Sample Theater Resume

Theater performer standing with arms outstretched on stage
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Perhaps it's the roar of the crowd. Or, perhaps you've always been the creative type going back to high school. Whatever the circumstance, if the smell of the greasepaint or the glow of the lighting rig is right up your alley, you're in luck. Thousands of jobs each year are going unfilled in theaters across the country. According to Creative & Cultural Skills, an estimated 30,000 skilled backstage and technical theater workers were needed to fill positions in 2017.

But, before you head for Broadway, you need to get that all-important piece of paper in order. It's time to fine-tune your resume so employers know what you can bring to the table. By following the steps outlined below you'll be well on your way to getting yourself noticed by employers and getting called in for an interview. The sole purpose of a resume is to land an interview, so the effort it takes to improve your documents is well worth the effort.

5 Steps to Writing Your Resume:

  1. Organize your information beginning with your education and ending with your skills.
  2. Highlight your qualifications including all awards and accolades.
  3. Use bullet points to display important information as a way to draw attention to what distinguishes you.
  4. Include only relevant information to the job you're seeking and remove unnecessary clutter.
  5. Make sure your resume is error-free including grammar and spelling mistakes.

Sample Theater Resume

Below is an example of a resume of a theater major who works in production and set design. Download the theater resume template (compatible with Google Docs and Word Online) or see below for more examples.

Screenshot of a sample theater resume
©TheBalance 2018

Sample Theater Resume (Text Only)

Jennifer Applicant

123 Main Street • Bronx, NY 11433 • (123) 456-7890 • jennifer.applicant@email.com

CAREER OBJECTIVE

Theater professional with experience in a variety of offstage roles seeks a career behind the scenes in the entertainment industry.

CORE QUALIFICATIONS

  • Photoshoot and fashion show experience.
  • Proficient at Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator, and experienced at designing posters and other marketing materials.
  • Proficient at Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint, and both Windows and Macintosh platforms.
  • Comprehensive written and oral French language skills.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

UCLA THEATER DEPARTMENT, Los Angeles, Calif.

Set Designer, September 2015–May 2018

Built and painted sets for multiple productions.

TAKE TWO PR, New York, N.Y.

Production Assistant, Summer 2017

Assisted with the filming of short promotional films.

ABERCEL MEDIA, New York, N.Y.

Marketing Associate, Summer 2016

Assisted with developing marketing materials for theater productions.

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Arts in Business with a minor in Theater (2018); GPA 3.5

UCLA, Los Angeles, Calif.

Dean’s List

Study Abroad Program in Shakespearean Theater (2017)

  • Oxford University, Oxford, England

Sometimes it is necessary to submit a cover letter with your resume. If this is the case you should make it short and tailored to the person and the job. Also, use the cover letter as an opportunity to mention any qualifications you possess not highlighted in your resume.

5 Steps to Writing a Cover Letter:

  1. Make sure you address your cover letter to the right person.
  2. Capture the reader's attention in an interesting leading sentence.
  3. Make your cover letter stand out by mentioning one thing that differentiates you from the competition.
  4. Make sure your cover letter is error-free with no grammatical or spelling errors.
  5. Ask for an interview at the end of your letter and say you will follow-up with a phone call or email.

When applying for internships be sure to check out Ten Easy Ways to Improve Your Cover Letter and The 5 Ways to Improve a Resume prior to sending in your documents.