Christina Hendricks, Lamman Rucker, and Tina Fey are just a few of many famous performers who had their start in an acting club. While the name might make you think of tween-aged theater kids, drama clubs are beneficial for actors of all ages and stages. Let’s explore the ways these groups can expand your network, refine your skills, and unlock your potential.
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A drama club is a gathering of actors striving to meet like-minded students or aspiring professionals, hone their skills, rehearse, and (hopefully) put on a killer show. Drama clubs come in three major forms:
- Production groups focus on auditions, rehearsals, licensing, stage management, and other technical elements. They manage consistent seasonal productions and have a recurring troupe, which helps prepare their actors for the hustle and bustle of the professional industry lifestyle.
- Community organizations are often found in areas where larger productions are unavailable. They put on event-based and small-scale shows and strive to create a support system for artists in the area.
- Educational programs offered by schools and community arts centers take a more technical approach to help young performers develop acting and social skills. These may also serve as a reentry point for a rusty performer.
How to Become an Actor Theater clubs offer the following opportunities for thespians and crew:
- A chance to collaborate through shared knowledge and growth with your peers.
- The development of leadership skills such as juggling deadlines, managing resources, and coordinating people and performances.
- Opportunities to brush up on your acting chops, such as learning how to memorize lines, interpreting character prompts, and analyzing scripts.
- Auditioning help that provides direction on understanding what directors and producers look for during first impressions.
- Growth of technical skills for aspiring crew members, who can learn how to operate lights and audio systems, design sets, create costumes, and do all the other behind-the-scenes activities that create onstage magic.
If you’re an adult looking for a drama club, try checking out:
- Community theaters such as L.A.’s Center Theatre Group
- Playhouses like the NYC’s Public Theater
- Meetup groups that fall under the theater and drama banner, both virtual and in-person
- Library performance annexes like the San Diego public library’s IDEA Lab
- Cultural centers such as Austin’s Long Center
- Colleges and universities such as the University of Chicago, which offers more than 60 student performance groups
If there isn’t already a local group or theater company that suits your needs, follow these steps to set up a drama club.
1. Find members and a meeting place.
Every club needs members, so reach out to your friends, students, and colleagues. Depending on your intended club type and vibe, you may also want to post about it on social media to generate hype. If your club isn’t established by an organization (such as a school), reach out to your local community centers, performing arts spaces, and museums to see if they can help you land a meeting place. You can even hold club get-togethers in a public park if you struggle to find an indoor location.
2. Understand your goal.
Determine your focus and goal before launching into the first meeting. Do you want to create a place to produce plays? Do you hope to host workshops and provide resources to your community? Do you simply want to have fun? Take some time, converse with starting members, and create a game plan of what you want your club to be.
3. Determine roles, resources, and funding.
Once you’ve built up your foundation of members and know what plays and works you have access to, it’s time to start delegating. Discuss admin roles such as club president, secretary, and treasurer, as well as production roles such as stage manager, audio engineer, and director. When it comes time to finance your club and its productions, try community fundraisers, crowdfunding, performing arts grants, and (of course!) ticket sales.
4. Learn licensing and public domain use.
If your goal is to host productions and create a continual flow of shows, knowing your way around play licensing and use of the public domain will be a major plus. If you’re working through a school, find out if it already has agreements. If you don’t have any licensing agreements, a great place to start is public domain—a major reason nearly every city has a Shakespeare in the Park event.
5. Plan it out.
Now it’s on you and your team to create a budget, distribute funds, and plan your next steps. This might include hiring acting teachers and directors, setting aside money to rent a venue, assigning roles, and starting rehearsals.
6. Keep it up!
The last step is to plan for longevity by maintaining interest and encouraging community involvement. It’s vital to keep an open dialogue with club members to ensure all voices are heard. Remember: Drama clubs are meant to be enjoyable, so let loose and have fun!