Musical Theatre Audition Information

Prescreen Audition Criteria

• Prescreen Introduction "SLATE" Video (Required)

  • Record one introduction "slate" video stating your name. If you would like to include your pronouns, state them as well. Please speak loudly (project your voice) and clearly (articulate) directly at the camera. This is an opportunity for the auditors to get a sense of your personality and to learn the pronunciation of your name.
  • There is no need to slate your individual performance videos & pieces. Instead, clearly label each video with your name and the title of the piece you are performing (see more details above).
  • This slate video should be no longer than 10 seconds.

• Song Requirements (Required)

  • OPTION B

    • One musical theater song from any time period.
    • One song of your choice from any time period and in any style that best suits you (musical theater, pop, hip-hop, folk, rock, rap, soul, country, punk, etc.). This song should contrast the style of the first selection.

  • Song Tips

    • Some examples of contrasting songs are fast tempo vs slow tempo, sustained melodic singing vs speech-like singing, dramatic vs comedic, belt vs head/falsetto mix.
    • Many accompaniment tracks are available on YouTube and other websites. If you do not have a way to work with a live accompanist or don’t have access to a recorded track of your music, consider using an app that will play the piano part for you. Harmony Helper is one such app that allows you to take photos of your sheet music, upload them to the app and then generate a piano track that you can use.

• Monologue Requirements (Required)

  • OPTION A

    One monologue from a published play or written by a professional writer. (A professional writer is someone whose plays have been produced, but may not have been professionally published.)

  • Monologue Tips

    • It is recommended to choose monologues that are age-appropriate (generally within 5-10 years of your actual age) and that feel authentic to your culture, background, and lived experience.
    • Active monologues are often better for auditions; an active monologue takes place in real time and focuses on what you want and puts you in direct communication with an imaginary scene partner. This is often more successful in an audition situation than pieces that are a story or remembrance. Additionally, it can be helpful to avoid monologues that rely on extreme emotions as it can be hard to believably justify those responses in a short piece.

• Dance Requirements

  • Required Dance Media

    • OPTION A

      Show us your best version of choreographed dancing or moving. Please include at least one turn, one jump and one kick (or other suitable rotation, elevation, and extension that works for your body).

  • Optional Dance Media

    • OPTION B (Ballet)

      Ballet media is optional

  • Dance Tips

    • Make sure you can execute all the choreography safely and well. It is to your advantage to choose steps and movement that highlight your strengths instead of your areas of improvement.
    • You may use recent videos of you from a show or concert, but it must just be you in the frame.
    • Dance sample should be 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.
    • Dance media can be “self-choreographed”, but it must be a solo video of you. This can include a show, competition, or other performance so long as you are clearly featured on your own.
    • Please use steps, movement, and physical vocabulary that you are familiar with and can execute well. Fully move your body to the best of your ability.

• Wild Card (Optional)

  • WILD CARD (Optional)

    Think about the wild card section as an opportunity to show your personality or share something about you. This media can be ANYTHING you want - a special skill, an interesting story about yourself, a passion speech, an instrument you play, etc. “What do you want us to know about you?”

  • Past Ideas

    Below is a list of ideas that have been successful in the past:

    • Singing or playing an original composition/song/poem or choreographed dance.
    • Performing your own Saturday Night Live-styled skit where you create a comedic character
    • Sharing a hobby or activity that means something to you
    • Performing in a language other than English in which you are fluent
    • Playing an instrument
    • Making a “how-to” video on something you are good at, baking, calligraphy, gymnastics.
    • If you are a dancer and want to show us a different style you excel in: Tap, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Ballet, etc.

• Personal Essay (Required)

  Our written introduction allows us to get to know you better. It is also an opportunity to see if you can follow directions and answer the questions provided—many applicants overlook this aspect. Much of what we do as artists relies on the details, so the care you take in addressing the requirements of this essay is crucial for your success. We place significant importance on the written introduction, as it is the first thing we review in an applicant's profile. Please adhere to the essay requirements and answer all the questions listed below.

  Requirements for Essay 

  • Standard MLA Format (Here is an MLA Structure Resource)
    • Create a header with your last name and page number in the upper right-hand corner. Doing so will ensure that it appears on every page.
    • Your paper should be double-spaced.
    • Please set margins to "normal" or 1" for the top, bottom, left, and right.
    • Indent the first line of every paragraph.
    • Use Times New Roman in 12-point font.
  • Word Minimum: 500 words
  • Word Maximum: 1000 words; do not exceed that.
  • The essay can be a first-person personal narrative.
  • To submit, save the file as a PDF and upload it with your application. 

  Questions to Answer 

  Please integrate your answers to the questions into your essay without numbering them separately. Please create a smooth, cohesive story that showcases your unique qualities, strengths, weaknesses, interests, and artistic pursuits. Answering the questions will help us better understand you as an artist.

  We look forward to reading your insights and learning what makes you special and valuable to our program.

  • What do you feel is special and unique about you?
  • What do you feel are your strengths and weaknesses as a person and as an artist?
  • What are your other interests and hobbies that are not related to theatre?
  • What are your artistic interests outside of performing in musicals? (Writing, directing, composing music, plays, film, TV, etc.) 

  Helpful Hints: 

  • Be honest.
  • Please don't feel you need to impress us or be overly humble.
  • Please don't waste time trying to figure out what you think we want to hear.
  • We are looking for 12 to 14 unique artists for the Musical Theatre BFA Program who know themselves and will benefit the most from what our program offers. 

• Additional Documentation (Required)

  You are required to provide two (2) letters of recommendation. 

  These letters can be from an academic teacher, a counselor, an arts teacher, or a community member. The recommender must not be related to you. 

  Recommenders will receive a link via Embark (likely from noreply@embark.com). Applicants can change/resend the invitation at any time. Recommenders will upload their letter there. If technical difficulties persist, please let us know.

  All letters are due by January 1, 2027.

  Please do not send physical letters or transcripts.

  Please do not send recommendation letters to theatre@txstate.edu