So your college kid is out of the house and has announced that he or she is majoring in theater.

Yikes! I'm sure you parents, with a bit of life under your belts, are thinking "Honestly! Computers, genetic research, teaching; anything would be better than theater. Please pick something where you can earn a living."

Perhaps it's part fear that they'll suffer, starving, for years in a difficult business; perhaps you're worried you'll have an unemployed actor sleeping on your couch for years. Both are understandable.

I ran into a friend this week who told me his son is fascinated by the technical side of theater. The set changes, lighting, special effects. "He wanted to major in it. and I told him 'Nah … Theater is a hobby. Go get yourself an engineering degree.' So he did."

While he'll never regret having an engineering degree, I walked away sad that (1) theater may have just lost a brilliant set designer (who can make pretty good money) and (2) he was discouraged from chasing a dream.

Here are a couple of thoughts to ease a worried parent's mind.

Although the dream is always to see a name in lights on Broadway, and those spots are few and far between, there actually is a lot of work to be had in very reputable regional theater companies around the country.

Some are solid seasonal employment, such as the many summer Shakespearean festivals. Others, like our own Pioneer Theatre Company, or the Denver Centre of the Performing Arts have full seasons and hire professional actors throughout their seasons.

Take Utah Shakespearean Festival favorite Brian Vaughn, for example. Not only is he able to spend his summers in lovely Cedar City, he spends the rest of his year as a resident actor in Milwaukee.

I can't speak for Vaughn, and I'm sure there are moments he wished he had an engineering degree, but don't we all at times?

Yes, it's tough. And it's a transient life. But there are perks to that, too. Your actor will be able to see different parts of the country and will have just as many friends to show for it.

At the very least, he or she may end up with the skills to teach, to run a community theater, to act on the side or to direct. And, you really don't want to be blamed when your adult child to see a professional show and think, "I coulda been a contender."

So, try not to look too panicked and don't discourage them. The average college freshman changes his or her mind and major — daily. It could be a phase. But it could be the beginning of a good solid career filled with applause and standing ovations … and that could be worth as much as the engineering degree, to them.

The Great White Way