Musical Theatre Auditions

A prescreen and audition are required for admission to the Musical Theatre (BFA) program.

Requirements

  • Submit the appropriate application: First-time students | Transfer students
  • You must complete the prescreen process before you are eligible to sign up for an audition. Prescreens are due by January 15.
  • Create your account using Acceptd. Fee: $25.
    • You may qualify for a fee waiver.
      • Acceptd grants up to 5 fee waivers with supporting information. View the Acceptd fee waiver guidelines.
      • If that's not available, contact Catherine Gregory, cgregor3@naz.edu to request a coupon code — considered on a case-by-case basis.
  • All musical theatre majors who pass their prescreen will schedule their audition through the same Acceptd account.
  • Auditions are required before applicant notification, as Nazareth accepts students directly to our programs. You will not hear from Nazareth until after a prescreen or audition has been completed. 

Nazareth University follows the Musical Theatre Common Prescreen (MTCP) guidelines. For the 2025/26 Audition Cycle, MTCP has posted a list of helpful hints. We strongly encourage you to take advantage of these resources, which have been thoughtfully and intentionally crafted by the expertise of multiple programs nationwide to support the excellence of the audition and for your benefit. View the MTCP Audition Resources & Tips for Applicants (below the participating institutions and requirements).

Prescreen Submission

Each piece should be filmed/uploaded as a separate piece of media. No continuous videos. You are encouraged to use standard technology/recording devices that are available to you (i.e. smartphones, tablets, etc.).

Upload all prescreen videos to Nazareth’s Acceptd account: 

https://nazarethuniversity.getacceptd.com

Our requirements will frequently refer to The Musical Theater Common Prescreen (MTCP) website:

https://getacceptd.com/musical-theater-common-prescreen

After submission, you will be notified of our faculty decisions. Those who pass their Prescreen will be invited to sign up for an audition through your Acceptd account.

Slate

  • Record one introduction "slate" video stating your name. If you would like to include your pronouns, state them as well. Please speak loudly (project your voice) and clearly (articulate), directly at the camera.
    • This is an opportunity for the auditors to get a sense of your personality and learn the pronunciation of your name.
  • There is no need to slate your individual performance videos & pieces. Instead, clearly label each video with your name and the title of the piece you are performing. More tips can be found on the MTCP website.
  • This slate video should be no longer than 10 seconds.

Timing & Framing

  • All song, monologue, dance, ballet, and wild card videos are recommended to be between 60-90 seconds each.
  • Slate, Song & Monologue framing: Camera framing is simply the placement and position of the actor in the shot. We recommend a waist up frame so we can see your face and hear you clearly.
  • Dance & Ballet framing: We recommend a setup that allows us to see the top of your head to the floor. We want to see the whole body through the entire dance. When framing your dance selection, watch the video back before your submission to ensure that you've stayed in frame, and that the camera isn't too far away to see details in movement.

Songs

Please prepare 2 contrasting pieces in accordance with MTCP Guidelines to pick either Option A or Option B, whichever serves you best.

  • OPTION A: One song written before 1970 (musical theater, Golden Age, pop, hip-hop, folk, rock, rap, soul, country, punk, etc.). One song written after 1970 (musical theater, pop, hip-hop, folk, rock, rap, soul, country, punk, etc.). This song should contrast the style of the first selection.
  • OPTION B:  One musical theater song from any time period.  One song of your choice from any time period and in any style that best suits you (musical theater, pop, hip-hop, folk, rock, rap, soul, country, punk, etc.). This song should contrast the style of the first selection.
  • For more tips, visit the MTCP website.

Monologues

Please prepare one monologue in accordance with MTCP Guidelines Option A. 

  • OPTION A: One monologue from a published play or written by a professional writer. (A professional writer is someone whose plays have been produced, but may not have been professionally published.)

  • For more tips, visit the MTCP website.

Dance (Required)

Please prepare one dance video in accordance with MTCP Guidelines.

