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Taking the Academic Route Into Theatre Administration
With an increasing number of undergraduate and graduate programs concentrating on the business of theatre, students can gain the knowledge they need to be effective and efficient arts managers
The meet-a-mentor-and-learn-by-experience method of working your way up the
ladder is no longer the only option for theatre professionals who want more
out of their careers. A number of universities now offer programs that combine
practical work experience with theory, giving students the skills they need
to succeed as theatre administrators.
After earning his bachelor’s degree in English from Vassar College, Jeffrey
Hermann joined the road crew of the Albany Berkshire Ballet in New York, eventually
working his way up to the managing director’s seat. But after years of
successful fundraising, managing a growing budget and shouldering increasing
responsibility, he began to regret his lack of formal training.
“I understood the principles of trial and error, and I wasn’t afraid
of putting in long hours,” says Hermann. “Still, I was always haunted
by the idea that my lack of formal training in arts administration was somehow
preventing even greater achievement.”
Hermann decided to apply to graduate school and eventually earned his MFA
from Yale University in 1999. “Training demonstrates a commitment to
the field, as well as an ambition that I think is attractive,” says Hermann,
who cites strong bonds with Yale’s artistic staff and an internship at
the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles as highlights of his experience in the
MFA program.
Upon graduation, Hermann moved into the managing director position at the
Perseverance Theatre in Douglas, Alaska, and, with his hard-earned MFA degree,
has taken up the challenge of building a theatre on America’s last frontier.
Academic interest growing
Hermann’s decision to obtain academic training in theatre administration
is being emulated by a growing number of students. Nationwide, there are more
than 40 undergraduate and graduate programs offering interdisciplinary concentrations
or majors in the business of theatre.
And none too soon. These days, theatre administrators are handling larger
boards of directors, managing increasingly complex budget structures and facing
growing competition and the demands of more sophisticated audiences. Curricula
that provide a solid combination of theory and practice in theatre administration
are designed to prepare students to meet these expanding challenges.
One such program can be found at Yale. Its theatre management program boasts
direct placements into coveted managerial director, marketing director and
development positions at theatres such as the Denver Center Theatre Company,
Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York and American Repertory Theatre in Cambridge,
Mass.
“It’s becoming a very good investment to pursue a career in arts
administration, especially with an accompanying business degree,” says
Victoria Nolan, deputy dean of the Yale School of Drama and acting chair of
its theatre management department. “Our students want to be involved
in the business side, and an MFA in theatre arts administration allows them
to do that alongside some brilliant artistic talents.”
Yale students complete a yearlong rotation in marketing and house management
and then complete a fellowship at an outside theatre before spending their
last year in a high-level position at the helm of the Yale Repertory Theatre.
“The combination of intellectual and academic training with on-the-job
experience and relationships, all bound together, were the indispensable bedrock
on which my career has been built,” says Terrence Dwyer, president and
chief operating officer of the Orange County Performing Arts Center (OCPAC)
in Costa Mesa, Calif., and a graduate of Yale’s theatre management program.
After earning his Masters degree in theatre directing from the University
of Missouri and working for several years as a stage manager, he began to
develop a sense of what was possible. “I reached a point where I wanted
to contribute more and work at a higher level,” he said.
And that is exactly what he did. Since earning his MFA in 1986, Dwyer has
held management positions with some of the most prestigious theatres in the
country including Houston’s Alley Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse and Mark
Taper Forum, before landing in his current role.
Undergrads trained, too
The interdisciplinary nature of a theatre administration major creates a powerful
mix of flexibility and experience. Charles Coward, Howard’s program coordinator
in theatre arts administration, believes that the preparation for the business
world is second to none.
“There’s a good balance of theory and practice,” Coward says,
citing required electives in courses as varied as negotiation and conflict
resolution and computers in the arts. “Students are realizing that there
are a lot of jobs available to those who can communicate intelligently in
all areas of theatre.”
Students are catching on. Programs nationwide are experiencing increased interest
and higher application rates. But these programs won’t accept just anyone.
Even on the undergraduate level, most programs require an interview and program-specific
acceptance, while graduate programs require standardized testing, a statement
of purpose, letters of recommendation, résumé, interview and
even writing samples.
Rigorous training offered
Once students enter the programs, the training is rigorous. Most programs
offer a rotation through the various aspects of administration, preparing
students for offsite internships and increasing levels of responsibility.
Yale’s MFA students handle a budget of more than $1.3 million. Nearly
every program supplements direct training in a variety of aspects of administration
with a healthy dose of backstage exposure. This usually leads to an internship
with a local or national theatre.
“Students often come late to the understanding that there’s a sophisticated
support structure in place at every theatre and that they can use some formal
training,” says Yale’s Nolan. “When I speak at high schools,
many students have never thought about the business end of a theatre. They
think of actors or maybe technical positions, but don’t realize that
there are so many roles they could fill.”
Why a degree in theatre management?
Unlike professionals in many other fields, theatre administrators do not need
certification in order to do their jobs, says Dan J. Martin, associate professor
for Carnegie Mellon's School of Drama and associate dean of the Heinz School
of Public Policy and Management.
That said, he believes there are many benefits to formal training such as
gaining a balance of theoretical and practical experience, developing the
skills to be an effective and efficient manager and viewing the arts world
in a larger context. “Having as complete a skill set as possible is key,”
he says.
Perhaps the strongest advantage of an arts management degree is that it can
accelerate the learning curve. “I honestly believe that in my two years
of graduate school, I picked up five to six years of on-the-job training,”
said Martin, who holds an MFA in performing arts management from Brooklyn
College/City University of New York.
What to look for in an arts management program
OCPAC’s Dwyer recommends working in the field for a few years to get
a good sense of direction, explore a wide range of opportunities and to begin
developing professional relationships that will last throughout your career.
“Don’t get out of undergrad school and go straight into graduate
school; take the time to make a thoughtful decision,” he suggests.
Once the decision has been made to find a program, Dwyer recommends choosing
one that is associated with a professional theatre or is located in a city
with a dynamic arts and cultural community and that internships are a part
of the curriculum.
Carnegie Mellon’s Martin, who is also the author of “Guide to Arts
Administration Training and Research 1997-1999,” suggests choosing a
program that is truly a management training program—one with a rigorous
management curriculum within the context of cultural institutions.
