CMU Theatre graduates typically follow one of three paths upon earning their degree: seek professional employment, pursue a graduate degree, or take part in apprenticeships or other specialized training to bolster their resume in a specific area. While a competitive field, statistics show anticipated growth in many theatre-related job markets in coming years, and many wonderful career opportunities exist for graduates to follow their dreams.
Employment
CMU Theatre students have gone on to a wide variety of successful positions in all aspects of the profession. In addition to those who've gone on to become household names, such as
Jeff Daniels,
Larry Joe Campbell, and
Terry O'Quinn, dozens of others have gone on successful careers as freelance actors, singers, and comedians. Below is a sampling of positions held by our former students*, selected to demonstrate the variety of positions and employers available to those with quality theatre skills and preparation.
Sample Careers of CMU Theatre alumni* |
Production Stage Manager, Kennedy Center for
Performing Arts | Actor/Writer/Comedian, Second City Touring Company |
Senior Designer, NBC Universal | Playwright, Self Employed |
Director of Theatre School Education and Outreach, North Coast Repertory Theatre | Costume Technician/Dresser/
Freelance Designer, Self Employed (Recently involved in Tony -Award-nominated productions of Aladdin, and Ground Hog Day) |
Technical Director, Tipping Point Theater | Assoc. Director of Arts & Cultural Management & Theatre Faculty, Michigan State University |
Costume Designer, Self Employed (Recently designed off-Broadway production of Babel) | Prop Head, International Alliance of Theatrical
Stage Employees |
Stage Combat Director/Owner, Theatricks | Technical Director, Theatre J |
Director of Marketing and Communications, West Michigan Symphony | Artistic Director, The Music Box |
Freelance Stage Manager, Norwegian Cruise Lines | Designer/Independent Makeup Artist/Consultant, Anna's Aunt Designs |
Properties Master, University of Tennessee | Professional Speaker/Owner, Tami Evans - Speaker |
Set Designer, Tennessee Performing Arts Center | Dance Specialist, Arthur Murray Dance Studios |
Assistant Draper, New York City Theatre | Artistic Director, Katharsis Theatre Company |
Company Manager, The Purple Rose Theatre | Scenic Designer, Studio 207 |
Actress,
Self Employed (Recent works include "Oklahoma" National Tour and 2007 Broadway production of "Grease") | Technical Theatre Faculty, University of North Carolina
School of the Arts |
Executive Director, Nashville Local Screen Actors Guild | Director, Grant Fine Arts Center |
Technical Director & Assistant Professor, San Francisco State University | Performer, Wynn Las Vegas |
*Major and/or minor in Theatre, Interpretation and Dance, or Music Theatre. Individuals may have pursued additional education or specialized training to qualify for their positions.
Additional employment opportunities for theatre graduates include Talent scout/manager, critic, broadcast journalist, narrator, drama coach, dramaturg, television personality, booking manager, front of house manager, facility manager, ticketing manager, writer, and more.
Career Statistics
The information below was sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics with wage estimates from 2016. Follow the links for valuable, In-depth information on each occupation.
| Occupation | # Jobs
in 2014 | Mean Wages | Expected Growth
through 2024 |
|---|
| Actor/Actress | 69,400 | $18.70
hourly | +10% (Above avg.) |
| Director/Producer | 133,600 | $70,950
yearly | +9% (Above avg.) |
| Set & Exhibit Designer | 12,060 | $57,600
yearly | N/A |
| Artistic Director | 74,600 | $89,820
yearly | +2% (Below avg.) |
Drama Teacher
(University, Performing Art Company, and other Post-Secondary) | 99,200 | $81,500
yearly | N/A
(Note: General post-secondary
teacher positions are expected to
grow 13% - Above Avg.) |
| Teacher (High School) | 961,600 | $58,300
yearly | +6% (Average) |
| Author/Writer (Playwright) | N/A | $61,240
yearly | +2% (Slower than average) |
| Dancers and Choreographers | 20,100 | $16.85
hourly | +9% (Faster than average) |
Salary progression and job satisfaction
For students who've earned a Bachelor of Arts with a Theatre major, Payscale.com rates job satisfaction as extremely high (5 out of 5), and reports salary progression as follows:
Salary by years experience* |
|---|
| Years of experience | Average Salary |
| 1 - 4 years | $48,723 |
| 10 - 19 years | $71,500 |
| 20 years or more | $64,985 |
*Updated August 7, 2017
Graduate Education Opportunities
Recent CMU Theatre graduates have gone on to many respected graduate programs across the nation, including:
- Cal State - Los Angeles
- Savannah College of Art and Design
- Western Illinois University
- Purdue University
- University of Missouri - Kansas City
- University of Illinois
- Louisiana State University
- University of Arizona
Internships, Apprenticeships and Summer Employment
A few of the additional training and summer employment opportunities in which our students and graduates have worked or studied in recent years include:
- Festival 56, Princeton, IL - Acting
- Tipping Point Theatre, Northville, MI - Apprenticeship
- PowerHouse Theatre Training Co., Poughkeepsie, NY - Playwriting
- Red Barn Summer Theatre, Frankfurt, IN - Acting
- Pacific Conservatory Theatre, Santa Monica, CA - Technical Theatre/Carpentry
- Merry-Go-Round Playhouse, Auburn, NY - Technical Theatre
- The Purple Rose Theatre, Chelsea, MI - Apprenticeship
- Thunder Bay Theatre, Alpena, MI - Acting
