Actress Fariba Khatami

As stars of both stage and screen know all too well, they are never more exposed than when performing on stage. The power of theatre lies in its capacity to connect the audience directly with the onstage actors through a single shared experience. Success here can make or break an actor’s reputation. While earning a degree may help you develop your craft and prepare you for a career as a working actor, there is more than one way to become successful in this role, and that’s part of what makes it so difficult. It’s a competitive field, where people face a lot of rejection, low paying work, and irregular scheduling. Education—in any form—pays off here, as even beginner actors are expected to know the industry basics, from auditioning to being in front of a camera.