Musical Theatre Auditions
A prescreen and audition are required for admission to the Musical Theatre (BFA) program.
Requirements
1. First complete your Naz application: First-time students | Transfer students
2. Complete the prescreen process before January 15.
- See "Prescreen," below, for details about what to submit. (These are the same as Nazareth's guidelines on the Musical Theatre Common Prescreen (MTCP) webpage).
- Create your account using Acceptd. Fee: $35 (for incoming students for fall 2027).
- 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 Olivia Vescovi, ovescov1@naz.edu to request a coupon code — considered on a case-by-case basis.
3. If you pass the prescreen, you will be contacted to schedule an audition through your same Acceptd account.
4. An admissions decision will not be made until your audition is complete, because Nazareth accepts students directly to our programs.
Prescreen
- Film and upload each piece separately. 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.
- Nazareth's requirements are specified below (the same information as on The Musical Theater Common Prescreen (MTCP) website).
You will be notified whether you pass the prescreen. If you do, you will be invited to sign up for an audition through your Acceptd account.
Nazareth participates in the Pittsburgh Unified Auditions, Moonifieds in Dallas, College Audition Project in St. Louis, and unifieds in New York and Chicago. These are additional opportunities for Nazareth to see you — and for you to meet Nazareth faculty in person. Nazareth also participates virtually in College Audition Pros' Drewnifieds.
Timing & Framing
- Timing: We recommend 60-90 seconds for each song, monologue, dance, ballet, and wild card video.
- 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 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.
Prescreen 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 first and last name, the title of the piece you are performing, and the show or playwright. More tips can be found on the MTCP website.
- Maximum length: 10 seconds
Songs
Please prepare 2 contrasting pieces in accordance with these Option B MTCP criteria.
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 song tips: MTCP website
Monologues
Please prepare one monologue in accordance with this Option A MTCP criteria:
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 monologue tips: MTCP website
Dance (Required)
Please prepare one dance video in accordance with these MTCP criteria.
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 safely and 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.
- Your 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.
- To assist applicants with the dance prescreen, Nazareth and other colleges provide resource videos for applicants who do not have access to a choreographed combo for the prescreen process. You may submit any of this choreography (or a combination of it) to schools you apply to that ask for a dance prescreen. Nazareth's video is below. For all videos: MTCP website
Ballet (Optional)
*Updated for 2026-2027*
If you wish, prepare one ballet video in accordance with this MTCP criteria:
- OPTION B (Optional): 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 wild card is optional, per MTCP prescreen requirements. However, we would love to see a wild card option if you are able to share one.
- Submissions should be no more than 60 seconds, and you 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: MTCP website
Dance portion
Be ready to perform two specified dance combinations that you have learned by watching the dance audition tutorial video (below) »
Please wear appropriate dance attire.
Vocal portion
Sing two contrasting 32-bar cuts.
At least one should be musical theatre, and the other can be a pop/contemporary song.
Acting portion
Prepare one contemporary monologue that's about one minute long. Select an audition monologue that portrays a character within five years of your current age.
From Program Director Nicolette Hart:
- 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!
- Remember, as with all auditions: We want you to do well. We are rooting for you! We want you to succeed!
Learn these two dance combos
If you are invited to a Naz audition, watch this video: Josh Walden, BFA musical theatre visiting assistant professor, teaches you the two theatre dance audition combos to perform.
