Growing up, everyone had a favorite television character they wished they could be. Theatre majors get to act those characters out on stage or behind the camera. They can morph into a villain or an angel. Actors, designers, directors and technicians work together to entertain and educate. They give television and stage characters personality, design and build stage sets and costumes, and develop sound and lighting designs to create the "illusion of reality." 

UTtheatre majors have many opportunities to develop their talents, interests and career goals by combining a liberal arts degree with different options in theatre. Students can concentrate in performance, design and technology or theatre studies. In addition, theatre and film are combined in the same department, located in the Center for Performing Arts. The center has three flexible theatres, a recital hall, a box office, fully equipped costume and scene shops, a sound studio, computer labs, optical printing, 16mm film production facilities and non-linear digital video editing suites. These facilities are used to produce original work, hold public performances and much more. 

What to expect when you graduate 

Graduates can work in professional theatre, television, film and other fields of entertainment. They find jobs as actors, directors, technicians, designers, artistic directors, managing directors, stage managers, theme park consultants, event planners, dramaturges, producers, agents, business managers, company managers, teachers and playwrights. Many graduates also work in such fields as education, communication, advertising, public relations, manufacturing design, arts management, law, and medicine.

The saying "break a leg" comes from wishing that an actor will have to bend a knee (take a bow).