Musical Theatre Audition Guidelines
Conservatory for the Performing Arts
Musical Theatre Audition
Please review the helpful hints for auditioning provided by the Musical Theatre Common Prescreen.
If you apply to the BFA in Musical Theatre, you will automatically be considered for the BFA in Acting, you only need to submit one audition.
Required: Songs
Prepare two pieces:
- One musical theater song from any time period.
- One song of your choice from any time period and in any style that best suits you (musical theater, pop, hip-hop, folk, rock, rap, soul, country, punk, etc.).
- The songs should be contrasting styles.
- Each song file should be 60-90 seconds; please do not upload media files longer than 90 seconds.
- Students must sing to musical accompaniment, which could include live or pre-recorded accompaniment. No “a cappella” singing (meaning singing without music).
- One of the two songs (student’s choice) should be filmed in a full frame shot (top of the head to the floor should be visible in the frame) to see your full range of expression, and the other one in a close-up shot (top of the head to the chest should be visible in the frame).
Required: Monologue
Prepare one contemporary monologue:
- Monologues must be from a published play.
- Monologues cannot be from musicals.
- Monologue files should be 60-90 seconds (this time limit includes the slate at the beginning of the piece and is strictly adhered to; please do not upload media files longer than 90 seconds).
- Contemporary monologues are typically written after 1950.
- Monologues should be filmed in a “close -up” shot which means the top of the head to the chest should be visible in the frame.
Required: Dance
The Conservatory requires a dance submission to be considered for the Musical Theatre BFA.
- Show us your best version of dancing or moving.
- Please include at least one turn, one jump and one kick (or other suitable rotation, elevation, and extension that works for your body).
- All dance media should be filmed in a “full body” shot showing the entire body in the frame at all times.
- Make sure you can execute all the choreography well. It is to your advantage to choose steps and movement that highlight your strengths instead of your weaknesses.
- You may use recent videos of you from a show or concert, but it must just be you in the frame.
- Dance sample should be in whatever dance discipline you feel most confident. This may include, but is not limited to jazz, ballet, tap, modern, hip hop, lyrical, contemporary, or dance styles beyond American and Euro-western styles.
- Dance media can be “self-choreographed”, but it must be a solo video of you. This can include a show, competition, or other performance so long as you are clearly featured on your own.
- Please use steps, movement, and physical vocabulary that you are familiar with and can execute well. Fully move your body to the best of your ability.
- To assist applicants with the dance prescreen, several institutions provided the following resource videos for applicants who do not have access to a choreographed combo for the prescreen process. You may submit this choreography (or a combination of it) to any of the schools you are applying to that ask for a dance prescreen. This list will be updated as more institutions share resources, so be sure to check back.
Required: Wild Card
The Conservatory requires a Wild Card for Acting and Musical Theatre:
- Submissions should be no more than 60 seconds.
- Applicants do not need to slate in any wild card media.
- This media can be ANYTHING you want – a special skill, an interesting story about yourself, a passion speech, an instrument you play, etc. “What do you want us to know about you?” and “What makes you unique?”
Required: Statement of Purpose
In addition, the Conservatory requires a Statement of Purpose.
- In the “Application Portfolio” section, please upload a short essay describing where you see yourself in 10 years and why you want to pursue a career on stage/screen.
For questions about audition requirements or submission process, please contact performingarts@stephens.edu and we will be happy to help you!