Individuals interested in pursuing a career in this field should participate in every experience they can related to theater. Get involved in the school drama club, school theatrical productions, and/or community theater groups to hone your skills and knowledge. Attend a variety of theatrical shows to see how they are staged and performed.
Take classes in drama, theater, and English. As the majority of stage directors are self-employed, business classes will also prove useful. Many community colleges also offer non-credit courses in theater, acting and directing. These are a great way to learn new skills and meet others interested in theater.
Read books about drama and stage productions. Read classic plays. You should also check out the SDC Journal (https://sdcweb.org/sdc-journal-2), which is published by the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.
Talk to crew members and directors in your school and local community theater groups about what they do. Suggested interview questions include: What made you want to enter this career? What do you like most and least about your job? How did you train for this field? What are some key skills for success? What advice would you give to young people about preparing for the field and being successful on the job? Perhaps you could even job-shadow a stage director to learn even more about the field.
- Actors
- Artist and Repertoire Workers
- Choreographers
- Circus Performers
- Clowns
- Comedians
- Composers and Arrangers
- Costume Designers
- Dance School Owners and Managers
- Dancers
- Lighting Technicians
- Magicians
- Makeup Artists
- Music Conductors and Directors
- Music Venue Owners and Managers
- Musicians
- Non-Fungible Token Artists
- Playwrights
- Pop/Rock Musicians
- Production Designers and Art Directors
- Singers
- Songwriters
- Stage Managers
- Stage Production Workers
- Stunt Performers
- Talent Agents and Scouts
- Theater Managers
- Writers