In short, none.
Yes, it’s true. You don’t need a B.A. or B.F.A. to be an actor. You certainly don’t need an M.F.A.
So why do so many people in the United States insist on getting their Bachelor’s before working as an actor? There are pros and cons to getting your acting degree, that’s why. Here are some of the things you need to consider before going to school for acting.
Some Directors Prefer a Degree (But Not All)
The key here is some. Generally, directors all agree that there is a difference between untrained and trained actors. Actors who haven’t been to formal training usually have a rawer edge to their performances. However, actors without formal training sometimes have better instincts: their instincts haven’t been groomed and replaced with acting techniques. Basically, trained actors are more “in their head” than untrained actors. Actors with formal training tend to come prepared with a list of acting techniques, tips, and tricks. Their auditions are polished. They have a long list of college productions under their belt. However, actors with the same training often perform the same. Their auditions can be a lot less memorable. However, some directors only accept formally trained actors because they tend to have more realistic expectations on the industry. They’ve also proven they’re reliable enough to graduate from an institution.
What Kind of Education Will You Receive at a Four-Year College?
It varies by the institution, of course. Some colleges start you out immediately in the theater program. Others have you concentrate more on your general education requirements for your first year before you train with the theater department. Think carefully about going to a theater department that doesn’t require an audition to get in. Actors are a dime a dozen. Auditioning departments tend to have a more respected program in the eyes of the theater community. Acting students generally start with some voice and movement classes before moving into Acting I type classes. Many schools have students do a full semester of foundation classes (voice, movement, and improv) before they do traditional acting work with scripts.