Undergraduate Certificate in Musical Theatre

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 masterclasses and guest artist workshops. In Fall 2020, we welcomed four acclaimed artists to our guest artist line-up: 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, HairBlacKkKlansman, Mrs. Maisel). Spring 2020 guest artists included 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.

collage of headshots of three men and woman woman

two guest artists with scripts in their hand giving a lesson

large group of students with guest artist


UPCOMING guest artists line-up 

This season, we are thrilled to welcome Kevin Metzger-Timson (casting director, Tara Rubin Casting) on February 18 and Grace McLean (Broadway's The Great Comet, Lortell-winning composer & star of In the Green) on April 6. 

headshots of two actors against a dark backdrop


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. Currently, auditions are being conducted online. Video submissions are open March 22-26. For submission information, please click here.


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 →

sequina headshotDr. 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 DreamgirlsSee 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):
    • Intro to Ballet (DANC 1212)
    • Tap (DANC 2126)
    • Contemporary Jazz (DANC 2227)
  • Industry Preparation Directed Independent Study- 1 credit

View course requirements for

  • Loading...