Take Responsibility for your Own Efforts
Each individual committed to the field of theatre brings a unique set of talents, aspirations, and abilities to the profession. Although you are in school and studying and participating in theatre, it is important to take increasing responsibility for developing your particular abilities toward your specific goals. Ultimately, you are responsible for choices about how you use your time to prepare for your future.
Become a Fluent, Effective English Speaker and Writer
As a theatre professional, you will rely heavily on your ability to communicate in words. Everything from rehearsals to production meetings, to teaching, to writing grant proposals, to promoting your professional interests relies on fluent English skills. Focus attention on learning to speak and write effectively.
Get a Comprehensive Education
The theatre profession is big, but it is also part of a larger whole. Intellectual and artistic curiosity is essential to successful work in the theatrical professions. A breadth of knowledge and skills is critical. Theatre both influences and is influenced by the humanities, the sciences, the social sciences, and other arts-architecture, dance, film, literature, music, and the visual arts.
Learn How Theatre Works
Take opportunities to learn the basics of dramatic structure, including how the various elements of theatre work together. Like so many other things in theatre, this knowledge is developed throughout a lifetime. Those who are able to get started early have an advantage.
Master the Basics
Be sure that you know the basic terminology, the major types of theatrical work, and have read a number of important plays.
See As Much Theatre As You Can
You need to be familiar with far more theatre than that in which you participate. Try to see as much theatre from as many historical periods, cultural sources and media as possible. Seek more to learn the breadth and depth of the repertory than to only enjoy what is familiar. Extend your vision of what the theatre is by seeing as much professional theatre, community theatre, college theatre, and high school theatre as possible. Being familiar with the writing in national publications or on the internet will also help you to extend your knowledge of the theatre.
Develop Your Understanding of the Arts
Take every opportunity to learn about dance, film/video, music, and the visual arts. Some fields of theatre require knowledge and skills in music, dance, computing, architecture, or art and design.
Practice, Practice, Practice
Whatever you do or intend to do in theatre, try to practice it as much as possible. This applies not only to performance areas such as acting and design/tech, but also other types of work in the theatre. For example, if you are interested in teaching or directing, you should try to observe and gain experiences in these areas under appropriate supervision. If you are interested in playwriting, theatre scholarship or criticism, you should practice writing and speaking on theatre topics. No level of knowledge or skill that you can attain will be too high.
Learn To Take Care For Yourself
Your body and mind are your instruments. It is critical to take extremely good care of both. Learn about nutrition and exercise, how to manage stress, how to prevent injury, and how to maintain healthy habits that will promote long-term health and fitness. Drink lots of water throughout the day. Eat a balanced, nutritious diet. Engage in some form of physical exercise each day.
Think of Everything You Study as Helping You Become Better in Theatre
The best theatre professionals continue to learn throughout their lives. They are always studying and thinking, always connecting what they know about theatre with their knowledge of other fields. Since you never know the direction your career will take, it is wise to spend your college years gaining the basic ability to understand and work in a variety of fields beyond theatre.
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Email jbartruf@emporia.edu
Updated July 5, 2010 4:20 PM