Creating a Theatre Arts Résumé
December 01, 2022
Open gallery
The stage worker sets up the lights
Hey, y’all! I’m Natalie, a costume design and construction major, and I’m gonna share a breakdown of how to create a theatrical resume for your application to the Conservatory of Theatre Arts.
Within your application, no matter if you are applying for Design/Tech or the Acting BFA, you are required to submit a theatrical resume. It’s very similar to a regular work resume with a few key differences. The top header remains essentially the same; it lists your name, pronouns, and contact information. For actors, you also want to include your physical attributes like hair and eye color, height, and singing voice type. Your headshot should also go along with your acting resume. You can also include a headshot if you’re applying for technical theatre.
First you’re going to list all of your theatrical credits, either in date order (recent to oldest) or in terms of best role/position (listing the most involved at the top). Be sure to include where you did the production (ex: the name of the HS, college, or community theatre) because it’s a good frame of reference for what the production was. You can find a lot of great examples online for formatting and spacing. Your reader will gain a good first impression just by looking at your organized resume.
Next, you should list your skills. If you’re an actor, list any dialects, accents, languages, musical instruments, and special skills. You never know what the show is going to call for! For example, right now I’m costuming a show where everyone in the cast is either wearing Heelys or riding on skates, scooters, skateboards, or bicycles. You want to be able to play your character as accurately as possible; having those extra skills listed can help directors when they cast their next production. So, when in doubt put the skill on! You’ll have time to have a professor help you comb through your resume once you’re in.
If you’re a design/tech student, your skills should be anything artistic and/or technical you’re proficient at. For example: what shop tools you can use, what light/sound boards you’re proficient in, what sewing skills you have, what visual artistic styles you do, and what programs you’re proficient in to do your paperwork - all should be included! Break down your skills into all their parts and don’t lie, but do hype yourself up. You can tell the college that you’re an amateur at lightboard programming if you’ve dabbled in a certain area; remember you’re entering a program that will help you sharpen your skill set. Additionally, you can back up the credits on your resume with pieces in your portfolio. Put any relevant experience in your portfolio, because the school wants to see that you’re well-rounded. Don’t be afraid to add skills that do not apply to theater; it will show off your ability to pick up new skills. Also, put in examples of your theatrical work whether it was made for the stage or simply a theoretical exercise. When in doubt put it in, and make sure you organize your files (perhaps a Slides/PowerPoint presentation so you can add captions to your pictures).
For everyone, put your other work experience or activities at the bottom. You want to show that you’re all the qualities that make dependable theatre makers. Qualities like “communicative, hardworking, punctual, diligent” can be shown through working a part-time job in high school, being a soccer team captain, being the International Thespian Society president, or at-home responsibilities like babysitting younger siblings.
Lastly, put your best foot forward; this is college and a clean slate. If parts of high school didn’t go so well, be upfront but highlight how you overcame these struggles to show colleges that you’re prepared for higher-education learning. Show off your best pieces of work (if that’s designs, monologues, etc.) because no one will advocate for you besides yourself in this industry. You’ve worked hard. Don’t let any internal anxious thoughts diminish that. You got this, and the current theatre conservatory classes are rooting for you!
Best of luck,
Natalie :)
–Natalie Saint-Rossy