God, When Will We Get It?: Addressing Access Inequities in Theatre-Based Career Pathways in Public Education

Author: Rachel Erazo

Publication Date: April 19th, 2026

Institution: Sanford School of Education, National University

Course: ED-6600 v2: MEd-EDL Capstone (6878446152)

ABSTRACT: When people think about theatre and entertainment, the conversation usually defaults to Broadway or film—fields associated with inconsistent income and an oversaturated pool of performers. That narrative is not wrong; it is incomplete. It overlooks the technical and managerial side of the industry: lighting designers and technicians; sound engineers and board operators; costumers and wigmakers; stage managers and production managers; fly system operators, and more. Each of these roles offers structured, trackable career pathways, yet schools rarely frame them for students that way.

Because of that gap in framing, a disconnect forms between what theatre education offers and how school systems understand it. Educators may recognize the value, but without alignment at the leadership level, programs remain siloed. In turn, students—particularly those in Title I schools—experience limited access to industry-aligned learning opportunities, modern technical tools, and inclusive performance spaces.