Hartt’s Music Theatre program is dedicated to a comprehensive and rigorous style of training that creates artists who are physically, intellectually, and emotionally prepared for the extraordinary demands of the acting profession.  In a carefully planned progression of acting, voice, dance and musicianship classes — along with weekly individual singing lessons and coachings — students expand both their craft and their creative imagination so that they can be successful in a wide range of theatrical styles from the contemporary to the classical.  Our unique partnerships with the renowned Goodspeed Musicals and the Tony Award-winning Hartford Stage company are part of our thorough career preparation curriculum that readies our students to seek work as professional actors.

Performance opportunities at Hartt are extensive and designed to expose students to musicals and other plays from across the theatrical repertoire.  Starting with second year projects and culminating with full-scale, professionally designed productions, the season is chosen to provide each class with challenging onstage experiences.  in the fourth year, our students are in residence at Goodspeed Musicals for three weeks in January working on a festival of new works.  Music Theatre students may also audition for the Hartford Stage Company’s annual production of A Christmas Carol as well as other Equity productions in the company’s season.  Many of our students join the Equity Membership Candidate Program during their time at Hartt.

Our location puts Hartt in the middle of this country’s most vibrant theatrical community.  From New York to Boston to a vast array of highly regarded regional theatres, Hartt students have a short trip to the best professional theatre in America.  In addition to our relationship with Goodspeed Musicals and the Hartford Stage Company, our students regularly find opportunities with TheatreWorks of Hartford, Cape Cod’s Monomoy Theatre and other local companies. The final year of study culminates with our showcase for industry professionals in New York.

West Hartford, CT

Conservatory Style in Liberal Arts Environment

B.F.A. in Music Theatre

Small (<10k Students)

40K-50K

No

Song

• Prepare two 32-bar cuts from contrasting songs
• One song must have been written prior to 1985
• You may be asked to present only one selection.

Monologue

• Prepare one monologue from a published contemporary play or musical

Dance

• Applicants will participate in a group dance audition
• The purpose of the dance audition is not only to see the candidate’s dance experience, but to assess facility, i.e. body and physical ability)

Additional

• Applicants will interview with faculty and should be prepared to initiate a conversation in which they share their reasons for pursuing this field

Tips

• When selecting your monologue(s), choose material that is gender and age appropriate
• Read the entire work from which the monologue originates so that you understand the character and context well
• Music Theatre majors should wear basic dance or rehearsal attire (tights, leotard, jazz pants, fitted t-shirt, all in dark colors), and jazz or ballet shoes to the dance call
• Hair should be pulled off the face and neck, and jewelry removed
• Baggy clothes will impede our ability to properly assess your abilities
• Character shoes and sneakers are not recommended

On-campus

All applicants, regardless of program, are automatically considered for Hartt’s Performing Arts Scholarships. These scholarships are awarded by the faculty and based on the student’s audition. No separate application is necessary.  Scholarships range up to full tuition and are renewable for the length of the program to which the student has been accepted into.

140

NYC showcase

Yes

Goodspeed Musicals- Partner in Training

• Offers senior Music Theatre students the opportunity to audition for Goodspeed’s artistic staff and participate in the development of new works.

Hartford Stage Company- Partnership in Training

• Students may also audition for the Tony Award-winning Hartford Stage Company where they can perform with a professional company of distinguished Equity actors and directors from around the country.

Ashley Malcolm
Hartt Theatre Coordinator
860.768.2462
amalcolm@hartford.edu

Hartford MT Home Page

Common Application