What to Expect

Students majoring in theater don't necessarily turn out to be actors and actresses. Besides acting, voice and technique, classes include costume design, set design, stage management, theater history and other related areas.

Robert Harding studied theater at a community college. "A typical day can consist of a three-hour master class or stage class, two dramatic literature academic classes and what we call 'production calls,' which consist of rehearsals and stage [management] for technicians," he says.

Between productions, papers and lectures, students can feel very overwhelmed if they can't budget their time.

"There never seems like there is enough time. The road to this theater degree is not a glamorous one, and those seriously interested must be willing to sacrifice many hours in the name of academic and production credit," Harding says.

Lauren Bass took theater at Brown University. She believes students should be prepared for a lot of hard work and disappointments along the way.

"Some students have difficulty adjusting to college casting. Some students who were stars of their high school come to college and find themselves being passed over for roles," she says.

"What I would say is be prepared to be a little fish in a big pond when it comes to auditioning," she says. "You may get the role on your first try. Or you may have to try a few times to break through. But perseverance is usually rewarded in the end."

Bass enjoys the amount of work involved in doing a production. "What I enjoy most about the theatre community...is the amount of responsibility students are given. Most of the shows performed on campus are student-run, directed, acted and produced," she says.

As for homework, theatre students have a lot of it. Many of their assignments are hands-on, and involve rehearsals, viewing films and attending performances.

How to Prepare

Aside from your basic drama clubs and English courses, Harding recommends taking history classes as well.

"Of course, English and the drama club and improv league are a given, but historical studies go a long way in making a show accurate in details that make the informed audience member appreciate the background effect," he says.