How do I build a theatre career in the middle of no where?

The smart artists (smartists) I have met have always been realistic about their careers and money. They always had a financial and artistic goal. Their financial goal was done with their day job. A lot of times, artists are able to do this while still doing advancing their artistic career. Maybe giving people acting classes to children and interested adults of the community. You know, those classes would come in hand for for the popular production that the town is going to have. The one and profited from by you. The artistic goal was done because of their day job. They were able to paint participate in projects that earned them credibility but definitely not any financial gains. So yeah, if you can hustle doing what you want, it'll finance the grinding you want to do. Good luck. And put on a production for the area that other townspeople will be able to participate in.

Also: apply for grants.

Making it as a theatre artist is hard no matter where you live. On the one hand if you happen to live in a place that has a couple of theatres where you become one of their regular people they work with, living in a rural place can actually work to your advantage. On the other hand if there's not much work to go around due to location, finding work is going to be extremely difficult. I'm in the entertainment business. And while I can't say exactly what I do, I can tell you that for me I had to be in either NY or LA. Times are changing and I will eventually be able to live other places as my career has become more established but I think you should seriously consider moving to a city that's more known for theatre. I know you say that your partner has a great job. So that certainly complicates things in terms of moving. If you really want to stay where you are I would suggest looking into the possibility of starting your own theatre group. If you can get things going and you become a well liked group, you may find it easier to produce plays and make money through your own endeavors. It's a tough business. But if you love it, please continue pursuing it no matter what.

I think from what I've seen in other AskMe questions, you really do have to go to one giant coastal city or the other for an acting career. But if you and the partner are totally set on this place, then I think you'll need to scale down your career goals, rely on a "day job" more than anything else if you can get one, etc. Hopefully of the sort that you can do online without having to be in a more public location. I totally think that you need to start your own theater group. If there's no business where you live, then bring some business there. I recently read a book called http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/075640682X/metafilter-20/ref=nosim/ that took place at a small summer theater in the middle of nowhere that I really liked. Now, admittedly the theater there has some advantages (*coughspoiler*magic*coughspoiler*) that you probably can't have, but at the very least, maybe you could try summer stock? I know you don't have the money, time, people, etc. to create your own, but we can't find/manufacture acting jobs for you in the sticks and you probably can't do them over the Internet. How are the artists in your area that have careers swinging that? Can you ask them? They probably know better than we do how to be artists in a small town.

Musicans jam over the internet; could theatre artists? (I confess I'm not sure what a theatre artist is; an actor, set designer, lighting designer, choreographer, director, all of the above? ) If actor, you could act several roles, similar to this ("One Man Disney Movie" by Nick Pitera) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zp1BYzIVi0U Some virtual environment like Second Life might offer some possibilities: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sdsKf3KkPE The more established artists in your area, ask them for resources, what should you watch, read. Start an improv group in your area? Advertise it; even if only 2 people respond... that may be the magical collaboration. And even if zero people respond, it may pay off weeks or months later somehow. Teach an acting class at the local library. Again, even if zero respond.... Teach a kids class.... Maybe one of the parents will come out of their shell, or knows someone.