Theatre Arts

Theatre Arts – BFA Musical Theatre Auditions

For more detailed information about the Musical Theatre program at WCSU including: national honors, detailed curriculum, and a sample 4-year plan of study, please visit the BFA - Musical Theatre webpage here.

 

Students wishing to pursue a BFA Musical Theatre degree in the Department of Theatre Arts must adhere to the following criteria for admission:

Perform and pass a prescreen audition, and an in-person audition, for members of the faculty. The student, through this audition process, must exhibit the standards and skill sets required for entry into the Musical Theatre program, including:

  1. Ability to effectively perform with accompaniment two songs, one ballad and one uptempo. One song should be written prior to 1970. This song can be either the uptempo or the ballad (student’s choice). One song should be written after 1970 and contrast the style of the first.
  2. Ability to perform a 60-90 second contemporary monologue (written during the 20th Century-present) from a published play.
  3. Ability to learn and perform a short dance phrase that demonstrates movement skills. (On Site Audition Only)
  4. Provide three copies of a picture and resume at the time of your audition.
  5. Fulfill general admission guidelines found in the catalog for the university, school, and department.

 

Admission Auditions for Musical Theatre Degree Program

Prospective applicants are highly encouraged to have submitted their application for admission to the university prior to scheduling an audition.

 

In-Person Auditions at Western Connecticut State University 

Western Connecticut State University is currently accepting Pre-Screen Auditions for the BFA in Musical Theatre incoming class of 2024.

Prospective students who pass a pre-screen audition will then be asked to audition in-person on one of the following dates:

Saturday, December 2, 2023

Saturday, February 3, 2024

Friday, March 1, 2024

*In addition to the information above, we will be attending the CAP United Auditions in St. Louis on November 9-12

**Florida Combined Auditions on January 4-5, 2024

***National Unified Auditions (500 8th Ave, Rm. 404) on January 26, 2024 from 1:00-6:00pm

 

Acceptance to the Program

Within 2-3 weeks of the last audition date, you will receive 1 of 3 potential notices:

  1. That you've been accepted into the BFA Musical Theatre program.
  2. That you've been placed on the waiting list for the BFA Musical Theatre program.
  3. That you've been denied acceptance into the BFA Musical Theatre program.

If you are placed on the waiting list or denied acceptance to the program, you will be automatically accepted into the Theatre Arts Department as a BA Theatre Arts student unless you notify us otherwise. Registration into classes will occur once you have paid the tuition deposit for the Fall Semester.

 

College Musical Theater Common Prescreen Criteria

Western Connecticut State University is a participant in the College Musical Theater Prescreen Criteria in partnership with Paper Mill Playhouse and dozens of other university and collegiate equivalent musical theater training institutions.

 

WCSU requires the following from the Common Prescreen Criteria:

Overall

Each piece should be filmed/uploaded as a separate piece of media. No continuous videos.

Slate

There should not be a separate “slate” video, rather slates are to appear at the beginning of each piece.

The proper slate for a song is to share your namethe title, and show in which it appears.

The proper slate for a monologue is to share your name, the title of the play, and the playwright.

Monologue

  • 1, 60-90 second contemporary monologue (written during the 20th Century-present) from a published play. This time limit includes the slate at the beginning of the piece and is strictly adhered to; please do not upload media files longer than 90 seconds.
  • Monologues must be from a published play.
  • Monologues cannot be from musicals, television shows, or movies.

Songs

Students should prepare 2-contrasting pieces:

  • One song should be a ballad and one song should be an uptempo.
  • Each song file should be 60-90 seconds (this time limit includes the slate at the beginning of the piece and is strictly adhered to; please do not upload media files longer than 90 seconds).
  • When framing, one song selection should be a close-up and one should be a full frame (full body) shot.
  • One song should be written prior to 1970. This song can be either the uptempo or the ballad (student’s choice).
  • One song should be written after 1970 and contrast the style of the first.

Please submit the following to bfasubmissions@wcsu.edu with 'BFA Musical Theatre Prescreen' as the subject line:

  1. Headshot
  2. Resume
  3. Prescreen videos via unlisted YouTube links.
  4. Indicate whether you are auditioning for BFA Musical Theatre ONLY, or if you are also auditioning for BFA Theatre Arts - Acting (Please see additional audition requirements here).
  5. Indicate whether or not you have applied to the university.
  6. Which audition date you are available to attend.

 

DEADLINES:

Prospective applicants will receive notice of their on-site audition status within 2-3 weeks of the submission of their prescreen video.

For the 12/2/23 audition, prescreens must be submitted no later than 11/1/23

For the 2/3/24 audition, prescreens must be submitted no later than 1/1/24

For the 3/1/24 audition, prescreens must be submitted no later than 2/1/24

BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS IN MUSICAL THEATRE (B.F.A.)