<p>If one gets a degree in acting, what kind of job options (performance) would you have? My D is not having success with auditioning for MT programs & we met w/a coach tonite who gave us an evaluation about her abilities & suggested maybe pursuing straight acting. My D feels that would either lead to performing Shakespeare (not what she wants) or film. I think there are more options than this, but don't have any specifics, so I thought I'd ask around here. (Also posted this on the drama forum)
Thanks!</p>
<p>There are successful musical performers whose degree was straight acting. Darren Criss from Glee comes to mind. He was an acting major at Michigan, not MT. I know there are many other examples. If she really loves musicals, pick a program where she can still audition for musicals. Pick one where maybe she can take voice lessons. Check and see if these would be an additional cost. Coastal Carolina is a program where the various majors work very closely together. I’m not sure about voice lessons for acting majors but AlexaMT could probably tell you. And I’m sure there other schools where this is the case also. I don’t think being an acting major rules out musicals in your future. There is a recent OCU acting major who is the lead in the national tour of Ghost the Musical. And I’m sure there are examples at other schools too. If your D becomes skilled at stage, film, Tv and musicals she actually is more marketable than someone who can just do musicals. </p>
<p>I’m actually afraid to talk about this quite yet…but my second S (sophomore in high school) is considering going to college for straight acting! Well, at least he now has an experienced Mom with this process! But…let’s get through this first one huh?</p>
<p>Contemporary theater is not just made up of musicals, there are so many plays that are not Shakespeare. Have her look at the Off-Broadway listings and you will see them. Regional theater is also full of plays. And colleges generally offer more performing opportunities in plays than in MT. Film/TV/Commercials is great work if you can get it. There are plenty of schools with non-auditioned Acting or Theater programs. Maybe some of the MT programs she applied to can still be options for her. Look online at their websites.</p>
<p>One of D’s key criteria in choosing an MT school was finding one known for very strong actor training. She had been told by mentors that there is more work for solid actors than for MTs, and that they tend to have longer shelf lives.</p>
<p>I agree with folks above who have said that it won’t matter in most auditions if your degree says Theatre, Acting or MT.</p>
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<p>I would recommend that your d become more familiar with the live stage industry and the craft of acting to understand the opportunities for actors and the overall job market.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Broadway.com currently lists 54 musicals and 47 plays running on and off Broadway.</p></li>
<li><p>Of the plays currently running, only 1 is Shakespeare.</p></li>
<li><p>The season for our local LORT (a very respected, large regional theatre) includes 11 productions, all of them plays, none of them Shakespeare.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Straight acting is about a lot more than Shakespeare. A whole lot more.</p>
<p>It is easy to see why a myopic prejudice for musicals over straight plays and a disdain against straight acting may arise in a high-schooler who has been overwhelmingly interested in Broadway musicals: in NYC, plays draw only 1/5 the audience and earn only about 1/5 of the revenue as musicals. Plays in NYC have shorter runs, play in smaller houses, and have smaller casts. Musicals clearly have a huge edge in glamour and mindshare among the casual theatre-going crowd. For more statistics on the NYC theatre market see this link:
<a href=“http://www.broadwayleague.com/editor_files/broadway_statistics_at_a_glance.pdf”>http://www.broadwayleague.com/editor_files/broadway_statistics_at_a_glance.pdf</a></p>
<p>However, if you look at the market as a whole (“there is life outside of NYC”), in terms of work weeks, the majority of work for actors in live theatre is in straight plays. It is true that MT’ers cast in Broadway shows and national tours do have higher salaries. However, actors focused on MT have to compete with dancers and singers, many of whom probably would not be competitive in casting for straight plays. See this thread for more statistics:
<a href=“More Freakonomics: Life Upon the Wicked Stage - #31 by alibabba808 - Musical Theater Major - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/1418008-more-freakonomics-life-upon-the-wicked-stage-p3.html</a></p>
<p>Whether you are a straight actor or an MT actor, your path is likely to lead at some point to TV/Film/Commercial work (probably out of economic necessity). In terms of overall earnings, the live stage is only 14% of the market for actors (including MT’s). Film, TV, and Commercials are vastly larger job markets in terms of earnings than live stage (see the thread linked above). A disdain for Film/TV/Commercials would probably not be a good fit with the economic realities of life as an actor. A Julliard grad from d’s high school recently dropped by for a Master Class and explained that he was relocating to LA from NYC, despite a successful stage career, because, “the money is just too good.” A multi-Tony nominee alum came by the next week with the same story.</p>
