THTR 3701 - Professional Preparation
Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section 01, CRN 43858,
Credit hours: 3
Course Meeting Times
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Instructor
Todd Dicken
Email: twdicken@ysu.edu
Course Description
3701. Professional Preparation. Preparation for careers in the theatre industry through lecture and discussion addressing business concerns for the theatre professional. Course content covers contracts, taxes, marketing and social media, resumes, e-portfolios, auditioning/interviewing, representation, unions, and general industry legal considerations. Prereq.: Junior standing as theatre major. 3 s.h.
Course Readings
| Group | Title | Author | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Optional | The Profitable Artist: A Handbook For All Artists IN The Performing, Literary, and Visual Arts | New York Foundation for the Arts (Editors: Cobb, Hogan and Royce) | 978-1-6253-642-0 |
The course readings are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, research developments, current events, and/or to ensure better learning.
Assignments/Assessments
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Schedule of Topics and Assignments
| Day | Date | Proposed Topic | Due/To Prepare for Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tue | 8/25 | Intro., Syllabus, USITT, ACTF, Summer Entertainment Industry. | |
| Thu | 8/27 | Project 1: Potential Employment Opportunities List | |
| Tue | 9/1 | Planning and Strategies: "SWOT" & "The Business" | |
| Thu | 9/3 | Seasonal & Regional Theaters (LORT) | |
| Tue | 9/8 | Legal Issues: Intellectual Properties. | |
| Thu | 9/10 | Legal Issues: Liability | |
| Tue | 9/15 | Contracts. Actor's Equity. | |
| Thu | 9/17 | United Scenic Artists | |
| Tue | 9/22 | Business Entities | |
| Thu | 9/24 | "Is Disney hiring?" | |
| Tue | 9/29 | Budgets and Payments: Hourly, Salary, Contractually | |
| Thu | 10/1 | Project 2: Personal Budgets | |
| Tue | 10/6 | Financial Terminology: Death & Taxes! | |
| Thu | 10/8 | Project 3: Personal Taxes. 1099 Form. | |
| Tue | 10/13 | Personal Finance and Savings. | |
| Thu | 10/15 | Project 4: Groceries, Rent, Utilities. | |
| Tue | 10/20 | Commercial Work ("Bread & Butter!") | |
| Thu | 10/22 | Project 5: Create Your Own "Farkle Narb" Commercial | |
| Tue | 10/27 | Managing Your $$$. Emergency Prep. Savings. | |
| Thu | 10/29 | Health and Auto Insurance | |
| Tue | 11/3 | Marketing, Resumes, Portfolios | |
| Thu | 11/5 | Resumes & Portfolios, cont. | |
| Tue | 11/10 | Marketing Tools & Resources, Resume Updates cont. | |
| Thu | 11/12 | Project 6: Updated Resumes. | |
| Tue | 11/17 | Pricing Your Art. | |
| Thu | 11/19 | Paying for Your Art. | |
| Tue | 11/24 | Where are the jobs? Where to search? | |
| Thu | 11/26 | YSU Closed. | |
| Tue | 12/1 | Putting It All Together. (The Five-Year Plan) | |
| Thu | 12/3 | Project 7: The Five-Year Plan | |
| Thu | 12/10 | Final Exam Presentation: The Five Year Plan. |
The course schedule, policies, procedures, and assignments in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, by mutual agreement, and/or to ensure better learning.