Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre Track

Musical Theatre Track Faculty

Charles Dugan
Phone: 330.941.3810
E-mail: chdugan@ysu.edu

Adam Howard, M.F.A.
Bliss Hall 1250
Phone: 330.941.1837
E-mail: adhoward05@ysu.edu


Musical Theatre Track 

The Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) in Musical Theatre is a professional degree for students who are interested in pursuing a career as an actor and singer. Admission to this program is available by audition/interview only. The broad, yet comprehensive, curriculum is based in theatre as a means of creative expression and a vehicle for public engagement. Students learn about theatre and performance from multiple perspectives. Practical application and theoretical investigation, as it relates to professional theatre, are balanced through required coursework. Students graduate from this program prepared for careers as broadly employable theatre professionals.

Musical Theatre is one of the most demanding performing arts professions within the theatre industry. The rigorous B.F.A. program requires coursework in three areas of performance—singing, dancing, and acting—as well as foundations in liberal arts and theatre history. Individualized instruction promotes focus and results in mature, talented, energetic performers prepared for a career in the professional musical theatre field.

The co-curricular theatre season includes four mainstage productions, and all B.F.A. Musical Theatre students are required to audition and participate. Additional performance opportunities are made possible through semi-annual cabarets, annual Festival of New Work, and Evening of 10-Minute Plays. Performance opportunities focus on students and their professional growth in real-world situations. In addition, all B.F.A. Musical Theatre students complete a senior capstone where they meet with their instructor individually as well as in small groups where deeper discussion occurs and final showcase material is refined and prepared for performance.

Our alumni may be seen regionally, nationally, and internationally across the theatre and entertainment industries. Our graduates are found on stage and screen—from Tony Award-winning Hadestown to Days of Our Lives—and receiving nominations and awards from The Tony's to The GRAMMYS®. Our dynamic programs also empower our alumni to become successful directors, designers, choreographers, and more at the national level, including the Great Lakes Theatre Festival and similar festivals. University Theatre degrees and programs will prepare you for success in the theatre industries no matter the path you choose.


University Theatre Contact Information

To learn more about our degree programs, scholarships, performances, faculty, and students, contact the University Theatre Office at 330.941.3810. To schedule a personalized campus visit, contact the Cliffe College of Creative Arts Program Coordinator of Admissions and Recruitment at 330.941.2346 or sawaltman@ysu.edu. We would love to learn about your interests, talk with you about our programs, and become an important part of your future. 

Dr. Joseph Carucci, Director 
jwcarucci@ysu.edu
330.941.1439

Grade of "C" or better is required for all major and minor courses. Courses cannot be taken "CR/NC".

