Musical Theatre

In response to the global events of 2020, and our subsequent inability to hold live in-person auditions, Manhattan School of Music will only hold recorded and virtual auditions in 2021.

Prescreening requirements have not been affected by this change. Applicants to all areas with a prescreening requirement will be asked to include prescreening materials in their application, which is due December 1, 2020. Prescreening decisions will be released on December 18, 2020.

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, 2020. Supplemental documents (including unofficial transcripts, essays, recommendation letters, headshot, and resume) must be submitted through the Status Portal and are due by January 15, 2021.

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, one-minute selections from the musical theatre repertoire; one up-tempo, and 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

Musical Theatre applicants who are invited to audition will participate in a virtual Zoom audition with the faculty during the week of February 22, 2021. This audition will be approximately five to seven minutes long. In this audition, applicants will perform their monologue and two contrasting vocal selections. In addition to the Zoom audition, applicants will also submit a dance audition. Applicants will learn the combination and record themselves performing it. The dance video must be submitted no later than February 1, 2021.

Zoom Audition

• One memorized monologue from the list provided here
• Two contrasting one-minute selections from the Musical Theatre repertoire. Please have your accompaniment track ready to play in your audition. We recommend playing this track on a device separate from your computer. Please select the option to “enable original sound” in your advanced Zoom audio settings.

Dance Audition

You will receive a video of a dance combination when you receive your prescreening decision. Please learn the combination and record yourself performing it. Please record yourself full-body, head to toe. You may record in a dance studio, gymnasium, garage, outdoors, or anywhere that offers you space and a flat surface.