Why Become a Theatre Major?
An undergraduate liberal arts degree in any field will not be "vocational" – it will be foundational. A liberal arts education opens each of us to the widest range of our intellectual potential. Theatre, in particular, demands a fusion of knowledge, hands-on skills, imagination, and human interaction. Our Theatre majors develop a wide range of career and life skills including the ability to:
- Collaborate, work independently, lead a team, and follow another’s direction
- Imagine what does not yet exist, communicate in different modes, and think creatively to solve problems
- Organize, prioritize, adapt, meet deadlines, and work efficiently
- Relate well to many different people and work well under pressure
- Develop commitment, initiative, curiosity, self-discipline, and a desire for excellence
We expect our majors to become knowledgeable about all facets of theatrical practice including direction, design, technical production, and performance. Our undergraduates excel because the department provides major opportunities for students to directly fulfill high level production assignments and in-depth scholarly research in a collaborative environment. Many of our majors develop careers in theatre including:
- Technical production
- Lighting, Costume, and Scenic Design
- Stage management
- Producing
- Directing
- Playwriting
- And, of course, as performers
Theatre majors from W&M have also gone on to a wide array of other careers including event planner, programmer, account specialist, teacher, business manager, marketing manager, artist, physician, box office manager, attorney, executive secretary, executive director, information technology specialist, drafter, and casting administrator.
