Theatre Major?

I recently finished my Freshman year of college. I need to declare a major after first semester Sophomore year and have absolutely no idea what I should choose. Mainly this because I have no clue what i want to do with my life. I have been involved in theatre since middle school and have always loved it more than anything else I do, i have acted and done stage crew for a number of plays and directed and taught children's theatre. It was a big part of my life but when i got to college I didn't plan to do it anymore because I know I'm not going to have a career involving theatre. First semester I didn't do any of it. But Second semester I was asked by someone who knew I had done theatre in the past if I would do stage crew for the musical, I did and loved the experience so much I decided to audition for the next main stage play and got cast, through connections at the school I also was a technical staff volunteer for another production done at a local theatre. I loved doing it so much and honestly being in those two plays were the only times I ever enjoyed being in college. My mother really thinks I should be a theatre major. I still don't plan on having a career in theatre but my mother is saying that I don't know what I want to do anyway and no matter what I major in I'll probably end up concentrating on something else in graduate school so i should just major in theatre, I'll have a BA from a liberal arts college and will have taken classes in philosophy, religion, english etc. in addition to the theatre. I am also thinking of minoring in education and taking the teacher certification course because I love working with children and so teaching might be something I'm interested in but I don't know. My dad claims that if I am just going to major in something to get a degree I should major in something like Philosophy, Classics or Psychology that will make me seem more intelligent on a transcript after I graduate.
Ultimately what I know I WANT to do is a theatre major, art minor. I am happy when i do those things, I enjoy them, I want to learn more about them. But i don't feel I have much talent at either, I don't know what i could do with a degree in theatre and a minor in art. I don't want to waste college. But also i hated my freshman year so much and the times I found peace and happiness while at school was while in my art class or working on plays. I am just really confused lately. Does anyone have any thoughts on any of this? Any other theatre majors out there?

I think you're doing really well with your thinking, Little Yellow! My stepson was into theatre in high school (lighting/set design too) and should have gone that way in college instead of trying to be like his dad, an engineer. He flunked out because he wasn't interested! But the good news is that when you get out of college, it really doesn't matter what you major in, unless you have the drive to be a doctor/lawyer/indian chief :-) or something specific like that.

Generally I think most people just sort of "happen" into their jobs and follow along wherever their Life's river is taking them. I majored in sociology but it was 1972 and a recession like now and too many social workers/government employees/teachers, etc. and women weren't yet into all the different jobs they are now and there weren't PCs or wide use of computers either. My grades weren't good enough for grad school and my self esteem was non-existent :-) so I got what job I could. . . Sears Roebuck :-)

My stepson is now an insurance broker with home and family and very happy and successful and I went on in life and it turned out I was good at computers and accounting, who knew? :-) If I had it to do again I probably would have stayed with my first love (history, I got a second BA in that just 2 years ago) and gotten a clue as to my interests a little earlier than I did but it all seems to come together in the long run if you keep hammering away at it and trying to be true to yourself.

Maybe you can take some engineering/architectural/electrical/wood working sorts of courses too that might come in handy in the "real" world getting a default job if need be? Drafting and design would certainly transfer to other, "useful" fields and you can remind your Dad that you'll be taking lots of "general" education courses as a requirement of your degree and will gladly keep your eyes open to see if any of them interest you more, and thank him for his concern

And, oh, I changed my major from history to sociology second semester of my junior year, with only one sociology course to my credit! Don't be afraid to change majors if you find theatre might not be your first love/choice!

How about...major in theatre with a double minor in education and art. Then possibly teach theatre and art to children. Thus combining all of your interests?

Yep - you can always combine or change majors. I started as a double theater/music major. Ended with a BS in liberal arts and a minor in music. It was too much for me to take on. But I did all the theater classes and was in the operas... you could always major in theater tech, too because that is very useful. The important thing is having the degree. The degree "means" more to our strange society (often - not always) and you can go further places once you have it. Ya know? hang in there, do the best you can.
I went running outta class one day, mad as all get out and crying - and the homeless guy walked past and said "Take it from me, stay in school". and kept walking. It took em 9 years to complege a 4 year degree - and now i am working on my Masters. you can do it!

Wow, littlespider you have a lot of things to consider. As a frog of little brain my suggestion would be to follow your heart. There are a so many choices even within theater and even art.

My daughter-in-law majored in communications which was a broader less confining choice for her. Her major worked with television and such. She had opportunities to learn the behind the scenes production as well as work in front of the camera. Right now she is a distribution manager for a company that has absolutely to do with her major.

My youngest son started performing at 6 and spent 12 years in the entertainment field. He did a little of everything (song, dance, act) but fell in love with technical theater (lighting, sound, sets/props). Upon graduation he became a nuclear tech.

The point is many times where you end up is not necessarily where you thought you were going. You might as well major/minor is those areas which you enjoy otherwise it is going to be a very long 3 years.

Good Luck

kebs