  • OPTION A: Show us your best version of dancing or moving. Please include at least one turn, one jump and one kick (or other suitable rotation, elevation, and extension that works for your body).
    • Make sure you can execute all the choreography well. It is to your advantage to choose steps and movement that highlight your strengths instead of your areas of improvement.
    • You may use recent videos of you from a show or concert, but it must just be you in the frame.
    • Dance sample should be in whatever dance discipline you feel most confident. This may include, but is not limited to jazz, ballet, tap, modern, hip hop, lyrical, contemporary, or dance styles beyond American and Euro-western styles.
    • Dance media can be “self-choreographed”, but it must be a solo video of you. This can include a show, competition, or other performance so long as you are clearly featured on your own.
    • Please use steps, movement, and physical vocabulary that you are familiar with and can execute well. Fully move your body to the best of your ability.
    • For more tips (and videos), visit the MTCP website.

Ballet (Required)

Please prepare one ballet video in accordance with MTCP Guidelines.

  • OPTION A: Show us your best version of ballet. Please include a brief series of plié, tendu, and grande battement, a pirouette en déhors (to both sides), and one or more grand jeté across the floor.

Wild Card (Optional)

  • The wildcard is optional, as we comply with the MTCP prescreen requirements. However, we would love to see a wildcard option if you are able to share one.
  • Submissions should be no more than 60 seconds, and applicants do not need to slate in this media.
  • Think about the wild card section as an opportunity to show your personality or share something about you. This media can be ANYTHING you want - a special skill, an interesting story about yourself, a passion speech, an instrument you play, etc. “What do you want us to know about you?”
  • For more tips, visit the MTCP website.

Audition Process

See tips: Prepare for your musical theatre audition »

Audition in three performance areas: vocal, dance, and acting components. Before your scheduled audition day, please submit these three portions to Acceptd following the prescreen requirements above.

On your audition day, please bring with you a headshot and resume. We recommend that the following pieces defer from your prescreen material.

Dance portion

You will be given a brief warm up and dance combination during your audition. Please bring appropriate dance attire. (If you're auditioning on campus, this will take place first in your day.)

Vocal portion

Sing two contrasting 60–90 second songs that demonstrate your ability to sing in tune with good quality and musical intelligence. Both songs should be memorized. At least one should be musical theatre, and the other can be a pop/contemporary song. Preferably, these pieces should be different from what was demonstrated in your prescreen.

Acting portion

Prepare one contemporary memorized monologue that's less than two minutes long. Select audition monologues that contain characters within five years of your current age.

For your scheduled audition date, you will receive confirmation emails prior, but will not receive the full schedule until you arrive on your audition day. Each audition starts with the dance portion, so you're free to come dressed appropriately. Auditions also will include a brief interview with our faculty.

Re-auditions
If you audition and are not admitted to your first-choice program in Musical Theatre, you may not audition again later for the same program.

Audition tips

From Nicolette Hart, voice faculty:

  • Choose material that matters to you.
  • We are interested in you as the individual, human, and artist that you are at this present moment. Make sure your whole essence is coming into the room.
  • Your package should feel like a second skin. Avoid trying out new material, underdeveloped monologues, or something someone "told you to do."
  • Begin the audition with whatever feels the most comfy. This way you give yourself a minute to take in the space and be present with those of us in the room with you.
  • Feeling nervous? That's OK! Allow the nervousness to become positive energy. And then share it with us. Never come in the room trying to hide anything. We see you. And we want to see you!
  • Expect to begin with a group dance call, followed by individual song/monologue sessions, and a Q&A.
  • Remember, as with all auditions: We want you to do well. We are rooting for you! We want you to succeed!

Come fly with us!

Tips for dancers
    play video

    Dancers: This video (above) features four distinct dance styles, from Golden Age musical theater to commercial dance, all choreographed by Nazareth musical theater dance professor Jeff Shade. In addition to giving you an idea of the type of dance we do at Nazareth University, we would love for you to borrow the ideas from these videos in your prescreen dances. Notice the montage of unique tricks at the end of the video; if you see any that you can do, incorporate them into your dance as well!