It's Showtime: Steps to Becoming A Successful Theater Actor

Theater actors without a doubt have an awesome career. Beginning a career in theater can be a kick butt job with so many fulfilling perks. But no matter what type of performer you are, you've got to practice, hone your skills and understand the theater business to be successful at it.

Study Theater. Immerse Yourself In It.

Enroll in either an accredited university theater department or search for professional AND accredited acting schools at a local performing arts institution. Learn about children’s theater firsthand by viewing children’s shows in order to get an understanding for the differing types of children's productions out there.

Prepare.

Become familiar with popular and common theatre scripts that will prepare you for possible cold readings at auditions. Study and memorize children’s production monologues ahead of time so that you will be ready to to attend (and ace) casting calls and auditions.

Get GOOD at Your Craft

Acting is a skill that yeah, can be God-given BUT still requires constant training...You are never too good to enlist in a professional acting instructor. A good acting teacher will give you good, honest and constructive feedback on your abilities as well as help you develop the specific type of performer that you are.

Know Your Strengths

Understand your strengths and the type of performer skills you can bring to a play. Who are you really...a character actor? A villain? What skills do you have that will make you stick out from the rest....are you a trained gymnast, martial artists? Dancer? Actors need to be versatile, but it is equally important for actors to know who to market their own strengths.

Network Is The Key to Success

Hard work is a must. Perseverance, a necessity. But a string of trusted friend and advisers are priceless. Network with other actors, directors so get the scoop on current casting calls, performance camps and workshops.

Work Your Way Up

Get involved with community theater. Stay active in small scale plays if you need to build up a resume. Understand that it may take some time before you establish yourself as a Broadway theater actor. But being a community performer or a university actor can score you lots of points in the experience divisions as casting directors and theater companies love to see those who are active and working.

Headshots!

Order professional headshots. Get professional photographs done with a reputable photographer or agency. Choose clothing that well suits your body and work to maintain a healthy appearance. Most importantly, smile and be confident in your photos. Acting agents and casting directors can best determine whether you would be right for a production just based off of your winning personality more so than the traditional good looker.

Develop an Impressive Theater Resume

Compose a list of professional plays or other media projects you participated in. Always list your role in the production, the name of the play, the director, the year or date of when the production occurred. Head the top of the resume with your name and basic contact information. Keep your resume current. Allow a professional theater advisor look over your agent for review before submitting it.

And Finally...

Get rid of your resume and headshots! Send out those babies to professional theater companies of your interests. It is a really good idea to keep in touch with companies that have your resume on file even if you don't hear back from them. Keep them posted on current productions you are in by sending them post card or short greetings inviting them out to see you perform. Practice the law of attraction and visualize yourself where you want to be.

1. Find a casting agent. If you are really serious about you career as an actor, take the next step and enlist in an agent. Find reputable talent agencies in your area that can help represent you and place you at the forefront of top castings.
2. Become a member of the AES (Actor's Equity Association). Once you start booking more talent jobs, you definitely want to have medical benefits/insurance.
3. Relocate. Live where all the castings are to further your acting career. Some top cities in theater are New York, Houston, Seattle, Los Angeles, Boston and Chicago.

• How to Start a Career in Acting
• Actor's Equity Association

Many aspiring actors have asked what are some of the universities and institutes that have top theater departments. Good question. Here are some of the ones that I have heard exceptional reviews about (in no particular order).

• New York University Tisch School of the Arts
• Columbia University in New York City
  
• Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois [BFA Program Only]
  
• Oklahoma City University
• Julliard Drama Division
• Yale University School of Drama
  
• University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana
• Sam Houston State University
• University of Texas at Austin
• University of Oklahoma
• Ithaca College
• Emerson College
• Elon University [B.F.A in Acting]
• University of the Arts in Philadelphia
• Temple University
• University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)
• Marymount Manhattan 
• Arizona State University
• Carnegie Mellon
• Penn State
  

Top Musical Theatre and Voice Training Schools

• Penn State Musical Theatre
• Northwestern University
• Oklahoma City University
• Webster University
• Point Park University
• Western Michigan University
  

Honorable Mentions...

• University of Michigan
• Illinois State University
• University of Arizona
• Columbia College Chicago
  

There are many many, exceptional and prestigious drama conservatories that the best of the best have studied at. Here are some of my favorites:

Top Drama and Performing Arts Conservatories

1. Boston Conservatory
2. San Fransisco American Theatre Conservatory
3. Point Park University