Student Blog: Types of Theatre Arts Classes I Recommend Taking

If you're reading this blog, you might be a senior in high school looking at a theatre major or a first-year student in your university's theatre department. That's good! At this point in your educational career, you're about to be given a lot of new freedoms: deciding where to go to school, what degree you're seeking, and what classes you want to take. That's a lot of options to manage! As a senior nearing graduation, I'd like to offer some advice on classes you should consider taking as a theatre major or theatre lover.

My number one recommendation is a voice class. While you may be thinking of 'voice' as in 'private voice lessons' for choir or musical theatre, I'm thinking more of 'voice for the actor' classes. At Butler University, we are lucky enough to have a professor who is a verified and passionate about the instruction of Linklater voice techniques. Kristin Linklater' book "Freeing The Natural Voice" is host to a variety of unique warmups and a vivid explanation of all of the resonating chambers in your body. As I've learned in my three Voice for the Actor courses, Linklater instructors are rare to come by, but there are other methods of actor voice instruction out there. If your university offers classes, workshops, or guest artists with voice work, PLEASE take them! Even if you're not interested in performance, a voice class will help you get in touch with your body, prepare you to be a better public speaker, and provide an opportunity to loosen up and have fun! Some of the warmups are a little funky and can make you giggle; what's not to love? DM me and let me know what color your Hum Train is ?

My second set of recommended classes is theatre-adjacent, but 100% worth your tuition. Take some time out of your semester for an arts administration class. If your college offers an introductory level to arts admin or non-profit work, it's likely to provide an insight about where you fit in to your organization as a performer, other aspects of the arts you might be interested in or inspire you to start your own business (like me)! I came into college wanting to act, but it was my first administration class that set into motion my desire to work in fields like arts marketing, education, community engagement, and programming. These are all departments you come into contact with one way or another throughout your collegiate theatrical career, so I think it's important to understand how they work. Not a lot of colleges or universities offer arts management courses to undergraduate students, so I suggest entry-level marketing or promotional writing classes to get you started too.

My final recommendation is also practical, but in a more creative way. If you're not already required to by your theatre department, squeeze in some production fundamentals classes. What are production fundamentals, you may ask? Think sewing, set construction, lighting, and AV training. Again, these are all departments you come across as a performer, whether you're in a fitting or in tech week. By understanding just a little bit about all these positions, you'll gain a greater respect for the work your colleagues are doing and might even be able to help them out when the time is right. On the flip side, if you're tech-focused, I recommend taking at least one basic acting class. If you're paying tuition, you may as well get your money's worth and be open to expanding your knowledge and tastes!

Regardless of whether or not your university offers these kinds of classes, I hope you consider doing just that: expanding your knowledge through theatrical education. With every passing semester, I marvel at how much I learn by taking a class that's unfamiliar to me or out of my comfort zone. So, take the risk-it will pay off!

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