Programs

Musical Theatre

Students in the Musical Theatre program take part in more than a half dozen productions a year, including Senior Showcase, attended by invited New York theater professionals.

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A real-world musical theatre training experience that only New York City can provide, taught by Broadway performers and creators.

Degrees Offered

  • Bachelor of Music (BM)

Program Details

Manhattan School of Music’s prestigious Musical Theatre Program is the only stand-alone conservatory program in New York City. Our program attracts professional artist-teacher faculty and guest artists many of whom who have created and performed in some of Broadway’s greatest shows such as Les MiserablesThe Phantom of the Opera, Ragtime, Chicago, and countless others. Students receive comprehensive training in musical theatre culminating in a fully-accredited Bachelor’s degree.

MSM Musical Theatre students have many yearly performance opportunities including: Four fully-produced book musicals, one musical in development, Freshman Hello! and Senior Showcase. All MSM productions are directed, choreographed and designed by professional, working theatre artists. In addition we offer professional musical theatre writers the opportunity to workshop material with our students and we encourage students to produce independent performance projects.

SLIDESHOW: Select photos from previous MSM Musical Theatre productions! Pictured above: MAR 2023 | PAPERBOY

FEB 2023 | URINETOWN

MAR 2023 | PAPERBOY

MAR 2023 | PAPERBOY

NOV 2022 | SHE LOVES ME

MAR 2023 | PAPERBOY

FEB 2023 | VALENTINO'S TANGO

MAR 2023 | PAPERBOY

MAR 2023 | PAPERBOY

NOV 2022 | SHE LOVES ME

FEB 2023 | URINETOWN

FEB 2023 | VALENTINO'S TANGO

NOV 2022 | SHE LOVES ME

FEB 2023 | FRESHMAN POPS

MARCH 2022 | SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE

NOV 2022 | SHE LOVES ME

FEB 2019 | CABARET

MARCH 2022 | SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE

FEB 2022 | DON'T STOP ME

NOV 2021 | ON THE BRINK OF A LOVELY SONG

OCT 2021 | MISSED:CONNECTIONS

APR 2021 | STARBLASTERS

NOV 2021 | ON THE BRINK OF A LOVELY SONG

NOV 2019 | SWEENEY TODD

NOV 2021 | ON THE BRINK OF A LOVELY SONG

APR 2019 | FIORELLO!

MARCH 2022 | SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE

FEB 2020 | THE WILD PARTY

MAY 2019 | The 2019 Fred Ebb Musical in Development Workshop: RADIOACTIVE

OCT 2019 | WHERE'S CHARLEY?

APR 2019 | FIORELLO! cast member Raffaela Cicchetti performing "When Did I Fall In Love?" at the MSM Centennial Concert at Carnegie Hall

APR 2019 | CABARET cast members Jasmine Rogers and Chandler Sinks performing "Perfectly Marvelous" at the MSM Centennial Concert at Carnegie Hall

NOV 2018 | SPRING AWAKENING

MSM Musical Theatre Program Details:

Audition & Prescreening Information

Prescreening & Audition Procedures

Handbook for Current Students

Musical Theatre Handbook

Plan of Study & Course Descriptions

MSM Academic Catalog

“We train musical theatre artists excelling in acting, singing, and dancing to thrive in a field where they need to be more than performers: Successful artists today are also creative contributors to project development, skilled at digital media, entrepreneurial and self-producing.”

Associate Dean and Chair of Musical Theatre

Learn what’s new at MSM Musical Theatre (including videos and features)

A sampling of rave reviews from audiences who saw MSM’s recent production of the musical Paperboy :


Excellent cast, very talented. Professional production!


I may have seen a future Broadway smash hit today. The young cast was stellar — they already could be On Broadway rather than in college. The songs were excellent, the orchestra and conducting was excellent, the book worked. An after performance talk about the formation and development of the musical, with the author of Paperboy and all the talented people who created this musical, was a special treat.


The MSM Cast and Crew did a great job! Wonderful show. Very talented cast. Try and see the show. Very limited run. You will be sorry if you miss this production.

