Music Theatre Major, B.F.A.

B.F.A. degree

Students wishing to develop the skills necessary to become a professional performer in theatrical genres that combine acting with music and dance need a program that provides training and experience in those areas.

Music Theatre at CMU. Students interested in the BFA-Music Theatre program should contact the Office of the Dean, College of Arts and the Media, to discuss dates and criteria for the auditions.

Admission Requirements, Retention & Termination Standards

Admission. Admission to the program is by audition only. The auditions occur early in the spring semester each year. Auditions are attended by faculty from music, theatre, and dance. Criteria and information about the audition process may be found at https://www.cmich.edu/colleges/CCFA/CCFAMusicalTheatre/, or by contacting the Office of the Dean, College of Communication and Fine Arts, or by writing to the Chair of the Music Theatre Council, 129 Moore Hall, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, MI, 48859.

Retention. Each year, Music Theatre majors demonstrate their progress as singers/actors in performance examinations known as juries. Juries are held during the final examination time at the end of the spring semester. In a jury, the Music Theatre major performs for faculty and receives written comments. Students are allowed two attempts to satisfactorily complete each jury level. Only one attempt may be made each semester. Failure to pass to a higher level of study will result in dismissal from the Music Theatre program.

Additional criteria for continuing in the program include meeting the current university standard for grade point average (GPA). A student who has been awarded a Music Theatre Scholarship has additional criteria to fulfill. These criteria are listed on the Music Theatre Scholarship material each student receives at the end of each semester. Scholarship students are required to request renewal of the scholarship at the end of each semester.

Information for Transfer Students. The principal goal of the Music Theatre program is to provide comprehensive training in the complex area of music theatre that integrates various performance skills (music, theatre, dance) and production experiences into a high quality pre-professional major. All students wishing to become a BFA-Music Theatre major must audition. Information about audition dates and requirements may be found at https://www.cmich.edu/colleges/CCFA/CCFAMusicalTheatre/. Answers to many other questions may be found there as well.

Transfer students often have questions about what courses they should take to prepare for the Music Theatre program. Since each student’s background is different, it is difficult to give answers that will apply to all situations. Generally, training in the following areas is recommended but not required to enter the CMU Music Theatre program:

Studies in music, particularly formal voice lessons
Studies in acting, particularly basic acting classes
Studies in dance, particularly basic dance technique classes

Program Requirements

Required Courses I (48 hours)

DAN 133	Modern I	2(1-2)
DAN 136	Ballet I	2(1-2)
DAN 137	Tap I	2(1-2)
DAN 138	Jazz I	2(1-2)
DAN 230	Movement-Rhythmic Form and Structure	3(3-0)
MUS 101	Fundamentals of Music Theory	4(3-2)
MUS 102	Theory and Analysis of Popular Music	4(3-2)
MUS 103	Sight Singing and Ear Training I	1(0-2)
MUS 104	Sight Singing and Ear Training II	1(0-2)
MUS 147	Piano Class I	1(0-2)
MUS 148	Piano Class II	1(0-2)
TAI 175WI	The Art of Theatre: From 'Hamlet' to 'Hamilton'	3(3-0)
TAI 182	Acting I	3(3-0)
TAI 278	Stage Makeup	3(2-2)
TAI 282	Acting II	3(3-0)
TAI 352	Music Theatre Scene Study	3(1-2)
TAI 380	Musical Theatre History	3(3-0)
TAI 452	Music Theatre Performance	3(2-2)
TAI 460	BFA Capstone Project	3(0-6)
TAI 481	Directing	3(3-0)

Note: Incoming students will be given a Theory Placement Exam. If recommended based on exam results, students should take MUS 206 (3 hours) prior to taking MUS 101.

Students demonstrating sufficient proficiency as determined by appropriate DAN faculty member(s) may substitute a higher level skills course for DAN 136, DAN 137, and DAN 138. Students demonstrating sufficient proficiency as determined by appropriate MUS faculty member(s) may substitute a higher level skills course for MUS 147 and MUS 148.

Required Courses II (4 hours)

Participation in one of the following choral ensembles (may be repeated):

MUS 182	Women's Chorus	1-8(Spec)
MUS 183	Concert Choir	1-8(Spec)
MUS 282	Chamber Singers	1-8(Spec)

Required Courses III (8 hours)

Each course to be taken for two semesters, 1 hour each semester, for a total of 8 hours:

MUS 150	Voice	1-12(Spec)
MUS 250	Voice	1-12(Spec)
MUS 284	Techniques for the Singing Actor	1-6(Spec)
MUS 350	Voice	1-16(Spec)

Required Courses IV (2 hours)

Select two TAI studio courses in one of the following areas of technical theatre for a faculty-supervised theatre production or for a faculty-supervised dance concert:

TAI 309	Studio: Stage Management	1-4(Spec)
TAI 310	Studio: Sound	1-4(Spec)
TAI 311	Studio: Properties	1-4(Spec)
TAI 312	Studio: Scenery Construction and Rigging	1-4(Spec)
TAI 313	Studio: Scenery Design	1-4(Spec)
TAI 314	Studio: Lighting	1-4(Spec)
TAI 315	Studio: Lighting Design	1-4(Spec)
TAI 316	Studio: Technical Direction	1-4(Spec)
TAI 317	Studio: Costuming	1-4(Spec)
TAI 318	Studio: Wardrobe Management	1-4(Spec)
TAI 319	Studio: Makeup	1-4(Spec)

Electives (20 hours)

Select from DAN, MUS, TAI and/or cognate classes in consultation with the advisor. Students may not take more than nine (9) hours of electives in any one area (DAN, MUS, TAI).

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