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Stage Directors

Outlook

The Department of Labor predicts average employment growth, about 5 percent, for producers and directors through 2028. The coronavirus pandemic has had a major impact on theater and other entertainment industries in the U.S. and throughout the world. Many theaters have either closed temporarily or are staging outdoor and virtual productions. All theaters in Broadway are closed through 2020, and possibly longer. The demand for stage directors will start to grow again when theaters are fully reopened to audiences.

In the coming years, theatrical producers and directors who work in small and medium-sized theaters may see slower job growth, because many of those theaters have difficulty finding funding as the fewer tickets are sold. Large theaters in big cities, such as New York and Los Angeles, which usually have more stable sources of funding, should provide more opportunities in the near future.