![7 Theatre Resume Examples [& Templates]](https://beamjobs.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/theatre-resume.png)
Whether you want to be a community performer, work backstage with lights and sound, or make it as a professional actor, there are many ways to apply your skills and ambition to the world of theatre.
However, landing a job in this industry isn’t easy. Acting roles are increasingly subjective, and with so many vying for the same role, it’s tough to get hiring managers to notice you among the crowd. That’s why you need a polished, professional resume and a cover letter generator based on the job description to put you in the spotlight.
Creating a stunning theatre resume is easier than you think. Our seven theatre resume samples and writing advice will help you land your next theatre job in 2025. Lights, camera, action!
Why this resume works
- Theatre resumes need to catch the eye of directors, which means your resume needs to be aesthetically pleasing and comprehensive. How do you do that? By formatting your resume according to theatre standards.
- Typical resumes use bulleted paragraphs to list work experience, but your credentials need to be in a sentence format. Make sure you include the show’s title, your role, where you performed, and the director (if their name is known among theatre circles).
- Your contact information will also be different, as you need to include your height, weight, vocal type, and vocal range in addition to your email and phone number.
- Being an actor doesn’t require a degree, but if you do have formal theatre education or certifications, list them in your education or training sections. You can also include awards, classes, or workshops—any education you’ve had regarding theatre is worth including on your theatre resume.
Why this resume works
- Writing your resume can feel like a challenge, so start by listing your most relevant roles. Then mull over the skills your future director might like, and what additional certifications or qualifications you can include.
- You can also list any memberships you have, which can help if your director or producer recognizes your affiliation.
- Your musical theatre resume doesn’t have to be boring! Including a pop of color, different fonts, and other formatting elements can help your resume look beautiful and get you noticed.
See more musical theatre resumes >
Why this resume works
- Notice that a technical theatre resume can be formatted differently than a performer resume. Performer resumes focus on individual roles, while a technical theatre resume focuses on responsibilities you undertook at your job.
- This kind of resume requires more detail for each position, so focus on three to four tasks or achievements you completed during each position, especially if you can pair them with numbers.
- If you have the space, we’d recommend adding a resume summary (also called a career summary). A resume summary allows you to show your skills and experience in two to three sentences, which is crucial in the fast-paced world of theatre.
See more technical theatre resumes >
Why this resume works
- While showcasing your past works and audience numbers are a great way to start off your theatre director resume, there’s yet another secret to making your piece a favorite among recruiters. How?
- Adding a section of special skills underscores your versatility and the overall value you’ll add to projects and the entire cast.
Why this resume works
- Structuring your professional theatre resume may appear difficult, but it’s not much different than a normal theatre resume.
- Start by putting your experience in reverse-chronological order. Don’t include every show or role, though; only include the credits that apply to the role you’re seeking.
- With a few years or more of experience in professional theatre, you’re bound to have many skills for your resume’s skills section, but make sure you limit them to the ones directors will want to see.
- Focus on specific acting techniques, sports, or unique abilities that make you different from other performers.
- For example, while juggling or hula hooping isn’t standard resume fare, they’re both fair game for a theatre resume! Just make sure you’re able to demonstrate mastery over those skills in case directors want to see them.
Why this resume works
- Formatting your theatre actor resume to give prominence to your stage experiences makes it easy for potential employers to pick your strengths. But that won’t get your dream acting contract.
- Keep pulling more surprises by listing your awards (hint: best actor, most versatile performer, best-supporting actor, etc.), starting with the most recent one.
Why this resume works
- Your community theatre resume is often the first impression a potential employer has of you (unless you’ve worked with that company before). Your resume and theatre cover letter are considered the most crucial steps taken during a job search, so make sure they’re completely error-free.
- Get a free resume review to ensure your resume is free of any typos, grammar inconsistencies, or punctuation errors.
- Even if you haven’t done many shows, you can include other experience, such as TV shows, films, voiceovers, or audiobook narration. Anything that includes acting, singing, or dancing can be an asset.
How to Write a Theatre Resume
Summary
Showcase performance impact, specialized skills, and training in a theatre resume that captures casting directors’ attention and secures roles.
Are you eyeing a role on stage or behind the curtains? Whatever you’re in for, your theatre resume must show how serious you want it. How? Tell a story of performances and accomplishments no director would say no to.
When you write your resume, consider it a direct pitch to theatre managers and producers. Showcase a side of you that will captivate audiences, and you’ll score the ticket to your dream job.
In this section, we show you how to write a theatre resume that gets you on the stage and resume examples you can review to step forward confidently in this sector, often running through the cut-throat competition.
Share contact information
The casting director will want to contact you. Share the details clearly and professionally so that they can spot it at a glance.
