The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre in the Performing Arts Department is designed for students aspiring to pursue a professional career in Musical Theatre. Students will graduate from the program with the knowledge and confidence to be competitive in the professional world of theatre and in other types of performance and creative settings. In addition, the skills developed will provide the opportunity to explore work in educational theatre or arts administration.

Performance opportunities include main stage productions, workshops with theatre professionals who are developing/creating original material, off-campus dance and theatre projects, and student projects.

Graduates will be well prepared to audition for professional theatre opportunities in New York City, on national and international tours, in dance companies, on cruise lines, and in other types of professional performance venues. They can also expect to effectively pursue work as directors, choreographers, and in other creative staff positions. In addition, skills provided may also enable graduates to become leaders in educational and community theatres, successful arts administrators, and to work with television and film production companies.  The curriculum in our program also provides an excellent foundation for students interested in continuing their education in an M.F.A. or M.A. program in Theatre, Musical Theatre, or Theatre Education. 

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
• Theatre educator
• Dance educator

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