Musical Theatre Prescreening & Audition Procedures

Information for prospective musical theatre students applying to Manhattan School of Music.

Musical Theatre Prescreening Requirements

There are no prescreening requirements for the Musical Theatre Program.

Musical Theatre Application Requirements

All Musical Theatre students will begin as freshmen and attend MSM for four years. A completed application, headshot, resume, transcript(s), and two letters of recommendation are required.

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. This program is designed to create performers who are unique and yet know how to “play well with others.” The concept of theater as a collaborative art form will be stressed throughout the four years of training.

Musical Theatre Audition Requirements

Invited applicants must audition live; no recorded auditions will be accepted. The singing/acting audition will last three-to-five minutes and include:

a one-minute monologue;
32 bars of a ballad; and
32 bars of an up-tempo song.

Songs should be age appropriate and from the musical theater repertoire.

Auditioning students may also be asked to participate in a vocal assessment with an individual faculty member, lasting up to 15 minutes.

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. Character or jazz shoes should be worn.