Directing, Theater Production, and Theater Arts

Overview

Programs in directing, theater production, and theater arts teach people how to plan and produce plays and musicals.

In directing, theater production, and theater arts programs students learn:

Set design
Theatrical production
Directing concepts and techniques
Character casting and actor selection and coaching
Rehearsal management
Genres of dramatic literature
Script interpretation
Fundraising
Management of theaters, including advertising, marketing, and public relations

Schools

A few community colleges offer associate degree programs in directing, theater production, and theater arts. An associate degree program at a community college usually takes two years of full-time study to complete.

Many colleges and universities offer a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree program in directing, theater production, and theater arts. A BFA degree usually takes about four to five years of full-time study.

Many universities offer graduate degrees in directing, theater production, and theater arts. A Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree typically requires two years of study beyond a bachelor’s degree.

A few schools offer doctorate degree programs in directing, theater production, and theater arts. This degree usually has a focus more on the theory and analysis of theater. Doctoral (PhD) degree programs usually require two or more years of study beyond the master’s degree.

See schools that offer this program.

Related Educational Programs

Related Careers

Careers Directly Related to this Program of Study

Producers and Directors

Other Careers Related to this Program of Study

Program Admission

You can prepare for this program by taking courses in high school that prepare you for college. This typically includes four years of English, three years of math, three years of social studies, and two years of science. Some colleges also require two years of a second language.

While not required, most schools recommend that you participate in the production of your high school plays and musicals. Additional helpful preparation includes active participation in community theater programs.

Below is a list of high school courses that will help prepare you for this program of study:

Art Appreciation
Art History
Directing
Drama, Stagecraft
History and Literature of the Theater
Introduction to the Theater

Graduate Admissions

Admission to graduate programs is competitive. You need a bachelor's degree and good grades. You also need to submit letters of recommendation and a personal statement.

Your bachelor's degree does not necessarily have to be in theater, although it would be helpful. However, you should take several related courses. What is most important, though, is to have directing and theater production experience.

Additional requirements at many schools include:

Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General
Related experience
Personal interview
Letters of recommendation
Scholarly writing sample

Typical Course Work

Program Courses

In this program, you typically take courses such as the following:

Acting Theory and Performance
Budgeting and Accounting
Coaching Actors
Comparative Theater and Drama
Directing Theory and Production
Dramatic Theory and Criticism
Fundamentals of Scene Design
Lighting Design
Makeup and Costume
Modes of Drama
Period Studies in Theater
Public Relations
Rise of Professional Theater
Scene Analysis
Screenwriting and Playwriting
Stagecraft
Survey of Dramatic Literature
Technical Theater
Theater History
Theater Workshop
Theater Marketing and Advertising

Graduate Program Courses

The general outline of a typical graduate curriculum looks like the following:

Required courses
Elective courses
Comprehensive exams
Thesis and thesis defense (master's degree only)
Dissertation and dissertation defense (doctoral degree only)

Inherent in your graduate degree will be opportunities to direct and manage dramatic productions. An extensive production and analysis usually count as your thesis in a master's degree program that places more emphasis on performance than scholarship.

Things to Know

Many schools offer different kinds of bachelor's and master's degrees depending on your desired concentration. Some of these degrees focus more on performance and production. Others combine their teaching of production skills with a broad liberal arts education.

Doctoral (PhD) programs are mainly intended for people who want to pursue extensive research or teach at the university level.

Acting in or working for various community theaters helps to get your name and talent into the field. Seek out summer and extracurricular acting or production gigs to gain a wider variety of directing, managing, and production experience.

Not all directors or theater managers can make a living for themselves only from the theater. You may consider interning in stagecraft or theater administration to widen your skills base.