Example
James Carter
(123) 456-7890
New York, NY
LinkedIn (If relevant)
Instagram (If relevant)
Portfolio (if you have one)
Start with a profile summary
Your profile is what casting directors will see fast. Make them want more about you by keeping it concise, punchy, and impactful.
Career objective vs. resume summary
- Career objective: Ideal for beginners or recent grads. Here, share your goals, passion, and transferable skills.
- Resume summaries are best for experienced candidates. They summarize your achievements, skills, experience, and artistic vision.
Career objective example (Entry-level)
Budding actor with strong ensemble experience from NYU Tisch productions and student-directed showcases. Eager to bring a dynamic and strong stage presence to Roundabout Theatre Company’s 2025 season. Skilled in movement, improvisation, and vocal performance.
Resume summary example (Experienced)
Versatile stage actor with 5+ years in regional and off-Broadway productions. Known for emotionally layered performances and strong comedic timing. Played lead roles in three award-winning plays, with performances drawing 5-star reviews and 28% increase in ticket sales. Committed to storytelling that captivates and challenges audiences.
Showcase impact-driven performance experience
Focus on your impactful achievements and not duties—talk about what you did, the results, review scores, and special recognitions.
See what we mean:
- Lady Macbeth – Macbeth, Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey (2023)
- Delivered 17 sold-out performances; praised by BroadwayWorld for “commanding stage presence.”
- Stage Manager – RENT, Emerson Stage (2022)
- Managed 25+ cast and crew, ensuring zero missed cues during a 12-show run.
- Props Designer – The Crucible, Goodman Theatre, Chicago (2021)
- Created era-authentic props that were later featured in American Theatre Magazine.
Demonstrate special skills
Whether it’s dialects, acrobatics, or backstage expertise—this section can make or break your audition invite. So, make it irresistible by packing it with in-demand skills for the role you’re applying for.
Top skills for a theatre resume:
- Stage combat (hand-to-hand, rapier)
- Dialects (British RP, Southern U.S., and Cockney)
- Singing (Mezzo-Soprano)
- Improvisation
- Dance (jazz, ballet, contemporary)
- Puppetry
- Script analysis
- Musical instruments (guitar, piano)
- American Sign Language (ASL)
- Technical theatre (soundboard, lighting rigging)
Don’t lie—skills are tested in callbacks.
Include education and training
Your theatre-themed education will add an edge to your application. Be it a degree, workshop, or masterclass, add the title here with the institution’s name, location, and graduation year.
Example
BFA Theatre Performance
Boston University College of Fine Arts
Boston, MA
2018-2022
Trained in classical theatre, voice, movement, and on-camera performance
Additional training:
Meisner Technique – HB Studio, NYC (2023)
Viewpoints Movement Intensive – SITI Company Workshop (2022).
Awards and Honors
Any recognition adds credibility. Mention the award name, organization, and year.
Examples:
- Irene Ryan Acting Nominee – Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, 2022
- Best Supporting Actress – New York City Fringe Festival, 2023
- Equity Showcase Performance Mention – Backstage Magazine, 2024
Other sections to add (Optional)
Depending on your career path, these extra sections can add more weight to your resume:
- Union Memberships: e.g., AEA, SAG-AFTRA (if applicable)
- Languages: Great for multilingual productions
- Reels or Portfolio Links: Include if you have recorded performances
- Volunteer Work: Teaching, community theatre, outreach
- Technical Credits: For hybrid actor/tech roles
Theatre Resume FAQs
It’s brief about your acting or production experience, skills, education, and training relevant to the role you’re applying for. It should be concise, results-driven, and compelling enough to make casting directors or producers want you in their projects.
A solid theatre resume should include the following:
✅Contact information
✅A profile summary or career objective
✅Theatre experience (roles, companies, years)
✅Education and training
✅Special skills
✅Awards or honors
✅Optional extras include unions, languages, or social media links.
List your performances, acts, and projects in reverse chronological order. For each experience, include your role, the play’s name, the theatre/company, the city, and the year. Follow with several bullet points showing your achievements. Focus on impact—sold-out shows, top reviews, leadership during production, or skills used under high-pressure situations.
Stephen is the co-founder and CEO of BeamJobs. He started his career in data fulfilling the dream of little kids everywhere: working for an insurance company. He then moved on to work in edtech for a company called Chegg before venturing out to start BeamJobs. Things have come a long way after countless “learnings” (fancy word for mistakes), and BeamJobs has now helped 2.5M+ people create their perfect resume. Stephen and BeamJobs have been featured on awesome sites like Business Insider, Chicago Tribune, Dallas News, Baltimore Sun, the Daily Press, Zendesk, HubSpot, and loads more.