<p>My d really, really wants to pursue a career in Musical Theatre, However, as she has trained for the past several years, she has been drawn deeper and deeper into the craft of acting and a holistic view of theatre being comprised of many different styles of performance, all of them very interesting. Her favorite, by the way, is Shakespeare.</p>
<p>Acting isn’t just Shakespeare and film. There is so much in between and so much more out there. </p>
<p>At Point Park there are lots of students who are acting majors who can sing. Some take private voice off campus. Some may take voice on campus too. Eventually, actors who are so inclined audition for the MT minor, which is kind of a best of both worlds answer. I’ve seen MTs do great work with leads in straight plays there, and I’ve seen acting majors do very well in musical leads there over the past two years alone. I don’t know what it is like at most schools, but PPU or a program like it might be a good fit. </p>
<p>“Actor who can sing” is not a bad thing if you ask me. It opens up the potential job market quite a bit. And, being an above average actor who can sing is an important tool to have in the box, especially in a sea of sameness. </p>
<p>Does anyone have any idea what % of performers book both Equity MT and Equity straight theatre contracts? Is crossover (BEFORE you are famous) the rule or the exception?</p>
<p>momcares,
don’t get rapped up on types of degrees. A BFA in or MT or Drama or acting or a BA or a BM doesn’t matter to the casting agent as long as they can perform </p>
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<p>This is an excellent point. Kids who are planning a career in the theatre should really have a better grasp on what the theatre world entails. It’s possible that this is the parent’s interpretation of something the D said but, if not, she needs to become more familiar.</p>
<p>There are a couple of issues with this situation. Acting should not necessarily be looked at as a backup for one who is not successful in MT. I would wonder at the expertise of the coach if this is what she is suggesting. Or is there a reason that the coach said this? Did she comment on the girl’s acting abilities or just on voice and/or dance? </p>
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<p>That’s definitely true but one would hope that kids pursuing a college degree in theatre are not a part of the casual theatre-going crowd.</p>
<p>Momcares, I don’t know what the percentage is but there are certainly many, many actors who do both types of work.</p>
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Great to hear! That’s our D’s dream, but in our local market I don’t know of many actors who cross over.</p>
<p>I loved this bio from “Peter and the Starcatcher”:</p>
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<p>Peter, Matilda, Spamalot, Noel Coward, TV, a movie, Shakespeare, and more…</p>
<p>If you’re good, you’re good.</p>
<p>This summer at the Texas Shakespeare Festival, the young pros in the rep company have to play MacBeth, Noises Off, and My Fair Lady.</p>
<p>Alwaysamom, maybe the coach was suggesting that she is a good actor, but not ready for MT voice-wise. I hope so because any person who thinks straight acting is a “back up” under any circumstances for not being able to make it in MT is wrong. </p>
<p>I know of coaches who have recommended acting because they feel that is the student’s strength and their best opportunity to be accepted to the programs in which they’re interested. By no means was it considered a “back up” plan. Just their honest opinion of how competitive the student will be when applying to schools. A good coach will be honest with a student about that. It by no means is meant to say that student should never pursue MT. I would encourage them to train in voice and dance while pursuing an acting degre if they go that route. I would just assume the coach feels at present that the student is more competitive in terms of acting and perhaps less competitive in the MT arena and is just counseling them on where they might be most successful during college auditions.</p>
<p>There are even more avenues for work for a well-trained actor. Did you know actors are hired to do voices for video games? My son also worked recently with an Equity actress who also has recorded a lot of audiobooks.</p>
<p>Thank you everyone!
@vvnstar, yes that is exactly what happened. My D has not had a coach, so we met w/one for some feedback & this was her assessment, my D has had limited vocal training & while she has made growth, she’s not really where she would like to be to be more competitive for the colleges she’s been auditioning for. Acting has always been her strength & she’s always received good feedback on that & the coach did say her acting was a strength. So my D’s initial reaction was one of devastation & was not thrilled w/a straight acting degree. However, she has calmed down & is not excited about this option & feels she could have even more options available to her if she pursues this route. So, all is not lost! She has 2 more auditions & if those don’t work out she is planning to do Theatre Studies at Temple & continue her acting, vocal & movement training & see where it leads!
I was just looking for more fuel to help her see the acting from a different angle, but she has already done that! But I still have all of this awesome info to keep handy just in case! 
Thanks again!</p>