Your Education: What classes you should take during your time at College

Depending on what degree program you will go into, you will take a number of different classes ranging from the technical side of theatre to the movement, vocal, and acting aspects of theatre.

With these aspects of the-atre under your belt, you will be a more well round-ed thespian. Understanding all aspects of the trade can make you a more attractive candidate for a job. Here are examples of a few of the different kinds of classes you can and should take:

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Acting/Directing/Character Development: In these classes you work with a trained profes-sional on how to perform or put on a performance in an in depth manner. This training in the real world can run from anywhere from $125 to $400 an hour, so enjoy the cheaper experience in col-lege now, while you can.

Dance Classes: Whether you are in musical theatre or you take dance class as a movement, physical education requirement these classes (tap, jazz, ballet, modern, etc.) allow you to stay in great physical shape and help you stay in tune with your body. If you are in musical theatre, companies look to hire actors who are proficient or more in various dance areas. Without taking one of these classes, it could stand in between you and a dream job.

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Lecture Classes: Unlike most theatre classes, history, labs and administrative class-es are typically lecture based. These classes will typically range from history classes, where you will study theatre and plays through-out the ages, they can be informa-tional about the future, and they can be writing classes.

Music:If you are concentrated into musical theatre, expect to take a lot of music classes. These class-es include:-Voice Lessons-Basic Piano Skills-Music Theory- Music Reading- Vocal Training

Movement: These classes, though they may seem very different from your general education courses and even some theatre courses, as a perform-er, these classes are vital in prepar-ing you for knowing the limits and expectations of your body. They are also helpful with breathing and warmups before performing.

Image from Living Theatre

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Stage Electrics: As a technical theatre course, you learn about the basic set up of theatre lights (i.e. instru-ments, cables, etc.). This class can, but does not have to, include lighting design. Some lighting design classes can also have a sound design aspects in the class.

Design: These classes teach you about basic designs of elements, such as set, lights, sound, costume, and props. In the picture to the right, you see that stage craft (the building and designs of sets) are taught.

Costumes: In these classes, you are taught how to sew, construct, draft and design cos-tumes and clothes.

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