How Theater Students Can Grab the Spotlight
How Theater Students Can Grab the Spotlight
On any given fall or spring weekend across high school campuses in America there’s a strong probability the theater department is staging a production (most likely of one of these popular plays). Students are honing their crafts as actors, pit crew, orchestra members, and sound technicians.
While performing arts are a fantastic extracurricular release for many of these students, a dedicated percentage envisions themselves pursuing their love for theater in college as an academic major. The competition to set themselves apart and earn a coveted spot in a top program will be more difficult than gaining the leading role in the upcoming school musical.
But here’s the good news: if you want to study theater in college, you can! Even if you don’t attend a high school with a powerhouse theater department, you can take steps to improve your chances at gaining admission to the schools of your choice.
Read on for tips on how to build a winning strategy.
What Kind of Theater Experience Do You Want?
For theater students (much like students interested in music, film, or other acting media), choosing the way you want to be taught is an important first step.
Are you interested in a more conservatory-style experience, where most of your classmates will be other theater students who auditioned for their spot? Or would you prefer to attend a school where theater is more evenly folded into the academic experience and there is no special burden placed on who can study what? Do you want most of your classes to be hands-on and performance-based? Or are you more interested in studying theory and history?
Each college theater department will specialize in different elements of the art and instruct their students based on a different philosophy. Take the time in your research to familiarize yourself with how the departments are set up at the colleges you may be interested in attending. By identifying schools that match your strengths and desired experiences, you’ll be better equipped to articulate why you’re a great fit for their program.
Get it on Tape
In the world of college admissions, showing is always better than telling. For theater students, this means getting your best performances on tape. It’s one thing to list your accomplishments in a resume or activity list, but it’s a much more meaningful thing to have an accompanying demo reel that shows you excelling at your craft.
Perhaps you designed the sets or lighting for your school’s productions; maybe you directed your own show last year as part of a personal challenge; or maybe you sang the lead when your school mounted Fiddler on the Roof and your major solo brought the house down.
Create a portfolio where you can curate your theatrical accomplishments, making it easy for admissions officers to see you in action. You should also strongly consider building a website with an easily searchable list of performances, recognition earned, and noteworthy reviews.
Creating a professional presence will make it easier for admissions officers to view you as a serious applicant. Though you’ll still have much to learn in college, it will be clear that you have already been taking your passion seriously.
Don’t Limit Yourself to School Experiences
What other opportunities do you have to improve your skills beyond those that exist at school? Theater students who want to gain a competitive advantage over their peers will seek enrichment however they can.
- Join a community theater and act in shows year-round. You may have to start off with smaller roles, but in time you’ll be able to graduate to meatier parts.
- Take acting lessons. Find a local teacher or school that works in your budget and schedule. You can also take Master Classes and learn from the industry’s most accomplished performers. (What young dramatic writer would not want to learn from David Mamet)?
- Create your own content. Don’t worry about how good it is for now; focus on developing your talent by continuing to produce work. With platforms like YouTube and Vimeo, you can share your ideas with the world easier than ever.
- Teach others. By showing people who share your passion but not your skill how to improve, you will get better as well. Further, you’ll gain the valuable experience of giving back to your community, making your application more intriguing to admissions officers.
- Practice every day. There’s no substitute for hard work. Don’t just focus on vocal training right before musical auditions. Build successful habits of incremental improvement.
Most importantly, never give up! Pursuing theater, or any other entertainment pathway, is a difficult road, but it tends to favor those who persevere and continue to evolve. By doing proper research on college programs, you can find the best ones that will help you reach your goals and position yourself to excel in the application and audition process.
The expert admissions consultants at Wise World Prep have helped hundreds of students maximize their potential of being admitted to their top choice colleges and universities. Over 20 years, we have successfully guided students through each stage of the application process – from choosing competitive high school courses to building an appropriate college list to drafting winning essays to writing persuasive update and appeals letters. We would be happy to answer your questions and partner with you to create a successful admissions roadmap.
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