2019-20 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
2019-20 Undergraduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Musical Theatre [MUTH]


The Bachelor of Arts in Musical Theatre in the Performing Arts Department  provides comprehensive training in musical theatre while maintaining a firm grounding in the liberal arts. The goal is to foster flexibility and versatility in students to enable them to participate in musical theatre on a number of levels.

The program's objectives are far reaching. Students will leave the program with the knowledge and confidence to participate in educational, professional or semiprofessional productions with competence and skill. Performance opportunities include main stage productions, singing/dancing in cabarets on and off campus and participating in student-directed productions and workshops.

Graduates are active in community and professional theatre organizations, assist and provide leadership in primary and secondary school productions and often continue their education in musical theatre in an M.F.A. or M.A. program in music, theatre or musical theatre.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

  1. Employ a broad range of acting knowledge, including the ability to create, through word and action, believable characters in plays and musicals.
  2. Demonstrate analytical and performance skills required in musicals and plays from various genres and time periods.
  3. Demonstrate advanced technical proficiency in voice and speech, including the production of clear, articulate and expressive dialogue; knowledge of I.P.A. and basic phonetic transcription techniques.
  4. Demonstrate significant technical proficiency in the various styles of movement and dance employed in musical theatre.
  5. Demonstrate advanced technical proficiency in singing, including vocal range, pitch, breath support, and vocal styles.
  6. Demonstrate technical proficiency in musicianship, including advanced skill in aural, rhythmic, and written musical forms. 
  7. Demonstrate knowledge of theatre history, musical theatre history and the work of influential playwrights, composers, directors, choreographers and other creative artists.
  8. Demonstrate knowledge of significant contemporary directors, choreographers, composers, playwrights and other creative artists in theatre.
  9. Demonstrate comprehension of the basic business procedures of the actor's profession, including auditions, resumes and professional representation.
  10. Demonstrate collaborative and efficient rehearsal practices required for employment in the professional theatre

Career Potential

  • Actor/singer/dancer
  • Choreographer
  • Director
  • Theatre technician
  • Voice teacher
  • Dance instructor

Students must audition for admittance to the program. In addition to the College-wide requirements in writing, Quantitative Skills, foreign language and General Education, the B.A. in musical theatre requirements will be met by successful completion of the following courses and portfolio or project assessment:

A. Music Courses: 17 credit hours


B. Theatre Courses: 13 credit hours


C. Dance Courses: 8 credit hours


Students must complete four semesters of ballet (from DNC 101, 201, 301, 401, 411, 421). Students are required to complete DNC 101 and DNC 201 at a minimum. Each ballet course may, by advisement, be repeated once.

The additional dance courses listed below must also be taken:

D. Musical Theatre Courses: 11 credit hours


E. Additional Requirement - 3 credit hours


F. Portfolio, exit interview


Portfolio will include a record of performances, a list of audition repertoire, resume and photo.

G. Technical Theatre Practica


Students must also complete at least six noncredit technical theatre practica (one per semester for six semesters — e.g., working backstage for productions on costumes, set painting, props, etc.). Work at previous institutions may be accepted for part of this requirement. Students must audition for all departmental theatre productions and accept roles as cast.

Total Credit Hours Required for Graduation: 124


Example of the undergraduate degree in Musical Theatre over four years


Total credit hours for semester: 16


First Year Spring


Total credit hours for semester: 15


Second Year Fall


Total credit hours for semester: 15


Second Year Spring


Total credit hours for semester: 16


Third Year Fall


Total credit hours for semester: 15.5


Third Year Spring


Total credit hours for semester: 16


Fourth Year Fall


Total credit hours for semester: 15.5


Fourth Year Spring


Total credit hours for semester: 15