Carian Lynée Parker

The set on a stage acts as a vessel for the entire show. To be able to design, create, and build a set requires years of training and education. A set designer needs to have a creative mindset and learn the vocabulary that goes into scenic design. Here are the five books every set design student should read at least once!

Lighting has the ability to tell a story all on its own. It has the ability to provoke a certain emotion from audience members without having to say anything. With that said, many don't realize the work and detail that goes into lighting a show from behind the scenes. Lighting designers are such a crucial part of any performance and should be praised for their knowledge and skill.

Contrary to what many people believe, a sound designer does not simply find music for a show. They contribute in big ways making sure everyone's mics are operating properly down to the small tasks like picking out all the sound effects for the show. While having a background in music is key, having the proper education is a priority. Here at the top five books every sound design student should read at least once!

Costume designers are an integral part of any theatre. While the audience might see a beautiful costume on stage, behind the scenes there is a great amount of detail and work put into preparing each costume design. Costume designers shine through their work on stage by understanding not just each individual piece, but the history behind it. Here are the five books every costume design student should read at least once! 

The job of a stage manager requires one to wear many different hats. A stage manager acts as an organizer, communicator, motivator, and sometimes...a mediator or therapist. Behind any great show in theatre, there is a stage manager helping to hold things together and push things forward. A stage manager is a job that is so essential to the world of theatre, but how does one get started in that field? Here are the five books every stage management student should read at least once!

Whether you want to direct in a community theatre setting or be the next hit Broadway director, every directing student must have a strong educational foundation. While learning from experience is always beneficial, there is nothing wrong with taking direction (no pun intended!) from the directing pros. Here are the top five directing books that every directing student should read at least once in their life!

The Theatre Conservatory of the Chicago College of Performing Arts (CCPA) consists of 200 undergraduate students, divided between our acting and musical theatre programs. Students are guaranteed onstage performance credit while they are at CCPA - more time onstage means more training for your future career in the theatre.

Whether you are a veteran actor or just walking into your first acting class, every acting student must continue to learn more about the craft. Acting itself is a journey and having the right tools under your belt will only help you enhance your skills. Here are the five books that every acting student should read at least once!

Whether your focus is musical theatre, opera, vocal performance, piano, music education, orchestral instruments, conducting, sacred music, or theory and composition; having a vast understanding of music is vitally important. Here are the five books every music student should read at least once!​

Located in the greater Washington, D.C. area, students are offered unparalleled opportunities for engagement with professional opportunities throughout the region, as well as in New York City and Los Angeles. The curriculum is focused on student engagement and professional development through partnerships with internationally renowned institutions such as Arena Stage, Ford's Theatre, The Kennedy Center and Woolly Mammoth.

STEM vs. STEAM: Which is a better focus for schools? While both STEM and STEAM have differences, there is an opportunity for growth across all occupations in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields. Check out results from a recent study funded by the National Endowment for the Arts.

Ranked by the Princeton Review in the top five for 'Best College Theater,' Bennington College offers students a thorough grounding in virtually every dimension of theater-making: acting, directing, playwriting, devising, theatre history, dramatic literature, dramaturgy, stage management, and design (set, costume, lights, projection, and sound).

The Sargent Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University offers a unique and intensive program for training young artists for theatre. All students are accepted into the program by interview or audition and are enrolled in a particular sequence. It is our mission to train our future colleagues to become visionaries, creators and leaders in the next generation of American professional theatre.

Founded in 1991, Education Through Music (ETM) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that promotes the use of music in under-resourced schools and schools in disadvantaged areas, as a means of enhancing students' academic performance and general development. ETM celebrated its 30th Annual Benefit Gala on Monday, June 13, 2022 at Cipriani 42nd Street. The gala included over 400 people and raised over $1M. 

Ian Sullivan is currently enrolled at Gardner-Webb for his master’s degree in Curriculum and Education. A writer, director, mask maker, and (sometimes) actor, Ian considers his primary role to be that of an educator and looks forward to continuing to grow the program at Hickory Ridge.

Jimmy Awards Inspiring Teacher Kristin Winchester believes in the power of storytelling, the ability to find oneself through artistic expression, and the importance of communication in everyday experience. She has created a rigorous curriculum, directed challenging productions, and has sent many students to BFA acting, musical theatre, and design programs across the country.

Engaging in art is essential to students and humans alike. As soon as children develop motor skills, they communicate through artistic expression. Today, most schools put the majority of their focus on standardized testing and some negate the arts altogether. Giving students the materials for artistic expression can lower stress, improve their memory, and make students feel more socially connected. 

The School of Theatre at Florida State University is regularly recognized as one of the finest theatre programs in the nation. The School of Theatre at Florida State University's mission is to use the evolving, live, collaborative art of theatre to develop artists and scholars who have a lifelong passion for the arts.

The School of Theatre prepares young theatre artists for a sustainable, professional life. The program is grounded in the philosophy of putting theory into practice from the classroom to the stage to produce creative, culturally aware, and highly effective theatrical artists.

The American Theatre Wing is a nonprofit organization, founded on the eve of America's entry into WWI by seven suffragists and theater-makers who came together to support the nation by harnessing the power of theater. Through a powerful suite of programs that address all aspects of the national theater ecology, ATW encourages the discovery of theater by people of all ages, nurtures talent on stage and off, creates pathways for success for students and young professionals, and encourages the development of the art form itself by recognizing and supporting innovative and excellent work with awards and grants.