Does community theater really matter?

[EganFan2]

Posted: 3/7/08 at 10:58pm

I was just wondering something. How seriously is community theater taken if you are applying for a theater related job, or are applying to a theater program? That's community theater, not regional.

[broadwayfan7]

Posted: 3/7/08 at 11:24pm

I would definitely put in on a resume (as if you were applying for a job) I think the employer would want to know what you had been involved in, even if it's community theatre.

[BroadwayBound062]

Posted: 3/7/08 at 11:34pm

Experience is experience good or bad...

[blaxx]

Posted: 3/7/08 at 11:41pm

Eeek! I disagree, I rather see one semi pro credit than five community theater ones.

[fnyboi88]

Posted: 3/7/08 at 11:46pm

I think it matters a lot. Shows experience and that you are committed.

[Robos89]

Posted: 3/7/08 at 11:50pm

Well, it shows what you've done and what parts you can play and it just shows a lot about what you can do!

I've never really auditioned with community theatre credits, though. I've been doing regional theatre since the age of 7 and am a freshman in college now for music theatre!

[Not Barker, Todd.]

Posted: 3/7/08 at 11:58pm

I think it depends on your talent, the audition, and what credits you have.

[thespian geek]

Posted: 3/8/08 at 12:04am

Coming from a city (Omaha, Nebraska) that literally has practically no professional/regional theatre opportunities available to actors, I should hope community theatre credits would count for something since it's what I'm aspiring to for a career.
Updated On: 3/8/08 at 12:04 AM

[haddaddy3]

Posted: 3/8/08 at 12:08am

I feel the same way EganFan! I really want to go into theater and at 16, I've only done community theater. I hope to move on to regional soon, but it's hard to find opportunites for young people, and, let's just say, I have other limitations (see avatar).

[fnyboi88]

Posted: 3/8/08 at 12:13am

haddaddy: You go for the opportunities that are there for your age. Don't let your limitations get in your way. Go to auditions!

[ILoveMyDictionary]

Posted: 3/8/08 at 12:19am

Remember everyone starts with no credits. Having community theatre credits shows that you do have experiance in theatre, which is better than no experiance. You can beef up your resume a bit by instead of writing "Greenwood Community Players" write "Greenwood Theatre" or something like that to make it sound more prestigious. Whether or not you book the job will consist mostly of your talent and type. Not what you have on your resume.

[haddaddy3]

Posted: 3/8/08 at 12:27am

I try, I try. I mean I'm in a community youth production of The Wizard of Oz as Professor Marvel and the Wizard. I'm doing more this summer and am almost certain that I'm going to take one of the male roles at a girls high school who is doing Into the Woods.

My question, is it better to do shows in smaller school/community groups where I can get better roles or try for regional where the roles are bound to be less exciting?

[ILoveMyDictionary]

Posted: 3/8/08 at 12:33am

Both. Do as many shows as you can, wherever you can and go on as many auditions as possible. There are tons of learning experiances in both school and regional theatre.

[tazber]

Posted: 3/8/08 at 12:39am

It matters. If you have a lot of profesisonal credits then maybe you wouldn't need it, but if you haven't definitely put it on. It shows you've had experience and understand the demands and expectations of being in live theater.
Also, the parts you've played will help give the director a sense of your range and type.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 3/8/08 at 2:05am

We ALL have community theatre on our resume until we can replace it with professional credits. Great theatre can happen anywhere.

[BroadwayBound062]

Posted: 3/8/08 at 3:49am

My rule is this I try to have a selected resume of 20 theatre credits. BUT each resume I talor for the job I want. If I have played simular roles in other companies then I place those on there I almost always list certain things, like singing Now/Soon/Later with Len Cariou at a Gala or that I was in Richard Kind's Forum but I talor it towards the show. I almost always have at least one or 2 community theatre things. Now one day soon I will get to the point where I won't need them at all but for now I use them to help get the job and like a lot of directors have told me. I only look at the resume once I hear and see the talent.