B.F.A. in Musical Theatre, School of Theatre
2024-2025 Audition Dates
- Saturday, December 7, 2024 - ON-CAMPUS (UNIVERSITY PARK, PA)
- Saturday, January 18, 2025 - ON-CAMPUS (UNIVERSITY PARK, PA)
- Saturday and Sunday, January 25-26, 2025 - NEW YORK, NY
- Saturday, February 1, 2025 - ON-CAMPUS (UNIVERSITY PARK, PA)
- Monday-Thursday, February 3-6, 2025 - CHICAGO, IL
- Saturday, February 8, 2025 - ON-CAMPUS (UNIVERSITY PARK, PA)
- Saturday, February 15, 2025 - ON-CAMPUS (UNIVERSITY PARK, PA)
- Saturday, February 22, 2025 - ON-CAMPUS (UNIVERSITY PARK, PA)
Questions about the application/audition process can be directed to:
Shannon Ritter, Admissions and Recruitment Coordinator, shannon@psu.edu
Do you need an application fee waiver? See the Fee Waiver section on the "How to Apply" page.
Incoming Freshmen/First-Year Students
Apply for admission online through the Common Application, the Coalition Application or Penn State’s own application at admissions.psu.edu. Priority consideration for freshmen admission to University Park is given to complete applications filed by November 30. Your application must be complete to receive a prescreen decision. Log into your MyPennState account to check your application status.
To receive maximum consideration for all forms of financial aid, students are strongly encouraged to complete their academic application by November 30. The final deadline to apply and submit prescreens is December 31 of the calendar year preceding the intended start year.
Transfer Students: If you have 34 or more credits, please contact Shannon Ritter, Admissions and Recruitment Coordinator, shannon@psu.edu before applying.
Additional B.F.A. in Musical Theatre Requirements
Applications will open August 1.
Applying for Penn State’s B.F.A. in Musical Theatre is a two-step process:
Step 1: Prescreening Submission
All students interested in auditioning for the Musical Theatre B.F.A. must submit the following via digital upload via the GetAcceptd website.
- Headshot/Photo
- Resume
- Video Prescreen - Four required videos and one optional video: (Penn State does NOT require a slate for any video submissions)
- Acting - One contemporary monologue from a published play written after 1950- lasting 60-90 seconds. (The monologue should be filmed in a “close-up” shot which means the top of the head to the chest should be visible in the frame.)
- Voice - Two vocal selections - one uptempo, one ballad. One of the selections should be written prior to 1970 and each should be approximately 60-90 seconds. (One of the two songs (student’s choice)should be filmed in a full frame shot or waist-up shot to see your full range of expression, and the other one in a close-up shot (top of the head to the chest should be visible in the frame).)
- Dance - 30-60 seconds of dance in whatever dance discipline you feel most confident. This may include, but is not limited to jazz, ballet, tap, modern, hip hop, lyrical, contemporary, or dance styles beyond American and Euro-western styles. No barre.
- Wildcard (OPTIONAL) - No more than 60 seconds. This can be anything at all that you’d like to share with us about who you are as a person! We love getting to know who you are!
PRESCREEN NOTIFICATIONS WILL TAKE PLACE ON THE FOLLOWING SCHEDULE:
Submitted between August 1 - September 30 = Decision sent October 14, 2024
Submitted between October 1 - October 31 = Decision sent on November 18. 2024
Submitted between November 1 - December 31 = Decision sent on January 13, 2025
Step 2: Audition
Students who are invited to audition should be prepared for their audition date. Each audition will consist of:
- Dance audition
- Two vocal selections (we will provide an accompanist)
- One monologue
Audition Tips and Advice
Your first decision is whether you actually want to pursue a BFA degree. The BFA is meant for highly focused individuals who wish to train for the professional theatre. It is a highly competitive, challenging degree program meant for students with intense discipline, motivation, stamina, physical, mental, and emotional strength, and of course – talent. Admission is extremely competitive – and based on both academics and artistry. Artistically, you need to demonstrate professional potential at the audition. Academically, you need to be admissible to the Penn State University system.
