Ithaca College’s highly competitive BFA in Musical Theatre is an intensive, performance-oriented training program in acting, singing and dancing designed to develop and strengthen the skills, hone the instincts, and foster the passion necessary for a professional career in musical theatre.

A typical semester for a freshman or sophomore musical theatre major includes a weekly private voice lesson; classes in voice and speech, movement, acting, sight-singing, music theory, and keyboard musicianship.  Studies continue in theatre history (including American musical theatre history), and ongoing courses in dance (ballet, modern, tap, jazz and musical theatre styles). Like all of our degree programs, accompanying these required courses are classes and production assignments that encourage collaboration with other theatre majors in the department in theatre studies, management, design and technology.

Our mainstage and workshop productions provide important opportunities for synthesizing classwork and establishing a professional work ethic. Ithaca College produces two musicals in most years, and a dance concert in alternating years, in addition to four plays and an opera. BFA Musical Theatre students are eligible to audition beginning in their first semester, and required to audition in every subsequent semester. This provides students with ample audition opportunities and experience in general auditions and callbacks. Ithaca’s professional venues regularly audition (and hire) current IC students, giving important early exposure to the professional production process.

As musical theatre majors make progress through their sophomore year, they are evaluated regularly by the theatre and music faculty, both in singing and acting reviews.  Students receive clear, specific feedback on their strengths and areas for growth throughout the process. In the junior and senior years, BFA Musical Theatre students take advanced courses in musical theatre technique focused on audition techniques, repertoire and style, as well as dance for the musical stage. Many musical theatre students take advantage of Ithaca College’s London Center and spend the spring semester of their junior year studying British drama and culture. In the senior year, opportunities include workshops and master classes that help facilitate the transition to the profession. Most students attend a one-week field studies trip to New York City, connecting with a rich network of IC alumni in the entertainment business. Our alumni are committed to providing an important link to the industry, whether in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles or in theatre centers around the world.

Ithaca, NY

Conservatory Style in Liberal Arts Environment

B.F.A. in Musical Theatre

Small (<10k Students)

40K-50K

Yes

Upload Prescreen

Song

• Two contrasting songs, one 16-bar ballad and one 32-bar up tempo
• Live piano accompaniment is preferred, but you may sing with pre-recorded piano accompaniment
• Do not sing a cappella and do not submit a performance video
• Only audition videos are acceptable

Monologue

• Two memorized contrasting monologues, each of which is no more than one minute in length
• Please upload a separate video for each monologue
• The character should be within your age range
• Your goal should not be to show us how far you can stretch, we are looking for your ability to play the actions inherent in the text and to reveal the inner life of the character as it intersects with your own experience, imagination and understanding

Dance

• Two dance pieces
• In order to ascertain musicality, movement habits, alignment, technique and potential, all applicants to the BFA in Musical Theatre must upload one required dance pre-screen, the combination provided
• In addition, applicants may upload an optional dance pre-screen video. See below for guidelines.
• Required Dance Combination: All musical theatre applicants must prepare the short combination provided to the best of your ability and upload to Get Acceptd
• This combination is provided in lieu of a live dance audition — our spaces in NY, Chicago and LA are not appropriate for dance, and we do not wish to hold a live dance audition only at our on-campus auditions out of fairness to all applicants
• Modifications are demonstrated for beginning, intermediate and advanced level dancers.  You are welcome to modify moves as needed from among the three versions demonstrated. The musical selection used is a section of “Easy Street” from Annie. You may use any recording or the piano accompaniment as your music, or the audio from the demo video in the background. Remember that you can watch the demo video as many times as you wish in order to prepare your required upload.  We have also posted the Combination only (with music) so that it can be rehearsed without watching the entire demo.
• Demonstration Video
• Combination Video

Optional 2^nd Dance Pre-screen

• You may choose to submit an additional one-minute dance pre-screen in any style with which you feel most comfortable: ballet, jazz, musical theatre, tap, etc.
• The total length of your optional dance submission must not exceed one minute
• Applicants may choose to submit a few basic ballet barre exercises such as simple battement tendus, pliés, rond de jambes, développés, etc.
• We suggest video-recording barre work from the side so that technique and line might be best determined
• Do not use videos of performances, even if you are alone on stage
• Please wear appropriate dance clothing that shows your line for all dance pieces
• Submissions should show the full body for the entire recording
• Simple is better for these dance recordings

