3 answers
Luka
Student
Monrovia, Maryland
1
Question
Updated
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What are some careers that you can go into after studying musical theatre and decide not to pursue a life on the stage? #spring25
I am excited to start my musical theatre major in the fall, but curious to see what other careers people have gone into if the stage is not in the cards.
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3 answers
Cliff Beach
Music and marketing
9
Answers
Los Angeles, California
Updated
Cliff’s Answer
Even if you eventually decide not to stay on the stage, you’re building an incredible toolkit: communication, creativity, discipline, teamwork — skills that translate to so many careers.
Here are a few paths you might consider:
Arts Administration: Working behind the scenes in theaters, arts nonprofits, or production companies managing events, marketing, or development.
Casting Director or Talent Agent: Helping other performers land roles or guiding their careers.
Teaching and Coaching: Sharing your knowledge through teaching drama, voice, or movement, either in schools or privately.
Writing: Whether it’s scripts, lyrics, journalism, or creative writing, your storytelling chops are valuable.
Entertainment Law or PR: With additional study, you can help artists navigate contracts and promote their work.
Production: Becoming a producer for theater, film, TV, or even live events.
Voiceover Work: Animation, audiobooks, video games — your acting and vocal skills can open these doors.
Creative Entrepreneurship: Launching your own company, studio, or arts-related project.
I started in performance but grew into many areas — writing books, speaking, hosting a radio show, working in marketing and leadership roles in the arts world. It’s all connected. Your background in musical theatre will always be an asset, whatever path you take.
Here are a few paths you might consider:
Arts Administration: Working behind the scenes in theaters, arts nonprofits, or production companies managing events, marketing, or development.
Casting Director or Talent Agent: Helping other performers land roles or guiding their careers.
Teaching and Coaching: Sharing your knowledge through teaching drama, voice, or movement, either in schools or privately.
Writing: Whether it’s scripts, lyrics, journalism, or creative writing, your storytelling chops are valuable.
Entertainment Law or PR: With additional study, you can help artists navigate contracts and promote their work.
Production: Becoming a producer for theater, film, TV, or even live events.
Voiceover Work: Animation, audiobooks, video games — your acting and vocal skills can open these doors.
Creative Entrepreneurship: Launching your own company, studio, or arts-related project.
I started in performance but grew into many areas — writing books, speaking, hosting a radio show, working in marketing and leadership roles in the arts world. It’s all connected. Your background in musical theatre will always be an asset, whatever path you take.
Thank you!
Luka
Saint P
SongWriter and Creative writer
75
Answers
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Updated
Saint’s Answer
Hey Luka!
It’s awesome that you’re diving into musical theatre! Even if you end up stepping away from the stage, you’ve got so many options. A lot of people transition into roles like directing, teaching drama, arts administration, or even working in casting. Some move into voice acting or writing for theatre or film. Honestly, the skills you’ll gain like public speaking, creativity, teamwork translate really well into things like marketing, event planning, or even coaching.
So don’t stress your major opens a ton of doors, both in and out of the spotlight. You’ve got this!
Saint
It’s awesome that you’re diving into musical theatre! Even if you end up stepping away from the stage, you’ve got so many options. A lot of people transition into roles like directing, teaching drama, arts administration, or even working in casting. Some move into voice acting or writing for theatre or film. Honestly, the skills you’ll gain like public speaking, creativity, teamwork translate really well into things like marketing, event planning, or even coaching.
So don’t stress your major opens a ton of doors, both in and out of the spotlight. You’ve got this!
Saint
Michelle M.
Actress
2522
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hi, Luka !
Okay, I am going to need to redirect you about your college major so please do not hold it against me. Since I have experience with this, I love to help young actors along the way to make the absolute best choices for their future. College is expensive and you will need to make sound decisions that will affect your future.
Here it goes: Do Not major in Musical Theatre. A degree in it is not worth much if anything. It won't get you cast in shows, it will seem frivolous to non-entertainment employers and musical theatre is not a career, it's a genre. Many professional performers do not have a degree and getting chosen for performance work has very little to do with the degree. Your tuition can be better spent on a future career that you are 100% sure about. Musical Theatre basically transfers over to no other career because it is a genre.