COURSE TITLE S.H.
FIRST YEAR REQUIREMENT -STUDENT SUCCESS
YSU 1500Success Seminar1-2
or SS 1500 Strong Start Success Seminar
or HONR 1500 Intro to Honors
General Education Requirements
ENGL 1550Writing 13-4
or ENGL 1549 Writing 1 with Support
ENGL 1551Writing 23
CMST 1545Communication Foundations3
Mathematics Requirement3
Art and Humanities (2 courses) Included in majors0
Natural Sciences (2 courses, 1 with lab)7
Social Science (2 courses)6
Social and Personal Awareness (1 course)3
KSS 1500Physical Activity Core Concepts1
KSS 1550Pilates1
KSS 1552Yoga1
Major Requirements
THTR 1512Survey of Broadway: The American Musical *Art and Humanities Requirement3
THTR 1559Production Design for Stage and Screen3
THTR 1560Introduction to Theatre *Art and Humanities Requirement3
THTR 1561Stagecraft3
Theatre Participation 1 (THTR 2600) must be taken 3 times for a total of 3 s.h.3
THTR 1585Acting 1: Fundamentals3
THTR 2601Singing Styles1
THTR 2640Theatre History3
THTR 2667Acting 2: Character Creation & Scene Work3
THTR 2672Bodyvoice for Actors3
Theatre Participation 2 (THTR 3700) Must be taken 4 times for a total of 4 s.h.4
THTR 3701Professional Preparation3
THTR 3761Stage Makeup3
THTR 3762Directing 13
THTR 3768Script Analysis for Stage and Screen3
THTR 3774Musical Theatre Studio3
THTR 4898Senior Project3
MTVC 1501Voice Musical Theatre 12
MTVC 1502Voice Musical Theatre 22
MTVC 2601Adv Voice Musical Theatre 12
MTVC 2602Adv Voice Musical Theatre 22
MTVC 3701Voice2
MTVC 3702Voice2
MTVC 4801Voice2
MUAC 1521Keyboard Musicianship for Non-Music Majors 11
MUAC 1522Keyboard Musicianship for Non Music Majors 21
DNCE 1570Jazz Dance 11
DNCE 1571Tap Dance 11
DNCE 1572Ballet 11
DNCE 2667Musical Comedy1
DNCE 2670Jazz Dance 22
DNCE 2671Tap Dance 22
DNCE 2673Ballet 22
DNCE 3770Jazz Dance 32
DNCE 3771Tap Dance 32
DNCE 3781Ballet 32
Upper Division Theatre Electives 3700 and above - select two:6
THTR 3707, THTR 3763, THTR 3764, THTR 3765, THTR 3766, THTR 3769, THTR 3771, THTR 3772, THTR 4870, THTR 4880, THTR 4893, THTR 4899
Total Semester Hours120-122
Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
FallS.H.
DNCE 1572 Ballet 1 1
DNCE 1571 Tap Dance 1 1
MTVC 1501 Voice Musical Theatre 1 2
MUAC 1521 Keyboard Musicianship for Non-Music Majors 1 1
THTR 1585 Acting 1: Fundamentals 3
THTR 1560 Introduction to Theatre 3
THTR 2600 Theatre Participation 1
ENGL 1550
Writing 1
or Writing 1 with Support
3-4
YSU 1500
Success Seminar
or Strong Start Success Seminar
or Intro to Honors
1-2
 Semester Hours16-18
Spring
DNCE 2673 Ballet 2 2
DNCE 1570 Jazz Dance 1 1
MTVC 1502 Voice Musical Theatre 2 2
MUAC 1522 Keyboard Musicianship for Non Music Majors 2 1
THTR 1561 Stagecraft 3
THTR 2600 Theatre Participation 1
ENGL 1551 Writing 2 3
 Semester Hours13
Year 2
Fall
DNCE 2671 Tap Dance 2 2
DNCE 3781 Ballet 3 2
MTVC 2601 Adv Voice Musical Theatre 1 2
THTR 1559 Production Design for Stage and Screen 3
THTR 2601 Singing Styles 1
THTR 2600 Theatre Participation 1
THTR 3768 Script Analysis for Stage and Screen 3
 Semester Hours14
Spring
DNCE 2670 Jazz Dance 2 2
MTVC 2602 Adv Voice Musical Theatre 2 2
THTR 2667 Acting 2: Character Creation & Scene Work 3
THTR 2672 Bodyvoice for Actors 3
THTR 3700 Theatre Participation 2 1
THTR 3761 Stage Makeup 3
CMST 1545 Communication Foundations 3
 Semester Hours17
Year 3
Fall
DNCE 3771 Tap Dance 3 2
MTVC 3701 Voice 2
THTR 1512 Survey of Broadway: The American Musical 3
THTR 3700 Theatre Participation 2 1
THTR 3762 Directing 1 3
Mathematics Requirement 3
Social & Personal Awareness GER 3
 Semester Hours17
Spring
DNCE 3770 Jazz Dance 3 2
MTVC 3702 Voice 2
THTR 2640 Theatre History 3
THTR 3700 Theatre Participation 2 1
THTR 3774 Musical Theatre Studio 3
Upper Division Theatre Elective 3
 Semester Hours14
Year 4
Fall
MTVC 4801 Voice 2
THTR 3700 Theatre Participation 2 1
THTR 3701 Professional Preparation 3
Upper Division Theatre Elective 3
Natural Science + Lab GER 4
Social Science GER 3
 Semester Hours16
Spring
DNCE 2667 Musical Comedy 1
THTR 4898 Senior Project 3
KSS 1500 Physical Activity Core Concepts 1
KSS 1550 Pilates 1
KSS 1552 Yoga 1
Social Science GER 3
Natural Science GER 3
 Semester Hours13
 Total Semester Hours120-122

Learning Outcomes

  1. Demonstrate the ability to act, i.e., to project one's self believably in work and action into imaginary circumstances in roles in a wide variety of styles and formats
  2. Demonstrate a flexible, strong, and controlled voice with trained breath support; appropriate vocal range and freedom from vocal and postural tension in rehearsal and performance; the student will also demonstrate the ability to project the voice effectively in theater spaces of varying sizes.
  3. Demonstrate musicianship by learning accurate rhythm, pitch, phrasing, tempi, and appropriate vocal style that is consistent with performance practice in their vocal repertoire.
  4. Demonstrate physical competence in dance and movement with a focus on ballet, tap, and jazz technique
  5. Demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of basic production elements, including stage make-up
  6. Demonstrate knowledge of musical theatre repertory, the history of its development and the relationship of this history to styles of performance
  7. Demonstrate effective audition techniques