• If an invitation for a live audition is extended, it is expected that you will present  one of the monologues you uploaded to Acceptd and both songs chosen and uploaded for the pre-screen application
• The dance sample will not be reviewed at the live audition, but will stand as your dance audition

On-campus

• December 9, 2017
• January 27, 2018
• February 3, 2018
• February 17, 2018

Off-campus

• January 19-21, 2018- New York City
• February 5-7, 2018- Chicago
• February 10, 2018- Los Angeles

There are currently a number of theatre arts scholarships that are awarded annually by the Department of Theatre Arts to continuing students:

George Hoerner ’47 Memorial Scholarship

Awarded to talented and dedicated technical theatre and scenic design students. Established by family and friends of the late George Hoerner, professor emeritus and former department chair.

Peter Bergstrom Scholarship

Awarded to an acting or musical theatre major whose talent and academic ability demonstrate potential for achievement in the performing arts. Established by the friends of Peter Bergstrom ’81 in his memory.

Katherine B. “Toby” Clarey ’31 Memorial Scholarship

Awarded to talented acting or musical theatre majors who have demonstrated financial need. Preference is given to African American, Latino, Asian American, and Native American (ALANA) students. Created by family and friends to honor Katherine B. “Toby” Clarey, a theatre arts graduate well known for her activities in Ithaca regional theatre.

Richard M. Clark Memorial Scholarship

Awarded to outstanding theatre arts majors. Established in memory of Richard M. Clark, chair of the Ithaca College Department of Theatre Arts from 1981 to 1987, by friends, colleagues, alumni, and family.

Jane Woods Werly ’27 Endowed Scholarship

Awarded to students in a theatre arts degree program, with preference given to those students majoring in musical theatre. Established by Jane Woods Werly.

Cissy Cheskis Scholarship

Awarded to a student in the Department of Theatre Arts, with preference given to acting majors. Recipients must demonstrate progressive academic achievement. Established in memory of Cissy Cheskis by her son, Robert Saxner ’88.

Clarence Straight Award

Awarded to an outstanding newly graduated theatre arts major(s) who is attempting to establish a professional career.

Theatre Arts Alumni Memorial Scholarship

Awarded to a junior or senior majoring in theatre arts. Created by alumni and friends to honor the unique educational experience provided in the Department of Theatre Arts, while establishing a permanent memorial to deceased alumni, faculty, and others.

Laura Hinkley Hauer ’23 Scholarship in Theatre Arts

Awarded to a theatre major whose talent and academic ability show potential for achievement in the performing arts and who has demonstrated financial need. Established through a generous bequest from Laura Hinkley Hauer, who majored in drama and public speaking and taught these subjects for many years.

Douglas ’78 and Julie Weisman Professional Development Scholarship

Awarded to a theatre arts major to support professional development activities. To be eligible, students must be a junior or senior and have demonstrated financial need. Established by Douglas and Julie Weisman.

Roberta Barnett Endowed Scholarship

Awarded to a theatre arts student who has clear promise and demonstrated financial need. Established by John Bartholomew Tucker ’52 in honor of his teacher Professor Roberta Barnett.

Frances Noble Newell ’32 Memorial Scholarship

Awarded to a student with demonstrated financial need who is majoring in theatre arts or English and has a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. Preference is given to students from Pennsylvania. Established in memory of Frances Noble Newell by her daughter, Debbie Duffield.

Lillian Speakman Vail ’21 Scholarship

Awarded annually to juniors and seniors with established records of academic achievement and community service. Preference is given to students in music, theatre arts, or communication studies. Established by the family and friends of Lillian Speakman Vail to honor her lifelong friendship with, service to, and support of Ithaca College.

Florence Marro Gallagher Memorial Scholarship

Awarded to a deserving and committed student in the School of Music or in one of the following majors: acting, art, art education, art history, drama, musical theatre, theatre arts management, or theatrical production arts. The student must have demonstrated financial need. Established in memory of Florence Marro Gallagher by her son, John E. Gallagher Jr. ’69.

