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What should be on a theater resume?

No matter how good your acting skills are, your chances of getting callbacks for roles are slim if you don’t showcase your theatrical experiences efficiently in your resume.

Casting directors don’t spend a lot of time reviewing resumes, which means your theater resume has to work its charm in a jiffy.

And unlike traditional resumes, it is advisable to add a headshot of yourself in your theater resume to increase the chances of getting shortlisted.

Read on to learn more about how you can draft a compelling theater resume with ease and get clarity on the following FAQs:

• What is a musical theater resume and why do you need one?
• How to write a theater resume?
• What are some skills to put on a theater resume?
• How to showcase your professional experience on a theater resume?

What is a Musical Theater Resume and Why Do You Need One?

A musical theater resume is a professional document that showcases your stage roles, education, training, and personal information.

It is generally the first thing that casting managers review to decide whether or not to call you in for auditions.

The purpose of a theater resume is to make the casting directors see you as the ideal candidate for the role by providing an impressive overview of your professional trajectory.

Plus, how else would the casting directors reach you if they want to cast you for a role if not with the contact details in your theater resume?

Therefore, a well-written theater resume can very well determine your chances of landing acting gigs and advancing your career.

Also read: What is a good acting resume example?

How to Create a Theater Resume?

Now, for the crucial part, how can you possibly create a compelling theater resume when it is not your forte?

Fret not! With the following tips, you can build a stellar theater resume without breaking a sweat:

Choose the Correct Format

Although a theater resume does not come under the category of traditional resumes, it still needs to follow the basic format guidelines like that of a traditional one.

Listed below are some formatting pointers for your theater resume:

• Ensure that your theater resume does not exceed a page
• Attach your headshot to the header of your theater resume
• Leave 1” margins on all sides
• Use a font size that ranges between 10 and 12 points
• Use a simple font style such as Calibri or Ariel
• Leave room for white space in your theater resume to enhance readability
• Save your theater resume in PDF format to keep the content intact
• Choose a simple ATS-friendly theater resume template with a simple design
• Segregate the information on your theater resume into distinct sections
• Use the reverse chronological format that highlights your most recent acting gigs

When you correctly format your resume, the chances of the casting manager and directors reading your resume, increase.

Also read: What are some of the best resume formats ‌you can use in 2022?

Write an Appropriate Theater Resume Header

The header of your theater resume must include your full name in 16-20 font size and a professional headshot.

Do not make the mistake of writing “CV” or “Resume” as the header, as casting managers already know that it is a resume.

Right after writing your name, write the following personal details as part of your theater resume header:

• Your profile title
• A reachable phone number
• A professional email address
• Your current location (city & state)
• Your physical description including height, weight, eye & hair color
• The tone of your voice (if you are writing a musical theater resume)
• The name of the agency or union you are affiliated with

Also read: How to draft a resume header in 2022?

Draft a Compelling Theater Resume Summary

Your theater resume summary must highlight the years of experience you have, along with the most notable works you’ve been a part of.

If you’ve played a role similar to one that you’re auditioning for, highlight the same in your theater resume summary to showcase that you are capable of handling such roles.

Also, in case you’ve won any awards or have been recognized for your work, mention the same in your summary.

Ensure that your theater resume summary doesn’t exceed 3-4 lines.

Also read: How to write a resume objective in 2022?

List Your Theatrical Skills

To get a chance to demonstrate your skills in practice, you must efficiently list your theatrical skills on your resume.

Analyze the role description provided by the casting directors to understand which skills are crucial for the role.

Accordingly, you can list your skills that align with the requirements of the role and increase your chances of getting shortlisted.

Ensure to not bluff about your skills in your resume because the recruiters will ask you to showcase them in person during auditions.

Given below are some skills to put on a theatre resume:

• Dance (improvisational, jazz, ballroom, ballet, hip-hop, etc.)
• Singing (musical, opera, pop, etc.)
• Accents (American, British, Australian, Irish, etc.)
• Mime
• Hosting
• Presentation skills
• Effective communication
• Multilingual
• Time management
• Set designing

Also read: What skills should you put on a resume?

Showcase Your Professional Experience

The professional experience section of a theater resume differs from that of a traditional resume.

Rather than listing duties and responsibilities, draft your professional experience in accordance with the following pointers:

• Categorize your acting credits under film, theater, or television.
• Tailor your experiences based on the role description and list your theater experience at the top as you’re targeting a theatrical role.
• Provide details like the movie/play title, your role, the location/venue, the name of the production house, and the director’s name.
• Begin each category with your most prominent role and list your credits in bullet points rather than bulky paragraphs to enhance readability.

Also read: How to effectively show work experience on a resume?

Leverage Your Educational Background and Training

If you have attended an acting school or have participated in any dance, acting, or voice workshops, ensure to list them under the education section of your theater resume.

Showcasing formal education and specialized training that is relevant to the role you’re targeting will help you stand out from the crowd and give you an edge over other candidates.

In case you have 5+ years of acting experience, simply mention the following details:

• The name of the degree
• The name of the institution or university
• The location of the institution/university
• Commencement and completion dates

Also read: How to list education on a resume in 2022?

Add Additional Sections

To make your theater resume stand out, you can also include additional sections like the following:

• Certifications
• Awards & Recognition
• Publications
• References
• Grants
• Media Mentions
• Hobbies & Interests
• Volunteer Experience

Also read: What is the best way to create a film resume in 2022?

Theater Resume Example

Key Points from the Blog

• A musical theater resume is a professional document that showcases your stage roles, education, training, and personal information.
• Your theater resume must be a page long and must have ample white space along with a 1” margin on all sides.
• The header of your theater resume must include your full name in 16-20 font size and a professional headshot.
• Your theater resume summary must not be longer than 3-4 lines and should highlight your most notable roles relevant to the role you’re targeting.
• List your theatrical skills that align with the requirements of the role to increase your chances of getting shortlisted.
• The professional experience section of your theater resume must be categorized under the film, theater, or television categories along with your acting credits.
• If you have attended an acting school or have participated in any dance, acting, or voice workshops, ensure to list them under the education section of your theater resume.
• You can also add additional sections such as certifications, awards & recognition, publication, references, etc. in your theater resume to make it stand out.

If you want to build an impressive theater resume within minutes, use Hiration’s AI-powered Resume Builder. You can also write to us at support@hiration.com if you have any questions.