The BFA* programs in Acting and Musical Theatre require an audition. The audition is separate from the University admission decision. All prospective and incoming transfer BFA Acting and Musical Theatre students will be enrolled in the BS Theatre Arts program until they successfully complete the audition process. Students are given 2 opportunities to pass the audition to be accepted into the program.
Share the Joy of Musicals with the World by Earning Your BFA in Musical Theatre
Your love of musical theatre can translate into career opportunities. Create unique experiences for both audiences and performers by earning our Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre. This degree will help you build the performance skills and experience you need to pursue a career sharing the joy of musical theatre with audiences across the country. You will develop your singing, dancing, and acting skills while learning from experienced theatre professionals who have worked in and taught theatre around the world.
As one of the largest Christian universities in the nation, our BFA degree in musical theatre is designed to help you integrate your faith with your passion for the arts. We train performers who are dedicated to excellence and prepared to engage with the world through theatre as a Champion for Christ. Partner with us, and use your talents to make the impact you always knew you could.
*Applicants pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Theatre, Bachelor of Arts in Theatre, Theatre Minor, and Dance Minor are not required to audition. Please note that general education courses and the Theatre Arts core courses are identical for the BFA in Acting, the BFA in Musical Theatre, and the BS in Theatre.
Award-Winning Campus
At Liberty, you’ll find an affordable, high-quality education that equips students like you for the real world. Our commitment to excellence helped us rank among Niche.com’s Top 3 college campuses in America. Earning your degree from a nonprofit university with state-of-the-art resources like ours can help set you apart from your peers.
Why Choose Liberty’s Bachelor’s Degree in Musical Theatre?
Our mission is to prepare you to impact the world for Christ in whatever career field God calls you to pursue. We believe in combining biblical values with a dedication to excellence, and our bachelor’s degree in musical theatre prepares you with the theory and hands-on experience you need to glorify Christ in the practice of your craft.
As one of the largest residential Christian colleges in the nation, we have the resources you need to make the most of your bachelor’s of musical theatre degree. With programs like our Washington Fellowships, we give you the opportunity to pursue prestigious internships while continuing to earn your degree. For our students who excel, we provide additional support and community through our Honors and Eagle Scholars programs, so you can develop your leadership skills and make the most of your academic and theatrical achievements.
What Will You Learn in Our Bachelor’s in Musical Theatre Degree Program?
In our BFA in Musical Theatre program, you will study vocal performance, choreography, and acting with respected instructors who have performed with The American Shakespeare Center, directed and produced plays with The Miracle Theatre, and acted in films with Colin Farrell.
Beyond the classroom, you’ll hone your expertise by participating in six academic shows produced each year between our Tower Theater and The Box Theater. You will also have the opportunity to audition for the professional arm of the department, the Alluvion Stage Company, which produces one to two shows each season.
At Liberty, we Train Champions for Christ, and we will teach you how to create innovative, artistic performances that incorporate a biblical worldview and redemptive message. Review our bachelor’s in musical theatre Degree Completion Plan, and check out our featured courses below to learn more about what you’ll be studying!
Featured Courses
THEA 251 – Musical Theatre I
Here’s what you’ll learn:
- The development of modern musical performance techniques
- The history of musical theatre from the 19th century to the present
- What makes musical theatre a unique art form
THEA 308 – Advanced Techniques in Musical Theatre Choreography
Here’s what you’ll learn:
- Various styles of musical theatre
- How to prepare the best audition possible
- How to develop your performance skills
THEA 381 – Christian Aesthetics in Theatre
Here’s what you’ll learn:
- How to integrate faith and art
- Specific ways this integration can be applied to theatre
THEA 441 – Stage Accents
Highlights of Our BFA in Musical Theatre Degree Program
- Our professors have years of real-world experience in professional productions. They also have a passion for teaching you how to create innovative theatre that glorifies Christ.
- Our theatre department produces graduates of distinction who have achieved roles in The Walking Dead, Six, House of Cards, and S.W.A.T., become the production manager for Carnival Cruise Lines, and served as a dresser for Broadway’s WICKED.
- Our theatre students wrote, produced, and performed nationally recognized Bloodroot: The Ballad of Clinch Mountain.
- We participate in the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF), the Virginia Theatre Association (VTA), and the Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC).
- You will have opportunities to network with other professionals through our chapter of Alpha Psi Omega.
- Our professional Alluvion Stage Company provides students with opportunities for additional experience.
Admission Requirements for Undergraduate Degrees
Every application is reviewed by the admission committee on a case-by-case basis, meaning there are no set minimums for acceptance. However, all applicants must submit the following documents* for admission:
- Admission application
- Official high school transcripts
- Official college transcripts (if applicable)
- Results from the CLT, SAT, or ACT are not required for admission, but may be used in consideration for merit-based aid.
- Admission essay
*Note that additional documentation may be requested by the admission committee after your application has been received.
Musical Theatre Program Entry Requirements
Students must first be admitted to Liberty University following the above admission process. It is not until he or she completes the entrance audition and has been accepted by the Department of Theatre Arts Faculty that he or she will be a BFA in Musical Theatre student.
In-Person Auditions
Bring a headshot and current resume
Two 32-bar Song Excerpts:
- Song excerpts must be memorized
- From a Broadway musical
- One ballad selection
- One up-tempo selection
- At least one excerpt selection prior to 1965
- Sheet music must be properly marked with start and stop points and in the correct key
- Sheet music must be presented in a 3-ring binder
- Pianist will be provided
One 60-second monologue
- Monologues must be memorized
- One speaking character
- From a published, Contemporary play – no books or movies
- No props or costumes
- Age-appropriate
- Subject to be worked by the Faculty
Group Dance Call
- Short Musical Theatre Dance routine will be taught to the group of auditionees
- There will be an opportunity following the group dance call to show a pass of other dance genre specialties (e.g., tap, ballet)
- Attire should be gym or dance attire that is comfortable for movement, with optional shoes for optional genre specialty presentation (e.g., tap shoes)
Video Auditions
Two 32-bar Song Excerpts
Song Excerpts should be a full-body shot
- Song excerpts must be memorized
- From a Broadway musical
- One ballad selection
- One up-tempo selection
- At least one excerpt selection prior to 1965
One 60-second Monologue
Monologue should be medium-shot (waist-high)
- Monologues must be memorized
- One speaking character
- From a published, Contemporary play – no books or movies
- No props or costumes
- Age-appropriate
- Subject to be worked by the Faculty
Slate (close-up shot)
- Name
- Year in School
- Hometown
- Name of School
All clips should be combined into one video and use quality sound and lighting. Be sure to use a neutral, solid color background. Ensure your face is completely visible at all times.
Videos only accepted via Youtube or Vimeo. Submit your video audition and digital headshot and resume to lncooper@liberty.edu.
Following the submission of your video, you may be contacted for a Skype or in-person interview.
Our BFA in Musical Theatre Degree Information
- Residential
- 120 total credit hours
- Transfer in up to 75% of your total degree
- This theatre arts degree program falls under the School of Communication and the Arts
- View the Degree Completion Plan for our musical theatre
- View our course catalog
Career Opportunities for Our BFA in Musical Theatre Graduates
- Actor
- Community arts director
- Choreographer
- Director
- Drama therapist (requires graduate study)
- Musical theatre critic
- Theatre manager
