Program Description
The Musical Theatre Certificate program is the College of Arts + Architecture’s interdisciplinary course of study. The conservatory-style, 20-credit program is open to undergraduate students of all majors and allows students to develop skills in acting, singing, and dancing. Through a curated sequence of focused coursework, students will practice, research, and study the craft, theory, and historical evolution of musical theatre.
Students are admitted by audition. The program’s cornerstone course, Musical Theatre Workshop, consists of a cohesive 4-semester progression that covers Golden Age repertoire, Contemporary repertoire, Scene Study & Audition Technique, and a biennial Performance Practicum, which may include developing a staged reading of an existing work or bringing in a professional musical theatre composer to work with students on a new piece. In addition to this class, students enroll in co-requisite applied voice lessons or class voice, ear training & sight-singing, Acting for Musical Theatre, Musical Theatre History, and several dance electives.
For more information, please see our Musical Theatre Certificate Handbook.
WORK WITH SOME OF BROADWAY'S BEST
The Musical Theatre Certificate brings outstanding opportunities for students to work with the industry's leading professionals through master classes and guest artist workshops.
- Spring 2023 Guest Artists: cast members from the Broadway National Tour of Come From Away. Eric Chad Murnane from Broadway's Binder Casting.
- Fall 2021 and 2022 Guest Artist: Evan Kasprzak (3rd place dancer of Fox's So You Think You Can Dance, who originated the role of "Elmer" in the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Newsies!, performed in Cats and more!)
- Spring 2021 Guest Artists: Kevin Metzger-Timson (casting director, Tara Rubin Casting) and Grace McLean (Broadway's The Great Comet, Lortell-winning composer & star of In the Green).
- Fall 2020 Guest Artists: Kevin McAllister (Broadway’s Caroline or Change, Come From Away, Artistic Director, ArtsCentric); Georgia Stitt (composer, Big Red Sun, Snow Child, musical director, Broadway’s Sweet Charity); Damon Daunno (Tony Award Nominee, Broadway’s Oklahoma!); and Ato Blankson-Wood (Broadway’s Slave Play, Hair, BlacKkKlansman, Mrs. Maisel).
- Spring 2020 Guest Artists: Tony Award Nominee Phillip Boykin ( Broadway’s Porgy & Bess, Once on This Island, Sunday in the Park with George) and Come From Away cast members Amelia Cormack and Sharone Sayegh.
2021 Guest Artists: Kevin Metzger-Timson and Grace McLean.
New York City broadway field study
During Fall Break 2022, dance/musical theatre faculty member Tod Kubo led an intensive Broadway field study program in New York City. “Introducing our students to the theatre industry and giving them a behind-the-scenes look at Broadway is the main focus of the program” Kubo comments. The intensive included lectures and master classes with Broadway’s Derrick Davis (The Lion King and Phantom tours), Will Branner (Mean Girls), and Marla McReynolds (The Color Purple and Chicago). Dancers continued their studies at STEPS on Broadway, Alvin Ailey studios, and the Harkness Center of NYU. In the fall of 2022, students attended Broadway performances of Moulin Rouge, MJ, Chicago, and Phantom of the Opera.
Photos: At Moulin Rouge Broadway; Students with Angelica Ross who plays Roxie Hart in Chicago; After an industry lecture with film director and star of Mean Girls, Will Branner.
AUDITION INFORMATION
Auditions for the Musical Theatre Certificate Program occur at the end of every semester for admittance the following semester. For the audition, students are asked to prepare a brief song (two minutes or under) and a 1-minute monologue. An additional dance component may be included. Fill out our interest form to stay up to date on auditions.
MEET YOUR DIRECTORS
Laura London Waringer (BFA in Musical Theatre from NYU Tisch School of the Arts; MFA in Music Theatre from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London) is an accomplished actress of stage and screen. Her favorite credits include A Christmas Carol (National Tour), Little Women (London, UK Premiere), Spring Awakening (London, Bridewell Theatre), Mean Girls (London, reading), John & Jen (New York, Artists Salon), the world premiere of Elizabeth Swados' Atonement and RakheLeah, and the 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremonies directed by Danny Boyle. See more.
Dr. Sequina DuBose (BFA in Music from Morgan State University; Ph.d. in Vocal Pedagogy from University of Maryland College Park) is a versatile actress and crossover artist. Dr. DuBose has performed as Cleopatra in an Off-Broadway production of Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra, as Lady in Blue in ArtsCentric’s production of For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow is Enuf, as Chloe in a New York Musical Theater Festival reading of 7:32, The Musical, and as Deena Jones in the hit musical Dreamgirls. See more.
Tod A. Kubo has directed/choreographed his way across the US, Europe, Asia, Australia, and South and Latin America over three decades. He received his teaching credential in performing arts from Cal State Long Beach and his health certificate from the University of San Diego. Regionally, Tod was the creative director for performances for the Democratic National Convention in 2012 and Madame Butterfly/Opera Carolina Event at the Uptown Mint Museum of Charlotte. See more.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
Any courses in the musical theatre certificate program completed prior to formal admission into the program will subsequently be applied towards the Certificate. All required courses must be passed with a grade of “C” or better to earn the Undergraduate Certificate in Musical Theatre.
- Musical Theatre Workshop (COAA 3350)- 1 credit x 4 semesters
- Musical Theatre History (COAA 3150)- 3 credits
- Applied Music (MUPF 1270 Voice Lessons) or Class Voice (MUSC 1237)- 1 credit x 4 semesters
- Intro to Aural Skills & Sight Singing (MUSC 1101) - 1 credit
- Acting for Musical Theatre (THEA 3207)- 3 credits
- Dance Electives- 2 credits each (choose 2):
- DANC 1212 - Ballet I (2)
- DANC 2126 - Tap Dance (2)
- DANC 2127 - Latin Dance Forms (2)
- DANC 2130 - Foundations of Hip-Hop Dance (2)
- DANC 2226 - Vernacular Jazz Dance (2)
- DANC 2227 - Contemporary Jazz Dance (2)
- Industry Preparation Directed Independent Study- 1 credit
View course requirements for
- Loading...