Theatre Arts and Dance - Career Planning

Students in the Department of Theatre Arts and Dance experience the ultimate in hands on learning. Our curriculum provides students with a deep understanding of Theatre through critical thinking, creative thinking, collaboration, and problem solving. In the classroom, rehearsal, and shop the faculty and staff work side by side with students. Our curriculum emphasizes process over product believing that a strong process will lead to a strong product. Students study dramatic literary canon and contemporary, and new plays.

The majors from our department are working in Theatre, Film, and Television. We have graduates who perform in New York on Broadway and off-Broadway, L.A. in Film and Television as writers, producers, actors, and directors. Graduates are active in Regional Theatre at all levels of production and administration. Our majors work in Theatre Education from Elementary to Higher Education. Former graduates are active in Community Theatre as well.

The advantage of this major is its solid foundation for any career. Our majors are Attorneys, Financial Mangers, Entrepreneurs, Account Executives, and Project Analysts. A major in Theatre Arts from a Liberal Arts program offers more not less opportunity to succeed.

Past Internships Done by Majors

• Brevard Theatre—Lighting, Scenery (Brevard, NC)
• Children’s Advocacy Conway, AR)
• La Jolla Theatre Playhouse—Education (La Jolla, CA)
• Arkansas Repertory Theatre (Little Rock, AR)
• AETN—Production Assistant(Conway, AR)
• KTHV—Production Assistant (Little Rock, AR)
• Dallas Children’s Theatre—Development, Education, Scenery (Dallas, TX)
• Hanger Theatre—Scenery (Ithaca, NY)
• Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre—Lighting (Logan, UT)
• Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre—Acting, Stage Management, Properties, and Scenery (Conway, AR)
• Interlochen Arts Camp—Stage Management, Theatre Teacher (Interlochen, MI)
• Buck’s County Playhouse—Lighting (New Hope, PA)
• Glimmerglass Opera—Scenery (Cooperstown, NY)
• Seattle Children’s Theatre—Education (Seattle, WA)
• Public Theatre—Stage Management(New York, NY)

All members of the Theatre Arts and Dance Department are happy to talk with students about the benefits of a major in Theatre Arts regarding career opportunities. You may also find the “What can I do with this major database helpful. Click the image above to access information regarding the Theatre Arts major.

First Employment Destinations for our Majors

• Teach For America, (New York City, New Orleans, LA, Austin TX)
• City Year—Little Rock
• Apprentice, Costume Shop; Internship Stage Management; Internship Lighting; Actor’s Theatre Louisville
• Analyst and Project Manager, Corporate Insight Strategy (Little Rock, AR)
• Technical Director, Wildwood Park for the Arts, (Little Rock, AR)
• Business Office Manager, Launch Centers (Los Angeles, CA)
• Properties Internship, Hanger Theatre (Ithaca, NY)
• Technician, Argenta Community Theatre, North Little Rock, AR
• House Manager, Arkansas Rep, Little Rock, AR
• Admissions Counselor, Hendrix College, Conway, AR
• Apprentice Costume, Stage Management, Lighting, Actor’s Theatre Louisville, (Louisville, KY)
• Intern, Box Office and Front of House, Purple Rose Theatre (Chelsea, MI)
• Entrepreneur, Kasey Hodges Designs (Fayetteville, AR)
• Teacher, Arkansas Children’s’ Theatre (Little Rock, AR)
• Production Intern, Theatre Three (Dallas, TX)
• College Readiness Coach, San Diego Cal—SOAP (San Diego, CA)
• Internship, Alley Theatre (Houston, TX)
• Internship, Peterbough Players—Acting and Box Office (Peterbourgh, New Hampshire)
• Actor—Murray’s Dinner Theatre, Arkansas Rep, Argenta
• Theatre Teacher, Interlochen Arts Camp (Interlochen, MI)
• Properties, Deck Carpeneter, Glimmerglass Opera, (Cooperstown, NY)

Graduate and Professional School Options

Theatre Arts Related

• Yale University, (Costume Design)
• University of Arkansas (Acting, Costume Design, Scenic Design)
• University of California San Diego (Stage Management)
• Louisiana State University (Acting)
• Ohio University (Acting)
• University of Connecticut (Scenic Design)
• Sarah Lawrence (Dance)
• Neighborhood Playhouse (Acting)
• Actor’s Studio (Acting)
• University of Houston (Costume)
• Western Illinois University, (Acting)
• University of Washington (M.A. Theatre Studies)
• University of Louisiana Tech (M. A. Theatre)
• Mary Baldwin University (M. A, MFA Theatre, Acting)
• University of Wisconsin, Madison (Ph.d Theatre)
• Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL (MFA, Design)
• University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL (MFA, Design)

Graduate Programs outside of Theatre Arts

• University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts (MFA)
• University of Central Arkansas (Master of Arts, Education)
• University of Arkansas School for Medical Science (MD)
• University of New Hampshire, Franklin Pierce School of Law (Juris Doctor)
• Johns Hopkins School of Education
• University of Arkansas, Bowen School of Law (Juris Doctor)

Occupations of Recent Graduates

Early Career Examples (Graduated since 2010)

• Director of Theater, Gentry Public Schools, Gentry, AR
• Actor, Los Angeles, CA (SAG/AFTRA)
• Associate Artistic Director, Radical Buffoons, New Orleans, LA
• Youth Studio Programmer, CALS, Little Rock, AR
• Event Coordinator, University of Arkansas, Little Rock
• General Manager, McAlister’s Deli, Little Rock, AR
• Reentry Coordinator, Hope Rises, Little Rock, AR
• Shop Keep, Customer Care Advisor, Portland, OR
• Associate Project Manager, Means of Production, Chicago, IL
• Actor, Acting Group Talent Agency, Austin, TX
• Apprentice Electrician, Clark Power Company, Little Rock, AR
• Owner, Gooseberry Pies, (Bentonville, AR)
• Artistic Associate, The Landing Theatre Company, (Houston, TX)
• Production technician, Jersey Boys, Off-Broadway—Public Theatre, St. Anne’s Warehouse, New World Stage, Broadway (New York, NY)

Mid- and Advanced Career Graduate (Graduated before 2010)

• Class of 2007, Associate Technical Director, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
• Class of 2001, Actor, AEA, SAG, AFTRA, Broadway, Major Motion Film, Television New York, NY
• Class of 2001, Managing Associate at Mass Mutual, Dallas, TX
• Class of 2008, Galarza Elementary, Los Altos, CA
• Class of 2006, Real Estate Broker at Center Coast Realty, Chicago, IL
• Class of 2001, LCSW Central Arkansas Veteran’s Healthcare System
• Class of 2006, Anesthesiologist, Central Maine Medical Center, Lewiston, ME
• Class of 2004, Executive Director of Argenta Community Theatre, North Little Rock, AR
• Class of 2003, National Account Executive, Team SI, Little Rock, AR
• Class of 2007, Events Production Manager, Hendrix College, Conway, AR
• Class of 2000, Associate Vice President Iberia Mortgage (Fayetteville, AR)
• Class of 2000, Associate Vice President Iberia Mortgage (Fayetteville, AR)
• Class of 2004, Technical Project Manager, Metropolitan Opera, (New York, NY)
• Class of 2004, Theatre Teacher, Peak to Peak Charter School, (Prescott, AZ)
• Class of 2005, Visual Specialist, Apple (New York, NY)
• Class of 2001, Co-Owner Taziki Restaurant Chain, (Little Rock, Conway, AR)