Anyone is the theatre buisness please answer?

Question

im a junior in high school and im thinking about becoming a professional stage manager or something in professional theatre. ive done a lot of tech work in my high school shows, but i was wondering 2 things.

1. will money be a big concern. my current vision of the professional theatre is that i work a job and then go look for another one, like a bohemian and thats something i dont want to be (after what i saw in RENT). is what i saw really the professional theatre world

2. if i do take that path what are some good classes in high school and college to take. like right now im in some AP classes but should i focus on maths next year or should i focus on english or even history( for if im like trying to get a feel for a certain time period)



ANY information will help, i really dont know what to do with the rest of my life.

Answer 1

Theatre is one of those professions where there is a constant job search. Your first concern is the main reason I decided I don't want to be a designer... it's too much of that starving artist, constant travel, paycheck to paycheck existence. Technicians and stage managers however seem to have an easier time finding a place here or there that they can call home for longer than one or two shows.

If your aim is stage management then I would reccommend taking music classes because calling a show is about timing and oftentimes that involves understanding how to follow music. Also, be sure you're a very organized person.

History and literature are the backbone of theatre, in my opinion. Plays are literature and most of the ones performed are from the past. Understanding the history of something will give you a better appreciation of what you're doing now. It'll also help your comprehension of plays in general. Math is useful and all but I can honestly tell you I've never used anything I learned in Honors Analtyic Geometry/Pre Calculus. Physics is a math based science that's more practical to the world of theatre than finding the limits of an equation.

This is a personal choice, but I was in a college conservatory program which was very concentrated on just theatre and I wound up leaving because I missed having a general education. It's important to know all of the technical, specific things, but it's also important to have a well rounded education and you learn a lot just by going out and working in the professional world.

The last thing I can't stress enough is to be good at dealing professionally with people you may not like personally and keeping a cool head during times of crisis. If a problem arises think before you react. Everyone knows everyone in theatre, so reputations are important, they can get you jobs but they can prevent you from getting them as well.

Answer 2

You're doing the right thing by getting a lot of backstage experience at school and by getting a broad-based education at the same time. Plays deal with every aspect of human experience, so everything you study will come in handy -- science, math, history, literature, art, philosophy, you name it.

Choose a college with a good drama department, and ask your professors for advice about summer theatres with good apprentice and intern programs. At college and in the professional theatre world, you'll probably have to start as an assistant stage manager, which will give you the opportunity to learn the ropes from more experienced stage managers.

Answer 3

generally entry level would be either as a touring company or in a side street theater as a regular.

your civic center probably has a regular stage manager, but each show that plays there from a tour would bring their own and the two of you would work togeather a bit.

since not all civic center shows are tours (some are in house) you would be the in house manager

you wuld be wise to take art, some math, business, shop, drama and history courses as all of these can benefit you

you never know what position yu'll end up doing. it could be set design in which case a background in math, art and history would be an asset