Nestled in the heart of Boston’s theatre district, the BFA in Musical Theatre (BFA MT) at Emerson College is one of the most unique pre-professional performance programs in the country. With over forty percent of degree requirements housed in liberal arts, and a distinguished faculty holding Broadway, regional, opera, television/film and composition credits, the BFA MT is a dynamic cross between scholarship and rigorous studio work.
Additionally, the program mission nurtures important foundations in the student such as teamwork, preparation, managing the business, and seeking conclusions about the nature of the creative process. Through the supplementary study of liberal arts, the program exposes the student to a more holistic approach to the craft; it is the faculty’s notion that a musical theatre education, in addition to developing the skills already held by the student, can also be an intellectual endeavor. Indeed, our mission embraces a well-rounded preparation not only for a career in the arts, but also for related fields.
In addition to regular study in singing, music analysis and dance, we support a vigorous sequential curriculum in acting and scene study. For us, the stereotype of the superficial musical theatre performer is no longer a viable approach for entering the profession. Our goal is to offer more: educating musical theatre students who can both embrace and transcend the commercial basis of the form, creating reality on a level with the best non-musical theatre.
Boston, MA
Conservatory Style in Liberal Arts Environment
B.F.A. in Musical Theatre
Small (<10k Students)
40K-50K
No
Monologues
Voice
Dance
On-campus
Early Action:
Regular Decision:
New York City
Chicago
Los Angeles
This scholarship is given to incoming students at the top of Emerson’s applicant pool who have demonstrated academic distinction within their school communities as well as qualities such as leadership, ability to manage adversity, and other factors important to success as an Emerson student. For students entering the College in 2014, the amount of the Dean’s Scholarship was $14,000 annually.
Students are required to enroll full-time and maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA. The award is renewable for up to eight semesters. No additional essay or application is required to be considered for this scholarship.
This is a half-tuition scholarship given to applicants accepted into the Honors Program. Student are required to enroll full-time and maintain a 3.3 GPA (3.0 GPA in the Honors curriculum). It is renewable for up to eight semesters.
A separate Honors Program application must be submitted with your admission application in order to be considered for this scholarship.h4
Boston and New York City Showcases
Freshman are not permitted to perform in MainStage shows.
Department permission must be obtained to work outside of the school.
Department of Performing Arts
120 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02116-4624
Scott LeFeber
Department Chair
Jason Allen-Forrest
Assistant to the Chair
Mindy Hinkel
Administrative Assistant
We recommend that you select contemporary monologues (written in 1950–present) that you can easily relate to and are appropriate for your age. Should you be drawn to a pre-1950 European play, please consider a contemporary translation. We prefer that you avoid verse (Shakespeare, etc.) as the language often becomes more of a barrier than a window.
We do not recommend pieces from films or original material. If you choose your piece from a monologue book, please be aware that many other actors may have also and your choice, as a result, is likely to be overdone. Make sure you have read the whole play from which you chose your monologue; we may wish to discuss it with you.
For the voice component, select pieces that will best show your strengths as a musical theater performer. Due to time restrictions, you may only be asked to sing one song. Please prepare two and perform your strongest one first.
The focus of the dance component is to assess your ability, potential, and presence. Be ready to listen, and be ready to move.
Finally, remember we are most interested in seeing who you are in the audition. We want to see you reflected through the characters you play and the pieces you perform. Pick good material for yourself, prepare it, and do it well. We want to see skill and potential, so play to your strengths.
MT-PREP offers a range of services to assist young actors as they prepare for college auditions. Please fill out the form below to get the process started!