Patricia Stevens Musical Theatre Scholarship

Awarded to a musical theatre major in good academic standing. Preference is for a student who has demonstrated financial need.

New York Showcase

Yes

Ithaca has some amazing local theatre that students can take advantage of:

The Hangar Theatre

The Hangar Theatre is Ithaca’s flagship professional theatre, offering world-class productions of plays and musicals in addition to excellent children’s theatre and educational programs. The Hangar produces a series of plays and musicals every summer, and hosts a variety of events and concerts throughout the year.  Ithaca College students have an opportunity to get involved with the Hangar by taking advantage of student discount tickets and auditioning to be a part of their MainStage season.

The Kitchen Theatre Company

Kitchen Theatre Company is a professional Equity theater that is now in its 25th season. Located in a recently renovated LEED certified building with an intimate 99-seat performance space, the Kitchen is committed to producing bold and engaging new and recent plays. KTC was founded by two Ithaca College students in 1991 and has been led by artistic director Rachel Lampert since 1997.  There continues to be a strong connection between the Kitchen and Ithaca College. Graduates of Ithaca College regularly design, act and direct on the Kitchen stage.  Students often work with us as interns, technical over hire and have designed and acted on our MainStage season.  Kitchen Theatre Company offers EMC points to qualifying young actors and stage managers. KTC has a long-standing relationship with the faculty and the future professionals from Ithaca College’s Department of Theatre Arts.

Running to Places (R2P)

Running to Places (R2P) is a nonprofit youth community theatre company that brings together middle and high school students from across the area. They develop life skills and meet their new best friends, all while making great theatre. We produce a season of five shows that are performed at venues such as the State Theatre, Kitchen Theatre, and Ithaca High School’s Kulp Auditorium. Participation in R2P for the students is free.

The State Theatre

The State Theatre was built in 1915. Under current leadership the theatre’s missions is to enhance the cultural life of Ithaca and the Finger Lakes by preserving, operating and promoting the historic State Theatre as an active venue for national, international and community performances and programming.

theatrearts@ithaca.edu

Catherine Weidner, Chair 607-274-3920
Steve TenEyck, Associate Chair 607-274-3573
Sherri Dunham, Administrative Assistant 607-274-3919

Ithaca MT Home Page

Ithaca Application

Students can go to Ithaca College’s London Center and spend a designated semester of their junior year studying British drama and culture.

Video tips:

1.  Choose a solid background (a blank wall or any solid surface) – if it’s a dark or colored background, be sure to wear a contrasting color or you’ll blend in too much. Create a clean backdrop for your work, with no distracting windows, doors, lamps, light switches, or fire alarms. Keep it simple. 

2.  Stay away from wearing distracting stripes or patterned clothing – these get distorted on camera.

3.  Use a video camera, a Smart Phone or I-Phone, or any digital camera. You may need to adjust the resolution higher or lower to achieve the results you want. Using a higher resolution may complicate uploads.  Take a short test video for practice.

4.  Stand a few feet away from the wall – this eliminates distracting shadows. 

5.  A full-body shot or medium shot (waist up) is preferred for your songs and monologues, so we can get a sense of your overall connection to the piece, as if we were watching you in a rehearsal room. This is a recorded theater audition, not an audition for on-camera work, so close-ups are not necessary. Keep the camera in one place.

6.  Light the Face. Try to have the light source in front of you (face the window if you’re just using natural light, or a table lamp or floor lamp), so your face is lit and we can see you clearly.  Don’t have your back to the light source, or you’ll be in darkness.

7. If you have prepared a slate as part of your audition video, then feel free to include it. A slate is helpful, but not required. If you choose to slate, all you need is: “My name is _________, and my first piece is from (play title) by (playwright). My second piece is from (play title) by (playwright).” No extra information or introduction to the piece is necessary. 

8.  Try not to obsess over a little mistake – we’re all human. Do a couple of takes of each monologue or song and choose the one to upload. Make sure the sound quality is good and watch your videos all the way through before you upload them.

9.  For your actual monologues and songs, you can choose to look into the camera, slightly above the camera, or slightly off-center to the right or left of the camera (but not in profile please).

10.  Keep the upload process simple. There is no need to add captions or graphics.