WEBSTER UNIVERSITY

PROGRAM OVERVIEW IN “THEIR WORDS”

The world is a stage for a graduate with a degree in Musical Theatre from Webster University. Our program is unique. Not only do students complete a four-year sequence in the Conservatory Acting Program, but they also complete an intensive sequence of courses in music and dance complemented by liberal arts courses that balance curriculum and provide a well-rounded education.

Year One is about discovery. Classes in acting, voice and speech, movement, stagecraft, text analysis and make-up are all designed to help you discover what it means to be an actor and establish the basis for a personal technique. Methods include centering and aligning, vocal production and phonetics, games, exercises, improvisation and scene study.

The second year of Conservatory is about exploration. Through work with highly contrasting styles of dramatic literature, the basic technique established during the first year is strengthened and stretched. Basic acting technique is extended through song study. Classes in yoga, neutral mask and physical characterization are added to the core of acting and voice and speech.

The third year of Conservatory is about application. The work in contrasting styles becomes even more ambitious. Skills acquired in the previous two years are applied to the various Broadway genres and to the completion of an audition book. Voice and movement classes develop even more specific skills in dialects, period movement and stage combat.

The fourth year of Conservatory is about refinement and looking toward the future. You’ll learn how to interview, audition and perform cold readings. Acting for the camera, commedia dell’arte and clown are investigated. Toward the end of the year, you’ll present yourself in a showcase in New York and Los Angeles for agents, producers and casting directors.

LOCATION

Webster Groves, MO

TRAINING APPROACH

Conservatory

DEGREES OFFERED

B.F.A. in Musical Theatre

SCHOOL SIZE

Small (<10k Students)

COST

30K-40K

PRE-SCREEN REQUIREMENTS

No

LIVE AUDITION REQUIREMENTS

On-campus, students will participate in special warmups given by members of the acting faculty. No advance preparation for this activity is needed. After the warmups the student will be asked to perform the audition pieces. The student may also be asked to do various exercises and improvisations at this time, and should be prepared to discuss his or her work on the audition pieces.

Two monologues of a contrasting nature

  • Not to exceed three minutes combined
  • Choose characters close to yourself in age from scripts written after 1930
  • Do not select Shakespeare or classical pieces.

Two songs of contrasting nature

  • Approximately 32 measures of music each to provide information on vocal quality and range
  • Choose at least one piece from the standard musical theatre literature, approximately from 1927 to 1968

Upon request ONLY, students may be requested to send a video of ballet, jazz and/or contemporary dance that is no longer than 1 minute in length. An additional 1 minute dance video hip-hop and/or tap is optional. 

AUDITION DATES & LOCATIONS

On-Campus

  • February 2, 2018
  • February 3, 2018
  • February 16, 2018
  • February 17, 2018
  • February 23, 2018

Off-campus

  • New York, New York- January 20-21, 2018
  • Galveston, Texas- January 25-26, 2018
  • Chicago, Illinois- February 5-8, 2018
  • Los Angeles, California- February 10-11, 2018
  • Atlanta, Georgia- February 11, 2018

PERFORMING ARTS SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE

A limited number of talent scholarships are available to qualified students

SENIOR SHOWCASE

Toward the end of the year, fourth-year students present themselves in a showcase in New York and Los Angeles for agents, producers, and casting directors.

FRESHMAN PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES

No

OUTSIDE PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES

Encouraged

DEPARTMENT CONTACT

Patti Baygents, Audition Coordinator
314-246-4216
1-800-753-6765
pbaygents80@webster.edu

Lara Teeter
Head of Musical Theatre
larateeter06@webster.edu

LINK TO MT HOMEPAGE

LINK TO ADMISSIONS PAGE

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