If you are 100% sure that you want to be an actress for your career, then I would advise taking a Major in Theatre as that program provides acting classes and a variety of performance courses. The degree would also qualify you for work in professional Theatre in an administrative or non-performance capacity. Some non-acting positions in a professional theatre are very valuable and give you hands on experience to use what you've learned in college. But that degree in theatre will carry weight (not musical theatre) over others that do not have a degree.
You really have to give some time to figuring out why you're approaching an acting career with the idea that it "may not be in the cards". No matter what career you're interested in transitioning to, you will have to have a degree or at least a minor in a subject that connects with the job. When students are 100% certain about being in acting, their career goes better because they let things flow naturally and didn't project into the future or try to predict or micro-manage things before they even start. This really is something to consider if you're intending to make financial and time commitments for a degree.
My Major was Theatre with a Minor in Social Science. I really didn't have any issues obtaining non-acting jobs in theatre and my experience in social services gave me a break for social services work. I never needed a degree to get cast in any show I've done. A degree in Theatre will show that you have the collaborative experience, in many genres and keep in mind that voice over work is also competitive and depends on auditions, too. Getting into casting will require knowledge of how to develop and run a business, getting lots of experience as an actor beforehand and joining a professional association, having very, very strong connections with people that cast.
The reality is, one doesn't obtain a degree in one genre such as musical theatre and then smoothly apply that degree to a different, specific career. If you can grow to think that you're determined to act and the competitiveness doesn't matter, then become an actor. If you are consumed with ideas about how the career will be even before you start, you will always second guess yourself and that's not a beneficial way to approach this career. So right now, my advice is not to major in musical theatre, don't project how your career will go and if you're really unsure, consider a different major. Acting is not a career for everyone. Before you make the investment, be sure.
Okay, I am going to need to redirect you about your college major so please do not hold it against me. Since I have experience with this, I love to help young actors along the way to make the absolute best choices for their future. College is expensive and you will need to make sound decisions that will affect your future.
Here it goes: Do Not major in Musical Theatre. A degree in it is not worth much if anything. It won't get you cast in shows, it will seem frivolous to non-entertainment employers and musical theatre is not a career, it's a genre. Many professional performers do not have a degree and getting chosen for performance work has very little to do with the degree. Your tuition can be better spent on a future career that you are 100% sure about. Musical Theatre basically transfers over to no other career because it is a genre.
If you are 100% sure that you want to be an actress for your career, then I would advise taking a Major in Theatre as that program provides acting classes and a variety of performance courses. The degree would also qualify you for work in professional Theatre in an administrative or non-performance capacity. Some non-acting positions in a professional theatre are very valuable and give you hands on experience to use what you've learned in college. But that degree in theatre will carry weight (not musical theatre) over others that do not have a degree.
You really have to give some time to figuring out why you're approaching an acting career with the idea that it "may not be in the cards". No matter what career you're interested in transitioning to, you will have to have a degree or at least a minor in a subject that connects with the job. When students are 100% certain about being in acting, their career goes better because they let things flow naturally and didn't project into the future or try to predict or micro-manage things before they even start. This really is something to consider if you're intending to make financial and time commitments for a degree.
My Major was Theatre with a Minor in Social Science. I really didn't have any issues obtaining non-acting jobs in theatre and my experience in social services gave me a break for social services work. I never needed a degree to get cast in any show I've done. A degree in Theatre will show that you have the collaborative experience, in many genres and keep in mind that voice over work is also competitive and depends on auditions, too. Getting into casting will require knowledge of how to develop and run a business, getting lots of experience as an actor beforehand and joining a professional association, having very, very strong connections with people that cast.
The reality is, one doesn't obtain a degree in one genre such as musical theatre and then smoothly apply that degree to a different, specific career. If you can grow to think that you're determined to act and the competitiveness doesn't matter, then become an actor. If you are consumed with ideas about how the career will be even before you start, you will always second guess yourself and that's not a beneficial way to approach this career. So right now, my advice is not to major in musical theatre, don't project how your career will go and if you're really unsure, consider a different major. Acting is not a career for everyone. Before you make the investment, be sure.