BFA in Theatre Arts
The BFA degree programs offer a concentration in theatre study to a limited number of highly motivated and talented students. The BFA student will pursue one of three areas of concentration: Acting, Musical Theatre or Design/Technology.
Admission to all BFA programs is highly competitive and limited in terms of student enrollment to insure the individual attention necessary for effective professional training.
Admission Criteria for all BFA Candidates:
The following are the criteria on which incoming BFA candidates are evaluated:
- BFA Acting: prior academic record, acting ability, stage presence, professional behavior and dedication to pursuing a professional theatre career.
- BFA Musical Theatre: prior academic record, vocal, dance and acting ability, stage presence, professional behavior and dedication to pursuing a professional musical theatre career.
- BFA Design/Technology: prior academic record, experience and demonstrated abilities in theatre design and technology, professional behavior and dedication to pursuing a professional theatre career.
A student may apply to all three areas of concentration, but can be admitted to only one. Admission is based on talent, academic record, motivation and auditions/interviews, which are held each semester.
Specific Admission Criteria for Incoming First-Year BFA Candidates:
Interested students must submit the BFA application in addition to the University application prior to beginning their freshman year and schedule an audition/interview for consideration. Applicants are expected to have:
- A minimum GPA and/or rank in the top 40 percent of their high school class
Students who do not meet these academic standards may be admitted but must meet the BFA continuation requirements by the end of the freshman year or will be subject to dismissal from the program.
Specific Admission Criteria for Current and Transfer BFA Candidates:
Students already enrolled in the BA/BS theatre program or other major in the University, or students transferring from another academic institution are required, in the semester prior to beginning the BFA program, to submit a BFA application and schedule an audition/interview. Applicants are expected to have:
- A minimum GPA of 3.0 in all theatre and theatre-related coursework
- An overall GPA of at least 2.5
- Demonstrate adequate progress towards completion of the University General Education course requirements.
Students who do not meet these academic standards may be admitted provisionally and are expected to meet the BFA continuation requirements by the end of the second term after admission or will be subject to dismissal from the program. Students may apply to the BFA program only once; however, a student who has applied and been denied may be reconsidered for BFA admission and invited by the faculty if the student's academic record, class work and production work show substantive improvement.
All BFA applications require two letters of recommendation: one from a teacher and another from a director with whom the student has worked.
BFA Audition/Interview Information:
Auditions for BFA actors and musical theatre students, and interviews/portfolio reviews for design/technical students, are held twice a year: In the spring in conjunction with Talent Grant auditions (usually a Saturday in February or March), and the week before classes begin in the fall (usually that Thursday afternoon). Applications may be submitted at any time and will be held until the next regularly scheduled auditions, at which time applicants will be contacted. Personal auditions are required for admission to the BFA program. The next in-person audition will occur on Friday, February 23, 2024. The Department will contact you with your audition time after you complete the BFA application.
If you'd like to audition sooner, we are accepting video auditions.
BFA Video Auditions
For the Acting Track:
- 60-second Introduction
- 90-second comedic monologue
- 90-second dramatic monologue
- 32-bar musical selection from a ballad
For Musical Theatre Track:
- 60-second Introduction
- 90-second comedic monologue
- 90-second dramatic monologue
- Up to 32 bars from a ballad
- Up to 32 bars from an uptempo song
- A Musical Theatre Dance Combination (Show us what you can do!)
Please submit your video audition to: nicholas.wayne@mnsu.edu.
Interviews/Portfolio Reviews for BFA candidates in Design/Technology:
Application materials and judging criteria.
- Resume
- Pictures of design work
- Support paperwork
- Verbal interview
Audition Information for BFA candidates in the Acting Track:
- 60-second comedic monologue
- 60-second dramatic monologue
- 16-bar musical selection from a ballad
Audition Information for BFA candidates in the Musical Theatre Track:
- 60-second comedic monologue
- 60-second dramatic monologue
- 16 bars from a ballad
- 16 bars from an uptempo song
- A movement audition (come prepared to move)
Please note that the time and bar limits will be strictly adhered to during the performance auditions.
BFA Continuation Requirements:
All students admitted to BFA programs are considered on provisional status in their first year in the program. At the end of the first year, each student will meet with the faculty in the performance area or the production area, depending on the student's program, to review progress and evaluate the student's status. All students will complete an annual evaluation at the end of the spring term involving either a portfolio review or performance jury. BFA students are required to:
- Maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA in all theatre major required courses
- Maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA in all courses
- Enroll in a minimum of 12 credits per semester
- Demonstrate appropriate progress in artistic and technical growth in the student's area in class work and end of semester juries
- Demonstrate satisfactory progress towards the completion of University General Education course requirements
- Demonstrate active participation in the Department of Theatre and Dance productions
- Demonstrate appropriate professional behavior in class and production work
- The BFA student must be a declared major in the BFA program for a minimum of three full terms and complete a minimum of three end-of-term evaluations.
Students who are making satisfactory progress in all of the above areas will be granted continuing status. Students with problems in one or more areas may either be granted probationary status or be dismissed from the BFA program. A student dismissed from the BFA program may still complete the BA/BS degree. Students may remain on probationary status for no more than one semester and probationary status may be granted only once during the student's program.
No major coursework with a grade below a C will count towards the major degree completion requirements.
Note: If a student decides to voluntarily withdraw from the BFA program, he or she will not be readmitted at a later date.
For further information or if you have any questions, contact Matthew Caron.
