Should I go to college to get a Musical Theatre Degree?

College Majors Theater/Drama Majors
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Hello all! This is my first post here on CC.

I am about to go into my junior year of high school. I have decided that I want to pursue a career in theatre, as it is my passion. But college degrees can get really expensive, and if I don’t have to enter adulthood with tens of thousands of dollars in student debt, that wouldn’t be such a bad idea.

There are lots of posts on here that I can probably find (and have found) on this exact same topic, but there is usually a bit of a difference between myself and the OP in those discussions. Most of them only have taken part in school theatre, and extra curricular theatre when they can (summer camps, local youth theatre). In my case, I have been involved in those facets for 12+ years, as well as receiving training in voice and dance. Most importantly, though, I have been involved in an extracurricular youth technical theatre conservatory where we have classes a couple of times per week, learning about scene study, character development, and other things of that variety. Upon graduation from high school, I will have been involved with this program for three years. So all together, when I graduate, that’s 14 years of participation; three of technical training at a much deeper, more advanced level than of the student taking classes at their school; as well as multiple years of voice (5 ish years) and dance training (12-13 years) under my belt.

So would it still be a good idea to go to college and get a degree? Or would it work out alright to go into the field and begin auditioning, and save my money to take classes and continue training outside of getting a college degree (ex. dance classes, workshops, vocal coaching, audition prep, etc.)?

Also, if I forgo a degree, would it be a good idea to stay local (I live in the Denver area), and audition for professional shows, look into getting an agent, potentially fly out to audition for shows, while maybe being able to live with my parents while I build up more of a professional resume? Or would it be better to move out to a big city, like New York City or Chicago and go in feet first?

Also, I have interest in costume design. I have actually been a costuming intern at the theatre I am a part of this past summer, and I have an interest and knack for it. Again, is a degree necessary? Could I potentially work as a costumer, as well as going to auditions, and with luck, being in a show?

thanks for any responses I get!

P.s. If you are going to try and convince me that theatre is a bad career choice, don’t. Thank you for your concern, but trust me, I have already tried to convince myself of this fact, and I am still passionate about this. Up until six months ago, I was trying to convince myself that I wanted to get a degree in marketing, but I knew it wouldn’t make me happy. I get it.

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Since you’re going into your junior year of high school, you still have a ton of time to decide what you think might be best for you. I wasn’t entirely sure I wanted a degree in acting until my senior year of high school!

It seems like you have lots of training, which is great. However, I am a firm believer that there is always room to grow. I went to a performing arts high school, but I didn’t feel quite ready yet to start auditioning out in the world when I’d be competing against people with much more training and experience than myself. Yet, some people do it and it works out for them. I think that’s a personal choice you have to make for yourself.

But again, you have time to figure it out. :slight_smile:

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There are also many people on or represented on this board (including my D) that have had years (as in since early childhood) of experience with excellent, extensive training and professional theatre experience that enter a college program to obtain more training, and they absolutely grow from it. People here skew towards the college decision because this is, after all, College Confidential. There are also many out there who choose to move to NYC or another large market and just start auditioning. Others decide to try to gain admittance to acting studios, many of which have 2 year programs. You have a lot of different options. What you choose is a personal decision.

I’m not as familiar with costume designing, and I don’t know what training options exist in that field.

If finances are holding you back, there are programs that offer good aid or that start at a lower list cost. My D, for example, is at a school with a high list price, but she is attending for a low cost–lower than continued extensive training outside the college would be. There are many others out there like that.

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In todays market I think it’s important to get a college degree. It makes it easier to get seen. There are many people with Broadway credits on the college audition tour. Forgive me I’m not clear if you want to work as a musical theater performer or in the back of the house with costuming. I would also speak with your teachers and get their advice.