How To Craft an Acting Resume

For Young Actors

"No one writes resumes like Gaston"

Whether you’re an experienced actor or auditioning for your very first show, a clear, concise, professional acting resume can help you make a strong impression and land the part.

The team behind the scenes at the Trafford Performing Arts Center shares what they look for in a resume, to help you choose what information to include and be prepared for success.

Personal Information

When it comes to personal information, you’ll want to include your full name and contact information, including an address, an email, and a phone number. Please make sure these are current and correct so we can get in touch with you!

It can also be helpful to include physical characteristics; specifically, what ages you can play, your height, and your hair color (if relevant for the role).

Relevant Experience

List previous acting roles in reverse chronological order, with your most recent experience first. You can include community theater roles, school plays and musicals, and any other acting or stage roles. We’d also love to hear about any volunteering you’ve done behind the scenes — if you’ve worked on stage crew or helped paint sets, feel free to share.

If you haven’t been a part of a show before, don’t worry — there are other experiences you can mention! Have you performed in a talent show or had a solo in a chorus concert? Have you given a speech for mock trial or sang the National Anthem at a sporting event? Anything that shows confidence, leadership, and enthusiasm can help us understand how you’d fit into a cast.

Education and Training

What school do you go to, and what grade are you in? Have you taken any band or chorus classes? Do you take voice lessons?

You can also include workshops that you’ve taken at the Trafford Performing Arts Center or other local theaters — let us know if we’ve worked with you before.

Special Skills

This is a great section to list other unique skill sets that might set you apart from the crowd. Things like ballet, tap, or gymnastics, juggling, dialects or accents you can do, or musical instruments you play are all great to include. Feel free to get creative — but be prepared to show off your talent when you get on the stage!

Formatting Tips

• Your resume should fit on a single page. You can adjust your margins or remove older experience if you run out of room.

• Use a clean and legible font, with clear sections.

• Always print and staple your resume to your headshot.