Frequently Asked Questions

This past year, we auditioned approximately 1200 students. Of those students who complete the application and audition process, about 1 in 5 is offered admission to the Theatre Department.

On average, we are looking to bring in 40-45 students for the BFA Acting Program and 40-45 students for the BFA in Musical Theatre. For the non-performance concentrations in the BA Theatre Arts Major, we enroll approximately 30 students per year.

Our graduates go on to pursue a plethora of opportunities, both in and outside of the theatre. We currently have alumni on multiple major network television shows, on Broadway, on National Tours, and performing throughout the country in regional theaters. Many of our students also go on to pursue graduate degrees in theatre; as well as in medicine, law, business, and accounting. 

Unfortunately, no. Casting is not a guarantee, but an enhancement to the work explored in the classroom throughout a student’s years of study. Casting opportunities have increased greatly in recent years. The Department produces seven MainStage and Studio productions each year (4 plays and 3 musicals). Additionally, there are faculty-directed Advanced Playwriting Projects, and student-directed Directing Projects. To audition for our MainStage and Studio productions, you must be in the BFA in Acting or BFA in Musical Theatre.  

No, it does not. We are not looking to get each class down to a finite number for the junior and senior year. Students are seen by full-time performance faculty at the end of their first semester of Acting II for evaluation. The faculty is simply looking to make sure that each student is progressing in the ways necessary in order to move on to classical study in the third and fourth years. 

The faculty strongly recommends that students who wish to pursue a second major outside of the Theatre department consider the BA Theatre Arts degree, not the BFA in Acting. The intensity of the credit requirements makes it very difficult to complete the required courses in BFA Acting along with the required courses for a second major and graduate in four years.

Yes. In order to deliver the Daily Dance classes and Private Voice, there is an additional fee of $1,607.00 per semester. This fee goes directly towards covering the costs of the labs. The breakdown comes to approximately $8.00 for each dance class and $60.00 per voice lesson!

As mentioned above, the BFA in Musical Theatre consists of two major-specific labs in addition to the main program course requirements. The two labs included are Daily Dance and Private Voice. Daily Dance takes place five-days a week for all four years of the program, in which students will be trained in varying styles of dance. Private Voice takes place once a week for 45 minutes for all four years of the program where a student will study safe vocal techniques and build upon the strengths of their instrument.

Daily Dance labs will be held each morning at one of three state of the art dance studios in New York City: Ballet Hispanico at 167 West 89th Street, Manhattan Movement & Arts Center at 248 West 60th Street, or Pearl Studios at 500 Eighth Avenue. You will study Tap, Ballet and Theatre Dance with master teachers.

During the academic year, students in the BFA in Musical Theatre and BFA in Acting program are required to obtain written permission from the faculty before pursuing outside projects. This is not designed to inhibit students, but rather keep them focused on their studies given the rigor of the two programs. Faculty do grant permission if a student has exemplary study habits and the opportunity will not directly interfere with their daily class work.