Theatre Resume Guidebook (Page 2 of 7) in pdf

Space is at a premium and it is hard to fit everything in, especially if you want to include the name of the theater where you

performed. Unknown places will not hold much weight, but known theatres hold a lot of credibility. Actors may tend to

exaggerate their experience to make it look more impressive. Be very careful: Theatre is a small village, and you might be

surprised when the director says, ―You were in the ATL production of Lear? Hey, I was, too!‖ If you aren't truthful, likely you'll

get caught, which is destructive to your reputation (you do not want directors making you the butt of jokes at the local pub, and

remember that word spreads easily throughout the small village). Bear in mind that directors understand that young actors can't

have accumulated a vast amount of experience, so you really don't need to embellish the facts.

If you are just starting out, list your college experience. As you gain experience, you can begin replacing the amateur

productions with professional appearances. This means you should be prepared to revise your résumé constantly.

Training

Acting, voice, dance, workshops, scene study—where you studied and with whom. If space permits and if the training session was

substantially long, consider indicating how long you studied.

Special Talents

List your special skills such as juggling, acrobatics, pantomime, dance, stage combat, ability to speak foreign languages, any

instruments that you play, if you can drive a stick shift, dialects and the like.

Theatrical Awards and Honors

List any accolades in your field

RÉSUMÉ DOS AND DON'TS

Staple your résumé to the back of your headshot (both should be 8 x 10)

If you have a lot of projects it is better to list the best ones

Use a format that makes the resume inviting and easy-to-read

Think about your accomplishments, roles you’ve played, characters you’ve become

If possible, tailor your résumé for a specific job, not just a specific industry

Ensure all dates link up and leave no suspicious gaps if you are using a chronological format

Make sure your cover letter is as good as your résumé

Tell the truth

DON'T

Don't use a résumé that is more than one page

Don't staple reviews or clippings to your résumé, they just get in the way

Don't make the type smaller than 10 point, if you have that much experience, edit it down

Don't make up special skills or write things down just so to fill in the special skill area

Don’t list your age on your résumé. You can, however, list your age range. Get some input from others about what they

think your age range is. It may be quite different from your actual age

Don’t include your computer proficiency on a theatrical resume, it is not necessary

Never lie about your experience

ON-LINE RESOURCES

Theatre Resume Guidebook Page 2