MSM Musical Theatre faculty in Sakura Park

WATCH! From "Missed: Connections" on Oct 30 & 31, 2021: “Find My Way Home” Music and Lyrics by Adam Gwon Performed by Torinae

Watch the MSM 2019/2020 sophomore class perform a 90th birthday greeting to composer Stephen Sondheim!

Success Stories

See All
  • Jun 13, 2023 Musical Theatre
    Students
    MSM Musical Theatre student Lyda Jade Harlan is featured in off-Broadway new musical Scouts
  • Mar 26, 2023 Musical Theatre
    Faculty
    MSM Musical Theatre “Acting the Song” instructor LaDonna Burns is an understudy performing in White Girl in Danger
  • Jan 19, 2023 Musical Theatre
    Faculty
    MSM Musical Theatre program Music Director David Loud is vocal arranger for the upcoming Broadway show New York, New York

Sample Schedule for Bachelor of Music / Musical Theatre Major

Total Curriculum Credits: 132

  • Acting 1 & 2 (MT 0001-0002)
    6 cr
  • Musical Theatre Performance Technique 1 & 2 (MT 0010-0011)
    4 cr
  • Music Theory (MT 0550-0551)
    6 cr
  • Humanities Core (HU 0001-0002)
    6 cr
  • Musical Theatre Dance (MT 0110
    2 cr
  • Ballet (MT 0100)
    2 cr
  • Freshman Seminar (MT 0200)
    1 cr
  • Intro to Theatrical Design (MT 0201)
    1 cr
  • Studio Lessons (MT 4000)
    2 cr
  • Rehearsal and Performance (MT 1500)
    0 cr
  • Ensemble Voice (MT 0350-0351)
    2 cr
  • Concert Attendance (CA 0100)
    0 cr
Total Credits for Year 1:
32 cr
  • Acting 3 (MT 0003)
    3 cr
  • Acting 4 - Devised Theatre Practice (MT 0004)
    2 cr
  • Acting the Song 1 & 2 (MT 0012-0013)
    6 cr
  • MT Exploring the Art Form 1 & 2 (MT 0500-0501)
    6 cr
  • Humanties Core (HU 0003-0004)
    6 cr
  • Required Piano (RP 0111-0112)
    2 cr
  • Musical Theatre Dance (MT 0111)
    2 cr
  • Ballet (MT 0101)
    2 cr
  • Script Analysis (MT 0211)
    2 cr
  • Speech (MT 0300-0301)
    4 cr
  • Studio Lessons (MT 4001)
    2 cr
  • Rehearsal and Performance (MT 1500)
    0 cr
  • Concert Attendance (CA 0100)
    0 cr
Total Credits for Year 2:
37 cr
  • Acting 5 - Scene Study & Repertory (MT 0005)
    3 cr
  • Acting 6 - Scene Study & Monologue (MT 0006)
    3 cr
  • Scene to Song (MT 0014)
    3 cr
  • Audition Techniques (MT 0015)
    3 cr
  • Humanities Elective (HU)
    6 cr
  • Musical Theatre Dance (MT 0112)
    2 cr
  • Tap (MT 0120)
    2 cr
  • General Electives
    4 cr
  • Studio Lessons (MT 4002)
    4 cr
  • Rehearsal and Performance (MT 1500)
    0 cr
  • Concert Attendance (CA 0100)
    0 cr
Total Credits for Year 3:
30 cr
  • Acting 7 - Advanced Acting (MT 0007)
    3 cr
  • Musical Theatre Lab (MT 0016)
    3 cr
  • Musical Theatre Dance (MT 0113)
    2 cr
  • Tap (MT 0121)
    1 cr
  • General Electives
    8 cr
  • Studio Lessons (MT 4003)
    6 cr
  • Rehearsal and Performance (MT 1500)
    0 cr
  • Setting the Stage Workshops - 5 (ME 1000)
    0 cr
  • Senior Showcase (MT 1505)
    3 cr
Total Credits for Year 4:
26 cr

NOTE: Curriculum is subject to change. In case of a discrepancy, the MSM Academic Catalog is the authoritative source of requirements. View the Course Catalog here.

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