Penn State’s Musical Theatre B.F.A. is an intense professional training program in the School of Theatre at Penn State. Students will train in all three areas of musical theatre with the largest dedicated musical theatre faculty in the country. The goal of our program is to train our students to compete successfully in the professional musical theatre market.

University Park, PA

Conservatory Style in Liberal Arts Environment

B.F.A. in Musical Theatre

Large (>25k Students)

30K-40K

Yes

https://app.getacceptd.com/psutheatre

Song

·          One ballad, one up-tempo

·          No longer than one minute each

·          Contrasting

·          One song written prior to 1970

·          Use live or recorded accompaniment

Monologue

·          One minute piece from a contemporary script

Dance

·          30-60 seconds of dance, in whatever dance discipline you are most comfortable with: tap, jazz, ballet, modern, African, hip hop, lyrical, contemporary

·          No barre work

·          Please stick to vocabulary and steps you are familiar with and can execute well. We just want to see where you are in your dance training

·          Give us a minute of what will show us YOU through your dance

Live Audition

* This can be the same material you submitted for your video pre-screen or it can be completely different

Song

·          One ballad, one up-tempo

·          No longer than one minute each

·          Contrasting

·          One song written prior to 1970

·          Use live or recorded accompaniment

Monologue

·          One minute piece from a contemporary script American or British, no dialects

Dance

·          Students who audition in person should also be prepared to dance

·          All in person auditions include ballet and jazz dance components

On-campus

December 2, 2017
January 13, 2018
February 3, 2018
February 24, 2018

New York

January 20-21, 2018

Chicago

February 5-7, 2018

Los Angeles

February 10-11, 2018

All applications who are offered admission into the School of Theatre’s B.F.A. Musical Theatre Degree Program are eligible for merit-based scholarships.  These scholarships are not based on need, but on artistic merit. The Program holds out additional funds to reward advanced musical theatre majors for outstanding artistic performance, academic accomplishment, and service.

Scholarships

Senior showcase in NYC

Commission new works for Senior class to workshop and develop with NYC and Campus performances

John Simpkins, Head  of Musical Theatre Department
(814) 865-7586
JAS7427@PSU.EDU

Shannon Ritter
Undergraduate Admissions & Recruitment
(814) 863-6819
SHANNON@PSU.EDU

Penn MT Home Page

Admissions

The Audition Material

Since admission is based on a successful audition, it makes sense to thoroughly prepare and present yourself as your best. The successful audition begins with careful, intelligent material selection. Here are several suggestions…

1. Pick material that is appropriate for you. Do not try to impress us with your worldliness or edgy selections. Pick songs and monologues that fit your chronological, emotional, and experiential age.
2. Pick material that you do well and that you love. And remember, material that you love is not necessarily the same material that you perform well.  Make sure you employ both criteria as you think about your selections.  An audition is not the time to “stretch” yourself or make sure you show us your highest notes.
3. Think of the two songs and the monologue as an introduction to who you are as a young artist and person. Remember, we aren’t looking for the perfect casting decision.  We are looking for talented and curious artists – people with whom we will spend a great deal of time and effort over four years.
4. Pay careful attention to cutting and editing your selections. The audition songs don’t need every repeat; the monologue should be one minute at a maximum.
5. The up-tempo and ballad should contrast and demonstrate different aspects of your performance capabilities. One song needs to have been written before the 1970s.
6. Find a way to rehearse with someone who can play the music that you will provide our accompanist. Singing the first time with an accompanist at an audition can be difficult.  Remember, the accompanist will play what you provide.

The Audition Day

The day has arrived. Here are several things you can do to help yourself…
1. Give yourself the best chance for success.  You are a busy person. You’re probably juggling your Penn State audition with other auditions, school shows, lessons, a job, a valiant attempt at a social life, and even school work. HOWEVER, we can’t over-emphasize the importance of the audition to your future. If at all possible, plan to arrive on campus the day before. That way you can familiarize yourself with the campus, take a tour, look for the audition location, etc.  We invite you to observe classes and meet current majors.  Above all else, arrive at the audition well rested and focused.
2. Understand the audition process. After a group physical warm-up, you will be taught a short ballet combination. In small groups (3 or 4), you will present this combination to members of the musical theatre faculty.  The process will then repeat with a jazz combination.  After the dance portion of the audition you will be given an opportunity to change clothes.  After a group vocal warm-up you will privately present your songs and monologue.  You will present in the order that you reserved an audition spot.  You may or may not be asked to stay for a quick conversation with some of the faculty toward the end of the day.
3. Manage your energy.  Many people in our field think of auditions as difficult, frightening events and performances as exciting, fun events.  We invite you to think about your audition as a great opportunity to share your work with us as it stands in your young life and career.  A time to introduce yourself and your passions to a group of people who are on your side in that process.   If you are able to do this, you may find that nervous excitement (a constructive energy) will replace nervous fear (a destructive energy). Also, keep in mind that you and the people sitting behind the table want the exact same thing – for you to do great and exciting work.
4. Be ready for the unexpected.  We may stop you and work with you on a piece; we may cut you off and ask you to move to your next piece; we may vocalize you, or we may ask you to do something unplanned. Do not let these requests distract or upset you. We have a short time to get to know as much about you and your work as possible. If we’ve seen what we need to see, or feel that we need to see something different, our request will only help us assess you in the most complete and accurate way possible.  This will be mutually beneficial.