The requirements for becoming a theater manager are frequently determined by a theater’s reputation and size. A two-year degree and some experience may be sufficient for smaller theaters, whereas prestigious theaters for the performing arts may require a graduate degree as well as experience working with various aspects of theater. Experience is required of almost every vacancy, regardless of educational requirements, because the theater manager is expected to walk into the job and perform. Aspiring managers can gain experience through full-time jobs, internships, or even assisting with the management of a college theater while still in school. Progressive theater responsibilities and management roles may eventually position a candidate for a high-profile position as the director of a well-known theater production house.
In most cases, some form of education is required to work as a theater manager. An associate’s degree or a bachelor’s degree in theater and/or performing arts management is usually required by theaters in small communities, public school systems, or small colleges. A Master of Fine Arts or a Master of Arts Management is usually required by larger, more prestigious regional theaters involved in high-profile productions. The study of theater and performing arts usually focuses on developing creative skills as well as the economics and operations of the industry. As part of their master’s degree program requirements, many master’s degree graduates gain hands-on management experience.
Getting hands-on experience with the performing arts from the standpoints of marketing, operations, and production is critical to succeeding as a theater manager. As a result, while education can help future managers get into organizations, only demonstrated experience combined with education can pave the way to becoming a theater manager. Professional experience can be obtained in a number of ways. Most master’s degree programs will require graduates to complete an internship as part of their graduation requirements, where they will be expected to demonstrate management skills. Those with bachelor’s degrees will need to concentrate their efforts on entry-level positions that provide experience in production, marketing, and box office management.
The culmination of this education and experience on a resume for a candidate seeking to become a theater manager demonstrates an understanding of what happens behind the scenes of a theater production. It also conveys a thorough understanding of how to bring together the various components necessary for theater production and make them work together to achieve success. Interactions with the community, backstage operations, media interactions, production, accountability, and scheduling are examples of such components.