Preparing During your High School Years
Here are some suggestions on how you can best prepare for Penn State Musical Theatre:
- If possible, try to find somewhere to take lessons and classes – voice lessons, acting class, and dance class can only improve your readiness.
- Choir, piano, and music theory will all help you increase your musicality.
- See as much musical theatre as possible. The more theatre you see, the more you will develop your critical thinking skills and aesthetic.
Preparing for your Audition
Your audition will happen in two parts - an individual appointment and a dance call.
Individual Appointment: Please prepare two songs and one monologue. See below for suggestions as well as length. One song must be written before 1970. The two songs should contrast (one ballad, one up-tempo). The monologue should be from a published play written after 1950.
Dance Call: You will taught a short dance combination in a group. After learning together, we will do the combination in small groups of 3-4 in order to adjudicate.
Here are several suggestions as you consider your audition…
- A successful audition begins with careful, intelligent material selection. Pick material that you feel reflects a bit of who you are and what you think. Where possible, try to select songs and monologues that fit your age bracket and life experience. Things that are “performative” (big production numbers from musicals, monologues with “shocking” subject matters or language do not usually translate well to the audition room.
- Pick material that you do well and that you are passionate about. This is very different than picking material based on a belted high note or series of skills you are looking to showcase. We are much more interested in what your material tells us about you than things that showcase all of your skills. At Penn State, we don’t publish a list of “do not sing” material – we are happy to hear anything you prepare. We do suggest, however, that you try to avoid material that is either currently on Broadway, huge and “performative” in nature, or has been originated and imprinted by a very well-known living artist.
- Think of the two songs and the monologue as an introduction to who you are as a young artist and person. Remember, we aren't looking for the perfect casting decision. We are looking for talented and curious artists – people with whom we will spend a great deal of time over four years.
- Pay careful attention to cutting and editing your selections. We are asking that you keep each of your selections (two songs, one monologue) to 60-90 seconds each.
- The up-tempo and ballad should contrast. One song needs to have been written before 1970. What we are looking for is one song in a more “traditional vocalism” and one using more of a “contemporary vocalism.” We would encourage you to also contrast your songs from a content perspective as well (try not to sing two “love songs” or two songs with similar circumstances and objectives).
- If possible, try to find a way to rehearse with someone who can play the music that you will provide our accompanist. Singing the first time with an accompanist at an audition can be difficult.
The Audition Day
Here are several things you can do to help yourself on the day of your audition…
- Give yourself the best chance for success. You are a busy person. You're probably juggling your Penn State audition with other auditions, school shows, lessons, a job, your social life, and school work. If you are auditioning on campus, try to arrive the day before if possible. That way you can familiarize yourself with the campus, take a self-guided tour, look for the audition location, and hopefully get a good night’s sleep.
- Manage your energy. Many people in our field think of auditions as difficult events full of anxiety. We invite you to think about your audition as a great opportunity to share your work with us. A time to introduce yourself and your passions to a group of people who are on your side in that process. We want nothing more than for your audition to go well! Try to grab a few minutes before you come in the room to breathe and center yourself. Hopefully this will slow your clock down just a bit so you can do great work when you join us in the room.
- When you enter the room, please visit the accompanist first. Give your tempo for both songs and then join us in the center of the room. You are welcome to start with anything you like – the songs, the monologue, or splitting up the songs and the monologue in the middle. Consider what gives you the best chance for success in the order you choose (is there a vocalism that you use that might help you understand how to best order your songs, for instance). Please DO NOT SLATE. We will speak to you, ask you what you are going to do first, etc. – but please do not prepare a slate. Just talk with us in the room and then we’ll move into the work together.
- Be ready for the unexpected. We may stop you and work with you on a piece; we may cut you off and ask you to move to your next piece; we may vocalize you, or we may ask you to do something unplanned. We have a short time to get to know as much about you and your work as possible. If we've seen what we need to see, or feel that we need to see something different, our request will only help us learn about you.
- Wear comfortable clothing for the dance call. Something that allows you to move comfortably. Dance clothing is preferred if possible (if not, athletic clothing is next best). Bring a couple of different shoe options so you can choose based on the floor (character shoes, jazz sneakers, etc.).