Admission to the
Musical Theatre Program

Audition Preparation:

1.     Prepare and memorize a one-minute monologue from a modern or classical play (comedy or drama) by a character fairly close to your own age. Material may either be in prose or verse. Please do not present a monologue from a musical or an unpublished play. 

2.     Prepare and memorize two songs of contrasting styles (16-bars for each selection). At least one of your songs should be from a musical written prior to 1965. Your other song may be from a musical written either prior or post 1965. Please bring sheet music in the key in which you will sing (an accompanist will be provided). CD or taped accompaniment is not permitted.

3.     Be prepared to participate in a short jazz dance audition in order to demonstrate a basic proficiency, and potential for growth in dance. While prior dance training is desired, it is not required for acceptance. Please bring dance or workout attire and ballet or jazz shoes. (Look for attire that will allow you to move freely. Please do not wear oversized sweat pants or shirts. Sneakers are not recommended.)

Please bring to your audition the following:

1.      A current resume of performing and theatrical experience and a picture.  
(click here to download a sample resume template)  

2.      A copy of your high school or college (in the case of transfer students) transcript, including courses in which you are currently enrolled. This does not need to be an official transcript, a photocopy is acceptable.

3.   One letter of recommendation from a director or teacher familiar with your work in theatre, dance, or music performance. Please do not bring, or have sent additional letters of recommendation.

4.   A one page essay discussing why you want to join the Musical Theatre Concentration at JMU and how you think the BA Musical Theatre program at JMU will help you meet your academic and professional goals.

Important Additional Information:
Musical Theatre Concentration Audition Requirements

·          Keep the monologue short and to the point.  One minute may not seem like a long time, but you would be surprised how much you can communicate.  Quality not quantity is the key.  Please time your material.  If your monologue runs much over a minute you may be cut off.   Even if you do find a monologue in a monologue book, make-sure to read the entire play. 

·          When cutting music it generally works best if you begin at the end of the song and count backwards.  If a song does not seem to cut logically into 16 bars (some more contemporary pieces will not) it is acceptable to add 2-3 bars in order to be able to begin and end at a logical place in the song in terms of the musical phrase and the lyric.  Please don’t go more than a few bars over the limit. 

·         Songs should be from musical theatre literature.   

·          Choose material that will show off the full range of what you do well right now. Avoid songs that are of the pop/ rock genre, or outside of the scope of your experience. The best choices are generally from the classic musical theatre repertoire.  It is also suggested that you avoid material from shows that are currently running (or recently closed) on Broadway because it has a tendency to be overdone in auditions.

·          The following material has been overdone in recent years, and is not recommended:

SONGS – A Way Back to Then, All That Jazz, All That’s Known, Art is Calling Me, Blue Hair, How Many Tears, I Am I Don Quixote, I Enjoy Being A Girl, I Speak Six Languages, If I Can’t Love Her, Impossible Dream, In His Eyes, In My Own Little Corner, Much More, My New Philosophy, On My Own, Popular, Roxie, Shy, Summer in Ohio, Ten Minutes Ago, This is the Moment, When I Look at You, When You’re Good to Mamma.

MONOLOGUES – “Peter Pan” from ‘Dentity Crisis, “Mr. Cornell…” from Star Spangled Girl, “Sunbonnet Sue” from Quilters, “Jesus, ham sandwich” from Picasso at Lapine Agile, “Please God, please don’t let me be normal” from The Fantasticks, Rosie and Harold in the attic at his grandmother’s house… from Slow Dance on the Killing Ground, “Well, Tommy proposed to me again…” from An Ideal Husband, All of George and Emily’s monologues from Our Town, “Jack & Jill” from Butterfly’s Are Free.

·          Choose material suitable for performers of your age.  Avoid material written for a character significantly older or younger than yourself, and pieces that use dialects.  We want to get a sense of who you are. 

·          Please make sure that your music is in the key in which you want to sing.  The accompanist will not transpose material for you.  You may not have a rehearsal with the accompanist before the audition, so your music should be clearly copied and marked.  You should write in and clearly indicate the cues where you would like the accompanist to start and stop.  When you copy your music make sure that all of the music (including the bottom line of the accompaniment, key signature, and dynamic markings) are on the page. 

·          You may not perform a cappella. All singing must be accompanied by live music.  We provide an accompanist for you.

·          All material must be memorized.

·       Be yourself and have fun.  Remember that we want you to do your best! 

NOTE: For entry into the School of Music 's Bachelor of Music Degree with an emphasis in Music Theatre, please contact their offices directly about their audition requirements, dates, and times. The JMU School of Music's phone number is 540-568-3851.