5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Majoring in Theatre (That I’m So Glad I Know Now)

My 2001 college production of ‘Hotel Paradiso’. I’m in the fez on the far SR. (Elmira College)

by Chris Peterson, OnStage Blog Founder

I get asked a lot: “Did you always know you wanted to study theatre?” And the answer is yes… and no. I always felt it—deep in my bones—but I didn’t know what it meant. Not really. Not in the “declaring your major, meeting your advisor, trying to figure out how to explain Chekhov to your parents” kind of way.

Looking back, I wouldn’t change my path for anything. But there are a few things I wish someone had told me before I dove in headfirst. Not warnings—more like gifts that would've made the water a little warmer when I jumped. So, in that spirit, here are five things I wish I knew before I majored in theatre… and why I’m grateful to know them now.

1. You’re not choosing a major—you’re joining a community.

When I signed my major declaration form, I thought I was picking a field of study. What I didn’t realize is that I was stepping into a world of collaborators, creatives, cheerleaders, and chosen family. From late-night tech rehearsals to coffee-fueled scene study sessions, I found people who spoke my language—who challenged me, lifted me, and laughed with me through every flubbed line and standing ovation.

Majoring in theatre meant becoming part of something bigger than myself, and that feeling has never left me.

2. Training as an artist prepares you for everything.

Yes, I learned how to act. But I also learned how to communicate, how to problem-solve in real-time, and how to take feedback and give it with grace. I learned empathy. Grit. How to stand tall even when your knees are shaking.

These are life skills, not just stage skills. And whether you end up on Broadway, in a boardroom, or somewhere entirely unexpected, they’ll serve you well.

3. It’s okay not to know your “type.”

When I was starting out, I thought I had to know exactly who I was on stage. Romantic lead? Comic relief? That “best friend with a great belting voice”? (Okay, maybe that one stuck.)

But the truth is, majoring in theatre is about discovery. You grow into roles you never imagined—and sometimes out of the ones you were sure were meant for you. You get to explore, to play, to try on different versions of yourself. That’s the joy of it.

And offstage? The same rules apply.

4. The hustle is real… but so is the heart.

Let’s not sugarcoat it—this path takes work. Auditions, callbacks, rejections, repeat. But what they don’t always tell you is how joyful the hustle can be when you’re surrounded by passion and purpose. There’s a magic in staying up past midnight building a set, in memorizing pages of dialogue while eating cold pizza, in chasing a dream that lights you up from the inside out.

You learn to keep going—not because it’s easy, but because it matters.

5. Success in theatre looks different for everyone—and that’s the beauty of it.

When I first started, I thought success meant one thing: seeing your name in lights. But over time, I realized success can be directing your first student production. Or teaching theatre to kids. Or writing something honest and raw and you.

Majoring in theatre doesn’t guarantee a specific future—but it opens the door to a thousand possibilities. And often, the path you least expected becomes the one you love most.

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If you’re considering majoring in theatre—or if you’re just starting out—my advice is simple: stay open. Be curious. Say yes. Let yourself be surprised.

Because if you’re anything like me, you’ll look back someday and realize you weren’t just learning how to perform—you were learning how to live.

And what a beautiful life it’s turned out to be.