Interested in joining the theater? Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions that you might also be asking yourself.

Is there an audition or interview when enrolling in a university theater program?

Yes, most universities require an interview and audition before you are accepted. This is done to gauge your potential in theater work.

Is a university theater degree really necessary?

Of course, you might have also wondered if getting a theater degree from a university is really worth all the hassle. The short answer is that it is not a requirement to become a theater actor at all. As you might have already heard from your friends working in theaters, there are stage actors that have no formal university degree. Also, getting a degree seems to have no direct correlation to the success of an actor.

There are still advantages to getting a formal theater training. Aside from getting professional coaching to hone your skills, a degree will look on your resume, which might prove to be helpful if you are still a newbie and looking for work.

How much do theater actors earn?

Of course, not all actors receive the same paychecks. Some can demand a higher rate due to their talent and popularity. However,  Bureau of Labor Statistics states that theater actors get paid $21.10 an hour on average. Meanwhile, Broadway’s minimum salary for weekly runs remains the highest in the industry at $1,861 as of 2014. On the other hand, Hollywood rates vary by theater size: $343 a week for a 199 seat theater and$588 a week for 400-499 seats.

What is a musical?

A musical production is hard to miss. Its main difference from other genres is that its dialogues are delivered by song and dance. Thus, actors who are accepted in the production must develop excellent singing and dancing skills.

What is a tragedy?

As its name implies, tragedies are the type of plays that focus on emotionally painful events and human suffering in its plot. The most common of these are Greek tragedies which are plays adapted from works of ancient Greek scholars. Modern tragedies have been rising in popularity as well and usually contain multiple subplots, storylines, and themes.

What is a comedy play?

A comedy play can be best described based on the effect it has on its audience – it makes people laugh. It can be viewed as the natural opposite of tragedies which focus on suffering. Comedy plays have different themes such as satire, black comedy, and malapropisms to name a few.