Theatre: Musical Theatre

In the theatre program, students are exposed to every aspect of theatre: literature, history, theory, acting, directing, design and technical theatre. The Bachelor of Arts in Communication with the musical theatre specialization is only open to students who pass a rigorous audition process. Auditions are held in early December, late January, and mid April.

Admission Information

Schedule a Visit

Request Information

Quality classroom experiences

Students receive a solid liberal arts foundation and develop refined analytical and communication skills, in addition to the skills and foundations required for musical theatre including acting, singing and dancing. Practical experience in theatre is gained through a variety of production opportunities. The Musical Theatre Students (MuTS) organization works to create strong bonds among those interested in musical theatre, promote musical theatre on campus, entertain the public, and prepare future theatre professionals. Members plan an annual trip to a professional touring production.

Stand Out in courses like

Principles of Acting
Musical Theatre History
Acting: Songs and Arias
Music Theory
Applied Voice

Curriculum

Theatre majors with a specialization in musical theatre take seven semesters of applied voice training. Acting and dance classes are required as part of the musical theatre curriculum. In addition to liberal arts classes, theatre majors complete a series of three seminar courses on professional development and career preparation culminating with a senior portfolio review and audition. A liberal arts program in musical theatre cultivates an array of skills needed in the 21st Century workplace such as problem-solving, creativity, communication, and collaboration.

The Musical Theatre Students (MuTS) organization holds free, themed cabarets twice per semester and hosts the annual Broadway Cares BG charity event, which benefits Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

Internships and Careers

The department annually awards a number of competitive scholarships to qualified undergraduate students and has various student employment opportunities, which allow students to develop their craft while receiving financial compensation.

Students may apply for the BGSU exchange program with the University of Wales, the largest undergraduate theatre program in Great Britain and home of the prestigious Performance Research Centre. The London Experience, an intensive immersion in the London theatre scene, offers students another education abroad opportunity.

Go Far in your career

Acting
Singing
Theatre Performance
Songwriting
Music Production

Average Starting Salary & BGSU Placement Rate

$29,739* - Theatre graduates average starting salary according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers

96.55% of graduates report they're employed, in graduate school or starting a business within six months of graduation

(BGSU data compiled from students who completed the related questions on the graduation survey.)

student actors performing on theatre stage

More Information

The Musical Theatre specialization in the Theatre program is part of the Department of Theatre and Film in the BGSU College of Arts and Sciences.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the baccalaureate degree, students in theatre will be able to:

Analyze diverse performance texts from various historical periods and cultural backgrounds in order to make effective aesthetic decisions as a theatre scholar/artist;
Use performance as the site and process for critical, cultural, and historical understandings;
Research and communicate ideas and feelings in written, visual, and/or oral forms in order to articulate a conceptual and critical approach to theatrical production;
Work collaboratively to solve specific production requirements as actor, director, designer, and/or technician;
Present skills and knowledge as a theatre scholar/artist in a professional format.

Accreditation

Bowling Green State University [BGSU] is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. BGSU has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 01/01/1916. The most recent reaffirmation of accreditation was received in 2012-2013. Questions should be directed to the Office of Institutional Effectiveness.

The Theatre program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST) and is in good standing.

More information on accreditation

Professional Licensure

Bowling Green State University programs leading to licensure, certification and/or endorsement, whether delivered online, face-to-face or in a blended format, satisfy the academic requirements for those credentials set forth by the State of Ohio.

Requirements for licensure, certification and/or endorsement eligibility vary greatly from one profession to another and from state to state. The theatre program does not lead to professional licensure.

More information on professional licensure

Gainful Employment

Under the Higher Education Act Title IV disclosure requirements, an institution must provide current and prospective students with information about each of its programs that prepares students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation.

The Theatre program is not a recognized occupation that requires a Gainful Employment disclosure.

* Job placement and salary information was compiled by the Office of Academic Assessment through the Graduation Survey from AY2015-2018. The data are gathered around the time of Commencement and a follow-up survey six months post Commencement. For the salary question, data for programs with fewer than fifteen responses are not included. Salaries for those programs are from the National Association of Colleges and Employers Summer 2019 Survey. For questions regarding the data, contact assessment@bgsu.edu.

Updated: 07/23/2021 09:57AM