Musical Theatre

A musical theatre performer uses dancing, acting, and singing to entertain audiences. Performing in musical theatre requires memorizing a script, which may include words to be spoken and to be sung, as well as learning choreographed dance moves. Although some musical theatre performers may perform at the same venue on a regular basis, many are involved in traveling companies that may perform all over the country or even all over the world.

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median hourly wage of dancers was $11.55. Those who worked for theatre companies earn the most in the industry, with a median hourly wage of $15.28. Those who are part of touring companies generally receive additional funds to pay for room and board as well as overtime compensation. Those who are classified as singers, on the other hand, earn median hourly wage of $19.73, while actors earn $11.61 per hour.

In order to become a musical theatre performer, you need to attend an acting school, a dance school, or a music school where you can obtain the training necessary to be successful in the industry. Many aspiring musical theatre performers volunteer for community productions in order to gain the experience and exposure that is required to gain paying positions.

A good candidate for a career in musical theatre is someone with a passion for theatre who is self-motivated and disciplined. Those who are talented actors, singers and dancers are particularly well suited to this career path.