Is a Career in Technical Theatre Right for You?

Did you know that there's more to working in theatre than being on stage? The actors, singers and dancers get all of the credit, because they are the most visible ones, but the people who work backstage are the ones who really make the magic happen. There would be no show if there weren’t any lights, sets, costumes or music.

Technical theatre is the term for those who know how to work their wizardry and put the behind-the-scenes parts of the show together. Do you want to work in technical theatre? Here's how you can tell if this is the right career for you.

Do You Enjoy the Planning Process?

If you love planning things and watching events fall into place, thanks to your hard work in putting together the pieces, then working as a stage director or program manager might be your best option. You'll need a working background of theatre in general, as well as the skills needed for every aspect of the process.

Do You Prefer to Have a Saw and Hammer in Your Hands?

People who prefer to spend time building things, like sets, are great at working backstage as set designers. There's a lot more to it than just constructing things. The sets need to have working pieces and fit the overall look that the director is going for. Put simply, they’re much more complicated than just simple pieces of wood that need to be painted.

Do You Want to Know Everything There is to Know about Lighting?

Without lighting, no one would be able to see what's going on during the show. Lighting involves making the set dramatic at specific times, or so well-lit that it looks like daylight. The lighting designers and workers have a lot to accomplish both before and during the shows.

Do You Love Making Clothes and Designing Costumes?

Costume design is essential to every production! The best costume designers can talk seams and fabrics all day long and know how people dressed during historic time periods. They collaborate with directors to help their vision come to life, and make everyone on stage get into the right frame of mind for the show.

Do You Enjoy Putting Together Musical Scores?

Some theatre productions require a little bit of music for dramatic effect, while others require full-scale scores. From the musicians playing live from the front of the stage to the people who plan out the music and choose what to play when (or simply follow an existing score), there's a lot going on here.

If you want to work in technical theatre, then a bachelor's degree in Theatre might be right for you. With a number of specialties to choose from, including musical theatre, acting, and technical theatre, you'll get a well-rounded education and learn more about everything involved in putting together a theatre production. No matter what you'd like to specialize in, at Dean, we have an option for you.