Career & Postgraduate Opportunities

Take the knowledge and skills you gained in the department of Theatre and Dance and begin a career in theatre. As a graduate of Hamline's Theatre and Dance program, you enter a vast network of Hamline Theatre alumni across the country.

Hamline grads are working in...

Career Development

All current students and alumni can take advantage of the Career Development Center (CDC). Explore, prepare for, and make successful transitions to life after Hamline with the assistance of the CDC's vast network of counselors and working professionals.

Learn more about turning your major into a career that fits you best »

After Graduation

For some people a graduate degree is a part of their career plan. The process of considering graduate programs and selecting a graduate school usually begins in the fall of the senior year. Many students will want to consider doing the University and Resident Theatre Auditions (URTA).

Besides work as performers or technicians in live theatre, people trained in the performing arts find satisfying careers as media managers for advertising agencies, speech writers, arts managers, facilities managers, special event planners, grant writers, community development planners and producers. Television, film and the growing digital media industry also provide a number of specialized careers and work opportunities.

There are a number of different ways to find jobs in the performing arts. You can begin your search online on sites that provide information about publicly posted jobs such as Playbill On Line Jobs. In addition to these resources, some organizations send inquiries to the theatre, these will be posted in the Design Classroom (tech positions) or on the Callboard.

Noteworthy Alumni

Jeff Freeland Nelson
BA Theatre Arts and English, '94

Jeff began his career as technical director at the Minnesota Children’s Museum. Later, he was appointed director of cultural development for the City of Saint Paul and managing director of McNally Smith College. Jeff was the founder and executive director of the Saint Paul Arts & Culture Partnership, a collaboration of 40 regional arts organizations. He founded his company YOXO in 2011, and now sells  sustainable building materials for children, his own invention of the same name.

Derek Johnson
BA Theatre Arts, '03

Derek works as a producer for Mirada Studios in Los Angeles, California. Over the years, he has worked on a variety of projects including the movie Pacific Rim and music videos like Katy Perry’s "Roar" and "Dark Horse." Recently, the "Safe and Sound" music video Derek post-produced for Capital Cities won the 2013 MTV Video Music Award for best visual effects.