Occupational Profiles

This group performs some or all of the following duties:
 

Actors and comedians

• Study and rehearse lines, gestures and expressions to interpret a role
• Portray roles in video or motion picture productions, television shows, theatre productions, radio dramas, commercials and other productions or perform the narration
• Sing or dance as required by specific roles
• Perform comedy acts in nightclubs alone or as members of comedy troupes
• Improvise a role.

Acting teachers

• Train students in interpretation of scripts, speech, movement, and dramatic theory
• Prepare acting students for specific auditions and performances.

Circus performers

• Perform a variety of acts intended to amaze, thrill, and engage audiences
• Conceptualize and choreograph original performances
• Study and perform acrobatic and aerial skills required by specific circus shows.
• May participate in the development of a director or ringmaster's vision

• Demonstrated ability, based on an audition or previous acting or circus roles, is an important hiring criteria.
• Circus performers and acrobats may require a period of study at a circus school.
• Acting programs are offered at universities, colleges and private acting schools.
• Acting teachers usually require experience as actors.
• Membership in a guild or union may be required.