Musical Theatre students performing the halftime show at Beaver Stadium.

Musical Theatre, B.F.A.

B.F.A. in Musical Theatre

Develop your skills. Discover your process. Dare to find your artistic voice.

Musical Theatre at Penn State is recognized as one of the finest training programs in the nation. Our mission is to train young artists so that they may thrive in the professional musical theatre and enjoy a successful and lifelong artistic journey.

Students are recruited nationally and share a positive, professional, and dedicated attitude as humans and artists that allows them to enter the Industry ready to contribute to the stories they want to tell and the art they want to make.

Earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre at Penn State

The Musical Theatre B.F.A. degree program is an intensive pre-professional training program with alumni working around the country and the world.

Our faculty is made up of artists dedicated to both the profession and the academy. As working actors, dancers, music directors, choreographers, and directors, we bring our students Broadway, national tour, regional theatre, and film and television experience. With a ratio of thirteen faculty to forty-nine students, the training is individualized, specific, and demanding.

Students accepted into the program will receive specialized training in singing, acting, and dance. In addition to this training, Penn State Musical Theatre offers several signature initiatives:

Connect with us

Next Steps

Musical Theatre students performing a scene from American Idiot.

Our Alumni

We are so proud of our many alums working around the world. Below are just a few of the exciting projects that involve Penn State Musical Theatre alumni. Check back frequently – we are always updating!

  • Caroline Bowman–Frozen, National Tour (Elsa)
  • Audrey Cardwell–The Music Man, Broadway, (Ensemble and Marian u/s)
  • Kevin Clay–The Book of Mormon, Broadway (Elder Price)
  • Ixchel Cuellar–Hamilton, National Tour (Swing)
  • Alex Dorf–The Boy Band Project
  • Amina Faye–Six, National Tour (Jane Seymour)
  • Jasmine Forsberg–Six, National Tour (Jane Seymour)
  • Marcus Paul James–Ain’t Too Proud, National Tour (Otis Williams)
  • James T. Lane–Ain’t Too Proud, National Tour (Paul Williams)
  • Connor McRory–Funny Girl, Broadway (Swing)
  • Jake Pederson–Wicked, National Tour (Boq)
  • Allsun O’Malley–Wicked, Broadway (Vacation Swing)
  • Allie Pizzo–Aladdin, National Tour (Ensemble)
  • Julio Rey–The National Lampoon Broadway Vacation, Seattle Pre-Broadway (Ensemble)
  • Talia Suskauer–Wicked, Broadway (Elphaba)
  • Christian Thompson–The Devil Wears Prada, Chicago Pre-Broadway (Christian Thompson)
  • Brinie Wallace–A Beautiful Noise The Neil Diamond Musical, Boston Pre-Broadway (Swing)
  • Maria Wirries–Kinky Boots, Off-Broadway (Ensemble)

Considering the B.F.A. in Musical Theatre? Consider this.

With our curriculum, initiatives, and connections–we are defining 21st century Musical Theatre training.

  • Tony, Grammy, Obie winning writers work in our New Musicals Initiative
  • Master classes taught by Broadway’s elite professionals
  • Graduating students leave with professionally filmed material for their websites
  • Each year, we spend time in NYC taking classes, seeing shows, and meeting alumni

See it in 360º

Welcome to our studios and spaces! Each of these 360º views is a portal of sorts into the learning and performance spaces in the School of Theatre!

You can click-and-drag to control the view in the frame, and there are embedded ‘links’ within the viewer that enable you to move among physical locations. By clicking the arrow icon at the footer of the viewer window, you can access the tour navigation menu, including the full screen (and you really should check these out full screen).

Alumni Spotlight

Headshot of

alumni spotlight

Luke Nosal

Luke Nosal is the assistant conductor of the Queer Urban Orchestra in New York City. As a conductor and queer advocate, Nosal is known for leading ensembles with an eclectic style, dynamic interpretation, and deep passion while always using their platform to give visibility to issues in the LGBTQA community. In addition to a Bachelor of Music, Nosal earned a P.P.C. Orchestral Conducting in 2019.

www.queerurbanorchestra.org