Our Musical Theatre program trains students for the new era of Broadway performance exemplified by productions such as Hamilton, Dear Evan Hanson, and Come From Away. Our mission is to produce professional musical theatre artists whose voice, acting, and dance training empowers them to be nimble performer-auteurs in a diverse and changing profession.
Musical Theatre
IU and the Musical Theatre Common Pre-Screen
IU Theatre & Dance is proud to announce that our B.F.A. Musical Theatre Program has joined the alliance of top tier university musical theatre programs utilizing the Tony Award winning Paper Mill Playhouse + Acceptd universal criteria for video submissions: the Musical Theatre Common Pre-Screen! Make sure to read Option A thoroughly, as we will be following those guidelines for both the songs and the monologue.
Until now, colleges and universities each created school-specific guidelines. Stephen Agosto, Senior Manager of Artistic Engagement at Paper Mill Playhouse describes: "these universal criteria are intended to streamline the digital pre-screen process while keeping with current industry standards for auditioning musical theatre performers."
Encouragement + expectation
At IU, we encourage you to explore writing, instrumental studies, staging, and choreography. Our B.F.A. students explore all facets of musical theatre production via student stage and film productions, independent studies, backstage crew work, master classes with New York casting directors and agents, as well as opportunities to create new works.
- Musical Theatre B.F.A. Requirements
Our faculty of artist-teachers works within the context of a liberal arts education, encouraging the development of intellectually curious, well-rounded artists. While grounded in excellent professional training, our students think beyond the triple-threat, following their own individual artistic paths and inventing new models and cross-pollinations. It is our goal to ground our students in the realities of a competitive industry while encouraging them to act on their dreams.
Our program accepts 12-15 admissions each year, providing focused individual attention throughout your career at Indiana University. The IU Department of Theatre, Drama and Contemporary Dance is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST) and University/Resident Theatre Association (U/RTA). Our Musical Theatre B.F.A. program offers need-based scholarships.
View Musical Theatre B.F.A. requirements in our Student Portal
Opportunity + creativity
Our department produces two musicals and six plays each year in its main season, and two musicals and a play during our IU Summer Theatre season. It is home to the IU Broadway Cabaret, a touring musical theatre ensemble, and the venue for many independent projects.
- Performance opportunities
Our students can audition in and around Bloomington to participate in professional productions at:
- Constellation Stage and Screen
- Jewish Theatre of Bloomington
- IU Summer Theatre's professional summerstock season, including the New Musical Workshop, which promotes the development of new musicals
Our students are routinely cast in summer productions at The St. Louis "MUNY" Opera, Maine State Music Theatre, North Shore Music Theatre, Wagon Wheel Theatre, Wichita Musical Theatre, Bigfork Summer Playhouse, as well as Indiana Repertory Theatre and The Phoenix in Indianapolis.
The Jacobs School of Music provides further opportunities for performance, producing at least one light opera or musical a year and the opportunity for performers to be cast as supernumeraries.
Alumni Activities
Mark Banik (B.F.A. 2010): My Fair Lady National Tour - Ensemble, u/s Henry Higgins
Berklea Going (B.F.A. 2018): Frozen National Tour - Ensemble, u/s/ Anna
Kaitlyn Louise Smith (B.F.A. 2016): Mean Girls National Tour
Julian Ramos (B.F.A. 2015): Hamilton, Eliza Tour (Los Angeles) - Charles Lee, Ensemble
Meghan Faddis (B.F.A. 2016): Hamilton, Angelica Tour - Swing
Emily Kelly (B.F.A. 2016): Jersey Boys, Maine State Music Theatre
Larkin Reilly (B.F.A. 2021): Spamalot, Ogunquit Playhouse
CJ Pawlikowski (B.F.A. 2012): Jersey Boys Film starring Nik Jonas, Bob Gaudio
Elaine Cotter (B.F.A. 2016): Mystic Pizza, Ogunquit Playhouse - Swing
Meadow Nguy (B.F.A. 2017): The Little Mermaid, Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre - Ariel; Law and Order SVU
Christian Fairy (B.F.A. 2017): The Office: A Musical Parody, off-Broadway
Katie Scarlett Swaney (B.F.A. 2020): Chicago, Arizona Broadway Theatre
Samantha Mason (B.F.A. 2015): Tokyo Disney
Andrew Brewer (B.F.A. 2012): South Pacific, Plaza Broadway Long Island - Lt. Cable
Alison Demers (B.F.A. 2021): The World Goes Round, Coronado Playhouse
Elizabeth Stanley (B.S.O.F. 2002): TONY nomination for Jagged Little Pill
Danielle McKnight (B.F.A. 2020): Disney Cruiseline
Taylor Ward and George Mulder (B.F.A.s 2021): Cedar Point
Luke Major and Henry Miller (B.F.A.s 2020): Cedar Point
Award-winning Faculty & Leading-edge Facilities
Our faculty-artists are renowned professionals in their areas of expertise. We aim to nurture the unique qualities and aspirations of our students, mentoring them through the program and after graduation.
Located in the Lee Norvelle Theatre and Drama Center, we provide students the opportunity to work in state-of-the-art performance spaces.
The Sibling Program
To ease the transition from home into the university, we offer the sibling program to help bridge this gap. When entering your freshman year, you are paired with a sophomore or junior musical theatre student. These students are available to answer questions, give advice, share any concerns, or just hang out. Siblings become fast friends and continue their friendships long after graduation. In existence for ten years, sibling families keep in touch and help in the transition from the university into the professional arena.
Interested in applying?
The College of Arts