The program is a conservatory training course within a university setting offering students a four-year, sequence-based program leading to a B.F.A. in Drama.

Both acting and music theater students take the same extensive core curriculum classes of acting, voice and speech, and movement. Additionally, students elect to take a number of cross-option classes within the School of Drama and periodic electives within the university.

Classes are small and an emphasis is placed on highly-individualized, personal attention, as well as developing a sense of collaboration and working in an ensemble. The faculty consists of working theater professionals committed to teaching and instilling the highest standards of discipline, quality and professional ethics.

Pittsburgh, PA

Conservatory Style in Liberal Arts Environment

B.F.A. in Drama

Mid-Size (10k - 25k Students)

50K-60K

Yes

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Pre-screen Audition Requirements

Monologues

• Two contrasting monologues from plays, no longer than 90 seconds each
• The monologues should be selected from one contemporary piece and one classical piece pre-1900
• Should portray characters that fall in your natural age range, teens and 20s
• One should be shot in close-up, head and shoulders and another showing your full body

Songs

• Two 32-bar musical theater songs, ~60 seconds each
• One up-tempo and one-ballad
• Sing with recorded or with live accompaniment, not a cappella
• One should be shot in close-up, head and shoulders and another showing your full body

Monologues

• Perform two, contrasting monologues, each 1 minute in length
• One classical monologue from a play written before 1900 with an emphasis on heightened language
• One contemporary piece written in the 20th or 21st century
• Each monologue should be within your natural age range
• Be sure to read the entire play the monologue is excerpted from so you are able to demonstrate an understanding of the character and situation
• You may use hand props, but not costumes
• Be prepared to perform a third monologue if asked
• Bring a resume and headshot or recent photograph to leave at the audition

Songs

• Two contrasting songs, one ballad and one uptempo, each 1 minute in length
• Bring your own music, an accompanist will be provided

Dance

• There is no longer a dance component of the audition so it is not necessary to bring dance clothes
• Every accepted Music Theater student will have a dance skills assessment at the beginning of their first semester and will be placed at the appropriate level in classes

On-campus

Saturday January 13, 2018
Saturday January 27, 2018
Saturday February 17, 2018

New York City

Saturday January 20, 2018
Sunday January 21, 2018
Monday January 22, 2018
Tuesday January 23, 2018

Chicago

Monday February 5, 2018
Tuesday February 6, 2018
Wednesday February 7, 2018
Thursday February 8, 2018

Los Angeles

Saturday February 10, 2018
Sunday February 11, 2018

Carnegie Mellon awards the Carnegie Scholarship to qualified incoming first-year students. Carnegie Scholarships are awarded to academically and artistically talented middle income students who qualify for little to no need-based financial aid.

All qualified U.S. citizens and permanent residents are eligible to be considered for the Carnegie Scholarship. You must submit the FAFSA and CSS PROFILE in order to be considered for the Carnegie Scholarship. Scholarship winners are notified in their financial aid award. If you’re awarded a Carnegie Scholarship, you must submit all of the required forms associated with a financial aid application before the scholarship can be credited towards the student’s account. The scholarship is only awarded to incoming first-year students during the admission process.

The Carnegie Scholarship is renewable for 8 semesters of undergraduate education (10 semesters for students in the School of Architecture), if satisfactory academic performance is maintained (you must maintain a cumulative 2.0 QPA) and Carnegie Mellon tuition is assessed.

Approx 60 students in the BFA Musical Theatre Program

Showcases in Pittsburgh, New York City, and Los Angeles

No

School Of Drama, Purnell Center for the Arts
Carnegie Mellon University
5000 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213

drama-relations@andrew.cmu.edu

Carnegie Mellon Home Page

Common Application

Opportunity to Study Abroad at an International Conservatory Program for semester of senior year