Theatre

Shine in Live Theatre Production

Explore the creative evolution of theatrics

You’ve been involved in the theatre since you dressed your stuffed animals, set the lights and staged a live production in your living room. With an introduction to design concepts, character analysis and costume design, the A.A. in Technical Theatre gives you the foundation to make this pastime a career.

Your transfer degree explores the multifaceted world of theatre through hands-on play production and classroom lectures from trained professors. Take the imagination you had as a child to the CLC stage. Study today to work in professional or community theatre groups in the future.

State-of-the-art facilities

Take your talent to the stage at the James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts (JLC) located on campus. The JLC features three modern performance spaces poised to showcase professional touring events and concerts, as well as our student music, dance and theatre performances and productions.

Highlights

Financial Aid/Scholarships Available

Based on need and/or achievement. Explore ways to pay for college.
Transfer Degree

Save on your first 2 years and transfer your credits to the 4-year school of your choice.
Program Length: 2 Years

Full-time students finish in 2 years.

Career Outlook

Select, fit, and take care of costumes for cast members, and aid entertainers. May assist with multiple costume changes during performances.
- Salary Levels
  
  Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $32,786
  
  Median
  
  $44,901
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $75,013
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $15.76
  
  Median
  
  $21.58
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $36.06
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Top entry-level education
  
  Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
  
  High school diploma or less
  
  42.63%
  
  Certificate
  
  7.52%
  
  Some college
  
  14.85%
  
  Associate Degree
  
  3.86%
  
  Bachelor's Degree
  
  29.6%
  
  Master's Degree
  
  1.54%
  
  Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
Apply makeup to performers to reflect period, setting, and situation of their role.
- Salary Levels
  
  Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $24,444
  
  Median
  
  $60,932
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $248,005
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $11.74
  
  Median
  
  $29.29
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $119.23
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Top entry-level education
  
  Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
  
  High school diploma or less
  
  26.09%
  
  Certificate
  
  43.48%
  
  Some college
  
  13.04%
  
  Associate Degree
  
  4.35%
  
  Bachelor's Degree
  
  13.04%
  
  Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
Coordinate activities of technical departments, such as taping, editing, engineering, and maintenance, to produce radio or television programs.
- Salary Levels
  
  Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $37,606
  
  Median
  
  $76,274
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $181,771
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $18.07
  
  Median
  
  $36.66
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $87.39
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Top entry-level education
  
  Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
  
  High school diploma or less
  
  4.17%
  
  Certificate
  
  1.49%
  
  Some college
  
  0.42%
  
  Associate Degree
  
  1.43%
  
  Bachelor's Degree
  
  92.07%
  
  Master's Degree
  
  0.42%
  
  Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
Produce or direct stage, television, radio, video, or film productions for entertainment, information, or instruction. Responsible for creative decisions, such as interpretation of script, choice of actors or guests, set design, sound, special effects, and choreography.
- Salary Levels
  
  Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $37,606
  
  Median
  
  $76,274
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $181,771
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $18.07
  
  Median
  
  $36.66
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $87.39
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Top entry-level education
  
  Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
  
  High school diploma or less
  
  15.22%
  
  Certificate
  
  10.58%
  
  Some college
  
  4.61%
  
  Associate Degree
  
  12.89%
  
  Bachelor's Degree
  
  56.67%
  
  Master's Degree
  
  0.04%
  
  Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
Design special exhibits and sets for film, video, television, and theater productions. May study scripts, confer with directors, and conduct research to determine appropriate architectural styles.
- Salary Levels
  
  Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $26,430
  
  Median
  
  $47,852
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $114,295
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $12.70
  
  Median
  
  $23.00
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $54.94
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Top entry-level education
  
  Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
  
  Some college
  
  9.52%
  
  Associate Degree
  
  4.76%
  
  Bachelor's Degree
  
  33.33%
  
  Master's Degree
  
  47.61%
  
  Doctorate
  
  4.76%
  
  Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).
Assemble and operate equipment to record, synchronize, mix, edit, or reproduce sound, including music, voices, or sound effects, for theater, video, film, television, podcasts, sporting events, and other productions.
- Salary Levels
  
  Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $33,251
  
  Median
  
  $48,799
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $155,443
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
  
  Entry-Level
  
  $15.98
  
  Median
  
  $23.45
  
  Senior-Level
  
  $74.73
  
  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.
- Top entry-level education
  
  Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.
  
