Music Theatre Major, B.F.A.
B.F.A. degree
Major Map
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/academics/colleges/college-arts-media/departments-schools/theatre-dance/music-theatre, or by contacting the Department of Theatre and Dance, (989) 774-7710, 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. BFA Music Theatre students will enroll in Applied Voice (MUS 150B) in Fall and Spring semesters of their first year in the BFA Music Theatre program. At the conclusion of the first year, the student will perform a voice jury for the Voice Faculty. The Voice Faculty must approve the student to advance to the second year of study in the BFA Music Theatre program. The student will be given only one attempt at passing the end of first year jury.
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/academics/colleges/college-arts-media/departments-schools/theatre-dance/music-theatre. 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 (47 hours)
Note: 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 (2 hours)
Participation in one of the following choral ensembles (may be repeated):
Required Courses III (17 hours)
Required Courses IV (2 hours)
Select two TAI Studio courses for 1 hour each. One studio must be in technical theatre.
Required Courses V (2 hours)
Select 2 hours from the following:
Electives (12 hours)
Select from DAN, MUS, TAI and/or cognate classes in consultation with the advisor.
Total: 82 semester hours