Theatre & Drama

Major Related
Resources

Department of
Theatre and Drama
Theatre 225

Career Related
Resources

Career Resource
Library
625 North Jordan Avenue
Phone: 855-0576
Career Development Center
Arts and Sciences
Career Services
625 North Jordan Avenue
Phone: 855-0576

IUB Libraries Career Resources
Liberal Arts Careers
10th Street & Jordan Avenue
Phone: 812-855-0100

Description of Major

The Department of Theatre and Drama believes that theatrical production and classroom study are of equal and complementary value. Courses in acting, directing, playwriting, theatre history, theory and criticism, scenic, costume, lighting design, and technical theatre are all vital and integral aspects of the total theatre program at Indiana University.

Skills & Knowledge Developed in this Field of Study

The study and practice of theatre and drama develops communication, analysis, problem solving, organizational skills, group dynamics, and intellectual curiosity. Literary and dramatic analysis, heritage and foundations knowledge, performance, artistic and technical skills such as scenic, costume, lighting design are all developed and enhanced through the study of theatre and drama.

Minors and Second Majors that Expand Career Options with this Major

Business, computer science, education, English, film studies, fine arts, music performance, psychology, and telecommunications serve to expand career options with this major.

Career Options

Careers Specific to the Bachelor's Degree

The theatre and drama major serves as a pre-professional foundation for careers in acting, directing, playwriting, design, crafts, technology, theatre management, marketing, and audience development.

Other Career Possibilities with a Bachelor's Degree

Theatre and drama related careers in telecommunications and film, arts management, and various business related careers in which communication and organization skills and creative thinking are highly desirable and fulfilling professional paths.

Careers that Normally Require a Graduate Degree

A graduate education in theatre and drama serves to further develop and enhance the talent and skills of those entering the highly competitive world of theatre.

Employment Opportunities

Job Outlook

Performance jobs in professional theatre are very competitive. Theatre and drama as a keystone study within a liberal arts education has almost unlimited career possibilities.

Salary Information

Salaries vary widely according to the specific production field, professional level, type and location of theatre or other venue. Theatre production jobs are often free-lance and contracted, on a show or season basis. Salaries are dependent upon the number of performances, the size, location and type of show and theatre venue. In 2000, for example, an Equity actor's weekly wage in a Broadway play may be $1180, $1667 in a Broadway musical, $592 in a regional theatre, from $250 to $425 in a stock theatre, or $136 in a smaller specialized theatre. An Equity stage manager's weekly earnings for a Broadway musical might be $1939, $706 for a regional theatre produciton, from $310 to $485 in a stock theatre, or $168 in a small theatre company. In either case, salary usually depends upon the the of theatre and the number of performances (usually 3 to 8) per week. Similar positions in film and television generally offer a higher salary, but they, too, are usually on a project or season basis. Some actors, designes, directors, stage managers, and crafts persons work on an annual or longer-term contract basis as members of resident theatre companies. Career opportunities with more conventional, annual or longer-range contracts, in theatre conpanies and arts organizations are enjoyed by artistic and executive directors, producers, marketing, public relations, development, and business personnel.

Potential Career Growth

Although careers in professional theatre are highly competitive, the potential for career growth in thatre and drama is unlimited. For example, average salaries for film and television studio executives can exceed $100,000.

Placement Statistics for IU Graduates with this Major

IU Theatre and Drama graduates have found fulfilling careers and rich rewards all over the world in all aspects and levels of theatre. IU Thatre alumni have won multiple Tony, Oscar, Emmy, Peabody, Golden Globe, Grammy, and other awards as actors, playwrights and screenwriters, designers, and as producers. IU Theatre alumni can be found acting, directing, designing and building sets, and designing costumes in theatres all over the globe. They are publishers of landmark scholarly books in theatre history, theory and literature, and continue to shape American theatre education as university presidents, deans, department heads, professors, and as theatre and drama teachers to children and young people from kindergarten through high school.

High School Preparation

Students need to meet the admissions requirements to IU.

Special Opportunities

The undergraduate program in theatre and drama is consistently ranked among the highest rated schools for theatre education. The department continues a rich heritage, offering students the combination of classroom study with nationally known faculty and involvement in its extensive production program. In addition to the unique opportunities offered by the College of Arts and Sciences (honors study, overseas study, etc.) students can be involved in work in all areas of theatre in the new state-of-the-art Thatre and Drama Center and its two theatre, the Ruth N. Halls Theatre and the Wells-Metz theatre, as well as the Brown County Playhouse, our professional summer stock company. Additional experience in musical theatre is available in the select touring performance group, Broadway Cabaret.

Noted Alumni

-KEVIN KLINE- Tony award winner for ON THE TWENTIETH CENTURY and THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, Oscar winner for A FISH CALLED WANDA, Golden Globe nominee for SOPHIE'S CHOICE and SOAPDISH
-HOWARD ASHMAN-Oscar, Golden Globe, and Grammy winning lyricist of films THE LITTLE MERMAID, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST,ALLADIN and play and film LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS
-CHARLES KIMBROUGH-Tony winner and Emmy nominee for role of Jim Dial, MURPHY BROWN PATRICIA KALEMBER-Broadway and television actor (SISTERS, THIRTY SOMETHING)
-JONATHAN BANKS-of films FIRED UP and FLIPPER, EMMY-nominated for tv's WISEGUY
-TUC WATKINS-film (THE MUMMY) and television (ONE LIFE TO LIVE, GENERAL HOSPITAL)
-VINCE VENTRESCA-television actor (BOSTON COMMON, MAGGIE WINTERS)
-PAUL GILMARTIN-co-host of TBS DINNER AND A MOVIE
-SUSAN SOLT-film producer (SOPHIE'S CHOICE)
-JOHN MCGREEVEY-multiple Emmy-Award winning screenwriter, peabody Award-winning screenwriter (THE WALTONS, THE THURGOOD MARSHALL STORY)
-JOE HAYES-THE DESPERATE HOURS playwright, author, screenwriter
-ROBERT SHANKS- telision producer of GOOD MORNING AMERICA, 20/20, THE JOHNNY CARSON SHOW, MOVIE OF THE WEEK; Playwright and producer (LILLIAN, S.J. PERLMAN PRESENTS)
-KYLE DONNELEY-Helen Hayes and Alan Schneider award-winning stage director, former associate artistic director of Arena Stage, now head of acting program, University of California at San Diego
-ROBERT O'HEARN-METROPOLITAN OPERA SCENIC DESIGNER, now head of IU Opera Scenic Design program
-CRAIG HAFFNER-CEO of Greystone Communications and producer of more than 500 hours of documentaries including those for A&E's BIOGRAPHY
-SHELDON COOPER- Vice president of TRIBUNE Entertainment Corporation

Scores of Theatre Department Heads, Chairpersons, Deans Scores of Artistic, Executive, and Producing Directors of major theatres including National theatre of Taiwan, Arena Stage, Cleveland Playhouse, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Indiana Repertory Theatre Major scholars and authors of major works on theatre history, theory, literature, acting, design, playwriting too numerous to list .