Musical Theatre
Requirements for the major can be found at Music - Bachelor of Music (B.M.)
Applicants for this degree program must successfully complete proficiency auditions in voice, acting, and dance.
Students majoring in musical theatre are required to earn crew credits. They accrue one crew credit by working satisfactorily for a minimum of 60 hours on one or more mainstage productions or events in the School of Music, Drama, and Art. The work may include set construction, costume construction, light, sound, property, running crews, or other duties as assigned. Students must earn one crew credit for every year (or portion thereof) they are in the department. This amounts to 240 hours of work over four years. Transfer students must earn one crew credit for each year (or portion thereof) that they spend in the Department of Music Performance. Complete regulations are available in the student handbook which is available online and in the Main Office. Musical Theatre majors must register for the crew credits prior to completion.
All students, at the end of the freshmen and sophomore year jury, will receive a comprehensive review of their progress to determine their acceptability for admission to the next year of study as a musical theatre major. At sophomore semester juries, students will be provided written improvement requirements if they are not developing as expected. Those not admitted to the next level of musical theatre courses may seek admission to a degree program in another department or will be allowed to re-audition for the Musical Theatre Program after completing additional study in deficient areas that would be specified in writing. Juniors and seniors may be required to repeat skill studies as warranted before graduation.
If it becomes necessary for a musical theatre major to take more than one set of voice lessons in a given semester, all lessons must be taken with the same instructor. Students are not permitted to study for credit with two different voice instructors in any given semester.
Eight (8) credits of dance: To ensure that students have a well-rounded dance curriculum, the eight (8) credits must consist of four (4) credits in Ballet, two (2) credits in Tap, and two (2) credits in Jazz. Final determination of dance requirements will depend on the student's background and unique physical needs – students will need to contact the dance coordinator and their advisor if they wish to seek an amended course of study in required dance curricula,
Students with extensive dance training may elect to fulfill their dance requirements at one of the consortium universities or an area professional dance school. Each course taken elsewhere (at least two times per week, minimum 40 hours per semester) will equal one of CUA's dance courses per semester. Only students with advanced level training may request to take dance elsewhere. This will be determined during the first week of the semester. The student will notify the instructor at the consortium institution or professional dance studio that he or she is taking the class in substitution for a one-credit class at CUA. At the completion of the course, the dance instructor must enter a grade or provide a signed letter certifying that the student has taken a minimum of 40 hours of dance instruction and has satisfactorily completed the class. The student must complete a curriculum exception sheet, signed by his or her musical theatre adviser and the chair of the Music Performance Department, indicating a waiver of one dance credit.
If the student wishes to take advanced level dance courses during the summer for credit, he or she must get pre-approval of the chosen university or professional dance studio and the course from the musical theatre adviser and the dance teacher. The Off- Campus Dance Form must then be signed by the CUA dance teacher, the musical theatre adviser and, at the conclusion of the course, the dance instructor certifying that all the requirements were met.
In addition to tuition, students are required to pay a fee for each dance class taken at The Catholic University of America. Contact the music office for applicable fees.
Musical theatre majors are required to complete a minimum of two (2) credits of class piano or secondary piano, as assigned. The adviser may approve secondary piano based upon the student's prior piano study. Students study at their own pace until target proficiencies are acquired and must pass a 10-minute proficiency examination (MUS 309), which should be taken at the end of the second semester of piano study. Should the student not pass the proficiency examination he or she will need to take additional piano classes in order to pass the proficiency examination. Students who enter with no piano background may require more than two semesters to attain the target proficiencies. After the proficiency examination is passed, students may elect further study in piano by advisement. Students will not be permitted to register for DR 499MT (Senior Recital) until the proficiency exam is passed.
Coaching is available for undergraduate musical theatre majors, for 1 credit for the Junior Recital, 3 credits for the Senior Recital, and only in the semester in which the junior and senior recitals are scheduled. For this coaching, students will register for MUPI 210A (1cr) or MUPI 210 (3cr) and pay the private coaching fee.
A minor in Drama is not permitted for students in the Musical Theatre degree program, however a minor in dance is permitted.
Music elective credits, when used as substitutes for music course credits, may be satisfied by either MUS or MUPI. In order for MUPI credits to count toward the degree, a jury is required.
All full-time Musical Theatre students who are in residence are required to audition for each main-stage departmental or school-wide musical production that is announced as part of the regular season, and every student who auditions for a Musical Theatre main-stage production agrees to perform as cast in the production. For further details about these policies, the student must refer to the Musical Theatre section of the Student Handbook.