Center Theatre Group is hosting the Going Pro Career Fair on April 17 to help students interested in a career in the arts. (photo courtesy of Center Theatre Group)

Center Theatre Group is inviting theater students and early-career professionals to participate in an upcoming daylong virtual event meant to prepare students and emerging professionals for a career in the arts.

The Going Pro Career Fair will run from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 17. The event is free to the public but reservations are required.

The Going Pro Career Fair is an annual event featuring a full day of free career preparation, mentorship and networking, designed to prepare students to step directly from higher education into a rewarding career in live theatre and entertainment and provide early-career artists with the tools they need to grow within their chosen profession.

Sessions will focus on how the events of the past year have impacted theatre artists, how students and emerging professionals can prepare to jump into the field as live theater returns and how to demand and create change. Including representatives from Backstage, Stage Management Association, Dramatists Guild of America, Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild Local 706 and Actors Equity as well as other unions and service organizations, the event will mix live, interactive content with pre-recorded sessions available for viewing at any time.

The fair is open to current college and graduate students, early-career individuals and college, university and trade tech educators.

Through April 12, registration is open exclusively to students attending a college or university in California, educators currently teaching at college or university in California and early-career individuals, based in California and intending to pursue a career in theatre and live entertainment. Reservations will be opened to others if space remains.

For reservations or more information, visit ctgla.org/goingpro.

Center Theatre Group previously held the College and Career Fair for the Arts on Saturday, March 20. Pre-recorded sessions from the annual event will remain accessible throughout the year.

For information, visit ctla.org.