How to Maneuver Around Student Loan Debt as a Theatre Major

This was originally published in the OnStage Blog Newsletter on 4/29/2022

Greg Ehrhardt, OnStage Blog Editorial Staff

Student loan debt forgiveness has been a hot topic the last couple of years, with Democrats talking about debt forgiveness for years, but no action to date beyond extending the moratorium started during the pandemic.

Theatre students are among the biggest “victims” of crushing student debt, as many theatre programs are costlier than average, and most graduates live on wages close to minimum wage while they find their theatre dream job. (Read here for a personal and sobering account of a successful actress who is struggling to pay off her student loans)

We get asked a lot whether it is worth it to pursue a theatre degree given the absurdly high cost of college and the high likelihood of low wages, even if you get your theatre dream job.

There is no one right answer, but we have some general advice:

1) Do not let the potential cost of school dissuade you from doing theatre. We know from personal history that all high school graduates should follow your passion, because passion will help you succeed and hit your life goals, no matter where that passion lies

2) We’re also on record that you don’t have to get a theatre degree to succeed in theatre. Plenty of successful Broadway actors made it through tremendous hustle, talent, and sheer determination.

3) With that said, we do recommend getting a college degree in theatre if you can afford it (of course), but there are ways to navigate college financing reasonably. We have said stated previously it is not necessary to get your theatre degree at the most expensive schools. You can get a fine theatre education at lower cost schools. Wherever you go, you will find passionate and smart theatre teachers; no one teaches theatre in college for the money. They teach for the passion, and you will learn so much regardless of the program you go to.

Of course, there are theatre programs that fully cover tuition and sometimes living expenses. Yale just recently joined the list quite famously, but there are others.

4) There’s a misconception that any aspiring theatre performer must wait tables (or some similar job) before they get their shot. This is nonsense. There is a rich history of corporate success with a theatre degree. We know many successful sales people with a background in theatre, for example.

Don’t want to work in an office 9-5 because you want to audition? Since the pandemic, most jobs, even NYC based jobs, have at least certain days of the week where you can work from home and have more time for your theatre passions instead commuting to work.

5) Still don’t want to work for a corporation while working toward your dream theatre job? Great, work for yourself. It’s never been easier. Most colleges have entrepreneurship classes, and there’s nothing stopping any college student from taking theatre and business classes to better support yourself while you find your dream job.

Does all this sound too easy? Of course! Words are always easier to read than to execute in real life. America always makes it harder to pursue a life in the arts than it does in other professions, but the path is there.

The country needs the arts more than ever, and don’t count on taxpayer funded tuition anytime soon. Go get your passion, and don’t let anything stand in your way.