Musical Theatre

MSM’s Musical Theatre program is passionate about the next generation of musical theatre artists. Manhattan School of Music offers rigorous training in acting, singing and dancing taught by a stellar faculty of artist-educators. Embracing individuality, MSM honors each student’s artistic journey by providing opportunities to investigate areas beyond performing including directing, choreographing, writing, and composing. Devoted to musical theatre past, present, and future, the program provides students with opportunities to investigate the classic and contemporary canon.

At MSM, we embrace and welcome all applicants regardless of race, ethnicity, class, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, and disability status.

Musical Theatre Application Requirements

The application, Musical Theatre Essay, and prescreening videos are due by December 1, 2021. Supplemental documents (including unofficial transcripts and official English language tests, if applicable) must be submitted through the Status Portal and are due by January 15, 2022.

The Musical Theatre Program is well-suited to enthusiastic, highly motivated, collaborative individuals who bring a strong sense of self to the audition. It is recommended that prospective students use the audition process to shine a light on themselves as individuals, and not try to conform to some idea of who they think the audition panel will want to see. At MSM, we are committed to developing musical theatre artists.

Musical Theatre Prescreening Requirements

Musical Theatre applicants are required to submit a video recording for prescreening purposes in order to be considered for an invitation for a live audition. It is not required to submit professional or studio recordings. All recordings must be unedited. The recordings must include:

• Two contrasting one-minute selections from the Musical Theatre repertoire; one up-tempo, one ballad
• A one-minute, memorized monologue of your choice. 
• Perform a dance of your choosing, or from the following suggested genres: contemporary, jazz, hip-hop, ballet, or tap. The selection should be no longer than one minute. Do not submit videos from performances. You should be the only person in the video. 

Musical Theatre Audition Requirements

Select applicants will be invited to audition in January. The singing/acting audition will last five to seven minutes and include:

• Two contrasting one-minute selections from the Musical Theatre repertoire; one up-tempo, one ballad. **We recommend that you prepare one classic Musical Theatre piece, and one contemporary Musical Theatre piece from the last 10 years.
• A one-minute, memorized monologue of your choice. 

There will be a dance call that will last approximately one hour.  Clothing should allow for ease of movement but not be too loose-fitting.  Applicants should wear character shoes, jazz shoes, or sneakers for the dance call.  If an applicant is proficient in pointe work, they should bring pointe shoes.

International or domestic students whose circumstances prevent travel to NYC should contact their Admission Counselor, Emma Davis, at edavis@msmnyc.edu to request a virtual audition. 

Virtual Audition Instructions

Virtual auditions will include both live Zoom and recorded components.

All virtual applicants will sign up for a 5-7 minute Zoom with the Musical Theatre faculty. In this Zoom call, applicants will present two contrasting one-minute songs and a one-minute monologue.

All virtual applicants will be provided a dance call video and accompanying music by January 5. There will be two levels of choreography; one for dancers, and one for movers. The level of choreography will be assigned to applicants based on their prescreening. Applicants will be required to learn the dance and record the choreography with the provided music. Dance call recordings must be submitted by January 15.