  High school diploma or less
  
  37.04%
  
  Certificate
  
  11.11%
  
  Some college
  
  7.41%
  
  Associate Degree
  
  22.22%
  
  Bachelor's Degree
  
  22.22%
  
  Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).

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Need help?

Your College & Career Navigator (CCN) is your "go-to person" ready to help you get started at CLC.

Your CCN guides you through the admission process, helps you choose your academic program, enroll in classes and connect you with resources.

Talk to a CCN

Recommended Pathway

Students are strongly encouraged to meet with their College and Career Navigator (CCN) to identify coursework that will meet degree requirements based on individual academic goals. View degree requirements in the college catalog.

View program in catalog

*Cost is estimated based on recommended pathway credit hours. This includes in-district tuition and other fees, such as books and materials before financial aid is applied, as well as grants, loans or scholarships. There are many opportunities for financial assistance at CLC. Learn more about Cost of Attendance.

Learn how CLC helps you transfer

Explore transfer options

Start at CLC and continue with a 4-year school to earn your bachelor's degree. CLC has partnerships with many colleges and universities, covering a wide range of programs.

Our Guaranteed Transfer Partnerships (GTAs) with a select number of schools guarantee admission to students who meet specific criteria.

Theatre at CLC: Get the bigger picture

This transfer degree is just one possible way to study Theatre. Get the bigger picture—degrees, credentials and extra options.

View the Theatre program overview

Frequently asked questions

CLC’s Theatre Department presents five fully mounted productions each year, including one children’s production in the fall and a musical in the summer. Each season is carefully chosen to showcase the best classical and contemporary plays in a variety of theatrical genres and styles.
With smaller class sizes and less competition from seniors, you can step into the spotlight with senior-level performance roles—during your freshman and sophomore years. You gain advanced knowledge and experience, placing you in the spotlight of students regularly recruited by a few four-year schools.
You have the choice of two hands-on production crew experiences with the A.A. in Technical Theatre: Theatre Practicum or Theatre Practicum II. Learn your craft via a smaller acting actor role or in-depth, supervised technical work.
Theatre courses are approved for a seamless transfer to Illinois colleges and universities under the Illinois Articulation Initiative. Here are some great options:
- Complete your bachelor's degree in Lake County: Continue your education online or in person at the Grayslake Campus through the University Center of Lake County.
- Guaranteed transfer admission: Seamlessly transfer to 30+ 4-year partners and get admitted to your transfer school in your first semester at CLC.
- Explore the many more transfer options available.
Yes. There’s a distinct advantage to earning your associate degree—a 30% advantage. The Brookings Institution reports that employees with associate degrees earn 30% more on average than those with high school diplomas. Over a lifetime, the earnings of an associate degree recipient are roughly $170,000 higher than those of a high school graduate.
Yes! Researchers have looked at how community college students fare after transferring. The biggest marker for success? Finishing your associate degree before transferring. In fact, those students seem to do better at the 4-year than students who started at the 4-year.

Take the next step...

Be debt-free at CLC

CLC has some of the lowest tuition around. Financial aid and scholarships are available—even for working adults.

Paying for college

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Start today!

Shine in Live Theatre Production

Explore the creative evolution of theatrics

State-of-the-art facilities

Highlights

Financial Aid/Scholarships Available

Transfer Degree

Program Length: 2 Years

Career Outlook

Costume Attendants

Salary Levels

Top entry-level education

Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance

Salary Levels

Top entry-level education

Media Technical Directors/Managers

Salary Levels

Top entry-level education

Producers and Directors

Salary Levels

Top entry-level education

Set and Exhibit Designers

Salary Levels

Top entry-level education

Sound Engineering Technicians

Salary Levels

Top entry-level education

Need help?

Recommended Pathway

Learn how CLC helps you transfer

Theatre at CLC: Get the bigger picture

Frequently asked questions

Why study technical theatre at CLC?

Will I design a play?

What is the best way to get my bachelor's degree?

Is an A.A. worth it?

Does an A.A. matter if I’m going for my bachelor’s?

Take the next step...

Be debt-free at CLC

Explore careers

Request info

Get started