Undergraduate Certificate in Musical Theatre
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.
AUDITIONS
The Spring MT Certificate auditions will occur on Saturday, March 22nd in Rowe 206, with singing/monologue auditions from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, and dance callbacks from 2:00 to 4:00 pm the same day. A virtual open house to share information about Music at Charlotte and the MT Certificate program with potential enrollees will on Monday, March 10th at 7:00 pm.
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.
Upcoming guest artists
Hannah Jewel Kohn, who plays Marcia Murphy in A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical, will present an Acting Through Song workshop with students on Thursday 02/27 at 4:00pm-5:30pm
Composer Douglas Tappin, will present a Mock Audition for his new original work, DIVA, The Musical, as part of our “New Musical Development” curriculum unit on Tuesday 3/25 at 4:00 – 5:30 pm
final showcase
Our final exam showcase for the semester is scheduled for May 8 at 3:00 PM in Rowe 140.
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.
- 2023 Guest Artist: On October 13 in Robinson 103, the Department of Theatre welcomes UNC Charlotte Theatre alumnus Daniel Tolbert, who has made a career as an actor in Los Angeles. The program will consist of a “Show & Tell” class at 12:20pm in which Daniel will talk about his journey from the UNC Charlotte Theatre Department to his career as a working actor. Following this class, there will also be a reception held in the main lobby of Robinson Hall, 1:15 pm-2:00 pm.
- 2023 Guest Artist: Eric Woodall from the North Carolina Theatre will join us in a joint 3-day residency with the Department of Theatre. Carrie Allen, a local photographer, also joined us for a joint headshot workshop with the Department of Art & Art History’s photography class. This year, we also welcomed cast members from the Broadway National Tour of Come From Away; and Eric Chad Murnane from Broadway’s Binder Casting.
- 2022 Guest Artists: 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!)
- 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).
- 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); 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.
STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES
The Musical Theatre Certificate Program, along with the Departments of Theatre, Dance, and Music, supports a wide range of opportunities for our students. Recently, student Logan Pavia appeared in Common Thread Theatre Collective’s production of How to Make An American Son; student Amari Rice appeared in She Kills Monsters at The Arts Factory; and Deity Brinson and Carly Helms appeared in Queen City Concert’s production of Angels in America. See more exciting opportunities for students, below.
TRAINING & AUDITIONS
The All-in-One Conference is an opportunity for students to take workshops, network with peers and industry professionals, and access an abundance of opportunities and resources all in one weekend. Participants also audition for the Artistic Directors and Casting Directors of the country’s leading regional theaters and entertainment companies. In 2022, Over 30 students participated in the on-campus pre-screen audition, and 12 students were selected to participate in person at the main conference in NY. Students received a combined total of 37 callbacks/interviews for professional theatre work, and several graduating students have since signed with a national talent agency. Pre-screens for the A1 Conference occur this October.
NYC 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.
alumni news
Logan Pavia (’23) is currently pursuing a graduate degree in Musical Theatre Performance at the prestigious NYU Steinhardt. Logan is also slated to portray the role of Ned Nickerson in a developmental musical with Tony Award-winning creatives, composer Alan Menken and director James Lapine.
Carly Helms (’23) recently moved to London to pursue her MFA in Classical Acting at London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA).
Sam Pomerantz (’22) recently released his debut EP Escape, which is available on Spotify and Apple Music. He was a recent headliner at the Taste of Charlotte Festival.
Amber Coleman (’21) is currently pursuing her MFA in Acting at the University of Florida.
meet the faculty
Dr. Sequina DuBose, Musical Theatre Certificate Program Coordinator
Dr. Sequina DuBose (BA in Music from Morgan State University; MM in Vocal Performance from George Mason University; Artist Diploma in Vocal Performance from Manhattan School of Music; DMA 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, Faculty Co-Teacher for the MT Workshop
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