%, and as few as only 2% of actors in film and television can make a living from acting. While the number of actors looking for work in theater is smaller, the success rate is not much better. As such, it is not surprising that parents often try to steer young people away from studying theater in college or university, pushing them to choose a field that is more promising or practical. Here’s the good news: Acting isn’t the only way for theater majors to work in theater!
Aspiring thespians are aware of the many roles that occur backstage: directors, stage managers, playwrights, and designers, to name a few. Students who intern at theaters and for theater companies will become acquainted with front-of-house staff, box office, marketing and publicity, stagehands, and running crew. With more than 6,000 community theaters across the country, there are plenty of opportunities for theater people to work in theater after college graduation besides acting. But what other possibilities should young people consider?
Theater education jobs
Theater education positions include highly visible theater teachers who are often the gateway for young people into theater. Most states across the country require teacher licensure for theater teachers, so an educational theater undergraduate program is one option to consider. Even if full-time classroom teaching isn’t your goal, graduates from these programs work as teaching artists and administrators for after-school programs and theater camps. Teaching artists also work with community groups geared toward the young and old, amateur and professional. They work for theater companies and other community organizations in educational roles — from Broadway to libraries, museums, and recreation centers all across the country.
That said, it is crucial for young people to be honest about their aspirations. Oprah Winfrey once said that a speech coach advised her, “My dear, you don’t want to act, because if you wanted to act, you would be doing it. What you want to be, my dear, is a star. Because if you wanted to act, you’d be waiting tables in New York.” For those 11,000 college graduates from theater programs this year: You can act. You might not earn a living as an actor, but you can act. If you want to claw your way to the top to become a star on the stage or screen, know that you are on a different path than just acting.
However, a life in the theater can manifest in many different spaces, so aspiring thespians should look at the full complement of undergraduate programs in theater, including educational theater, applied or community-engaged theater, and performing arts administration. A fulfilling and financially viable life of creativity with like-minded artists is out there waiting for you.
