Musical Theatre
Students may elect to pursue an emphasis in Musical Theatre within the Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Dance degree. The Musical Theatre emphasis reflects the uniqueness of the College of Fine Arts as it provides connections to industry professionals, practical experiences in musical theatre production and performance, new musical theatre development, and entrepreneurship and advocacy in the world of contemporary music and theatre performance.
The University of Texas at Austin College of Fine Arts offers you the training, insight, and connections you will need as you prepare for a successful career in musical theatre.
FAQs for Students Pursuing a B.A. in Theatre and Dance - Emphasis in Musical Theatre
What will be my major and what degree will I receive?
You will be a Theatre and Dance major pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Dance.
How will this degree help me achieve my goals?
Upon graduation, you will leave UT ready to compete with the best in your field, and equipped to use your education to help create opportunities and a rewarding life for yourself in the arts. In addition to providing access to UT’s university-wide core curriculum, the Musical Theatre program rigorously trains students in voice, music, dance, and acting - producing self-reliant graduates who will become leaders in their chosen professions and communities.
How many students do you accept into the program?
Musical theatre focused applicants are strongly encouraged to audition. A maximum of six students will be accepted per year, ensuring that they receive critical one-on-one training, performance opportunities, and financial support through scholarships.
What if I’m not in the top 10% of my high school class?
The College of Fine Arts recognizes that talented students entering our programs must be academically strong but may not be in the top 10% of their class. Entry into the College is based on factors other than strictly your class rank.
How long will it be before I get to perform?
Performing opportunities begin in the very first semester of study – from cabaret-style entertainment to musical revues custom-crafted for our students; from original scripts developed in our playwriting program to staged readings performed at the biennial Cohen New Works Festival; and from intimate black box settings to fully-staged productions in the B. Iden Payne Theatre.
How big are the classes?
Our class sizes are small (typically between 10-16 students).
What are some of the specific classes for the Musical Theatre emphasis?
You will take eight semesters of private voice lessons with a musical theatre voice specialist, five semesters of dance ranging from ballet to Broadway jazz, and musical theatre history. You will also take courses in acting, and electives in arts management, entrepreneurship and music business.
How do you compete with programs that are closer to New York City?
Austin, Texas is a smart, modern city and it is at your doorstep. The UT Department of Theatre and Dance builds outstanding performing alliances with a full spectrum of performing arts organizations, and while it doesn't provide geographic access to the same theaters and resources as schools on the northeast and west coasts, our extensive network of alumni as well as our association with Texas Performing Arts connects our students with artists from New York, Los Angeles and everywhere in between.
In recent years, our students have enjoyed
Q & A events with Meryl Streep, Kevin Costner, and Tommy Tune which were available exclusively to College of Fine Arts students and faculty.
Master classes in auditioning, dance and acting taught by performers currently working in the Broadway or national touring productions of The Phantom of the Opera, A Chorus Line, 9 to 5, Urinetown, Shrek the Musical and Jersey Boys. The 2011-2012 academic year alone brought guest artists from Wicked, La Cage aux Folles, Mary Poppins, South Pacific and Les Misérables directly into the classroom with our students. In 2012-2013, our students will work with guest artists from Billy Elliott, The Lion King, Million Dollar Quartet, and Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.
Are there any opportunities for me to work or study in the summer?
Students in our Musical Theatre program may participate - either as mentors training alongside high school students or as cast members in staged readings of new musicals - in the Texas Musical Theatre Workshop, a three-week summer intensive which brings notable Broadway professionals to UT.
Why would I choose The University of Texas at Austin over conservatory-style training?
Students in our Musical Theatre program have the best of both worlds: a highly competitive university and a specialized musical theatre focus. They receive a world-class liberal arts education at one of the largest and most respected universities in the nation; they enjoy UT's enormous array of scholastic and social resources; and they train in a rigorous musical theatre program at one of the nation’s Best Value Colleges for 2012, as designated by The Princeton Review. That’s why, at The University of Texas at Austin we say, “What starts here changes the world!”
