Musical Theatre Applications and Auditions
A note about auditioning from Professor Ryan Driscoll, Head of Musical Theatre
The musical theatre audition at UNC is designed to adjudicate a student’s talent, training and potential in as unbiased a way as possible. Resumes will not be permitted in the audition room, and headshots will be accepted but not required. Students might be given adjustments and work with the adjudicating faculty in the room so that they may gain a better sense of potential, with the understanding that each student will not have similar training and/or past experiences. The faculty at UNC is interested in where a student is and where they might go, not in where they have been.
Students should choose repertoire selections that show the adjudicating faculty their connection to the piece and musical theatre as a whole. While areas such as musicality, vocal training, and other technical aspects will certainly be assessed, the most important aspect of a student’s audition should be communication. The training at UNC focuses on the individual person by way of organic and honest communication through song, dance, and spoken dialogue. Auditioning students should choose material that they connect with, not simply songs that are intended to impress. Should a student find more connection with a 64-measure ballad by Irving Berlin, that is of far more interest to the faculty than a student struggling through a difficult contemporary song simply to try and execute a loud, high note.
We understand that auditions are innately stressful. Try to the best of your ability to be yourself in the room, and know that we behind the table are rooting for each and every one of you.
Application Materials
- Audition Form (found in your UNC Application Portal after submission of the UNC Application)
- Contact information for 2 references
- Photo/headshot (optional)
- Video Introduction (optional)
Audition Requirements
- In-person Auditions
- Auditions will be held in 10-minute slots. Students will be required to prepare two
full songs in addition to a monologue not to exceed 60 seconds in length. The student
can choose the first song they would like to sing. Should the adjudicating faculty
wish to hear more, they will ask to hear a cut or all of the student's second song
and the monologue. Students should also be prepared to work with the adjudicating
faculty members so that they may gain a better sense of training and potential.
- One musical theatre song selection written prior to 1970
- One song written during or after 1970. This selection can be from any time period or era of the musical theatre repertoire or another genre entirely, such as, but not limited to, rock, pop, gospel, etc.
- One 60-second monologue (no specific requirements)
- Auditions will be held in 10-minute slots. Students will be required to prepare two
full songs in addition to a monologue not to exceed 60 seconds in length. The student
can choose the first song they would like to sing. Should the adjudicating faculty
wish to hear more, they will ask to hear a cut or all of the student's second song
and the monologue. Students should also be prepared to work with the adjudicating
faculty members so that they may gain a better sense of training and potential.
- Dance
- There will be a required dance audition for all of those who apply to the program. Students who schedule a singing/acting audition on campus will be required to attend one of two dance calls on the day of their audition. The required dance call will take place from 8:30-10:00am and from 12:30-2:00pm. Students can choose which of the two dance calls they would like to attend based on when their singing/acting call has been scheduled but they must attend one of the dance calls.
- In order for the dance faculty to properly assess placement, alignment, and movement
skills, it is essential that students adhere to the dress code below for the audition:
- Supportive undergarments – dance belts and sports bras as appropriate.
- Hair neat and pulled up and away from the face.
- No loose or dangling jewelry of any kind.
- All attire needs to be form fitting and snug to the body.
- Ballet shoes and jazz shoes (flat or heels) are required.
- The dance audition will run in the following order and be taught as a class:
- Center floor ballet combination including grand battements and pirouettes (both sides)
- Musical Theatre jazz combination.
- If you wish to be considered for advanced placement in tap, you may also complete a tap combination, but please note that this portion of the audition is optional and for placement purposes only.
Students must bring their own sheet music to the audition. We prefer your music to be double-sided on 8.5” x 11” paper, 3-hole punched and placed in a 3-ring binder for the accompanist. No bound books or loose-leaf paper music will be permitted. In-person auditions will utilize a live accompanist and no pre-recorded tracks are permitted unless specifically asked by the adjudicating faculty prior to the audition day.
- Video Auditions
- Students are asked to perform two full songs and one monologue. See below for specific
requirements:
- One musical theatre song selection prior to 1970
- One song written during or after 1970. This selection can be from any time period or era of the musical theatre repertoire or another genre entirely, such as, but not limited to, rock, pop, gospel, etc.
- One 60-second monologue (no specific requirements)
- Students are asked to perform two full songs and one monologue. See below for specific
requirements:
- Dance
- There will be a required dance audition for all of those who apply to the program. Students who schedule a singing/acting audition on campus will be required to attend one of two dance calls on the day of their audition. The required dance call will take place from 8:30-10:00am and from 12:30-2:00pm. Students can choose which of the two dance calls they would like to attend based on when their singing/acting call has been scheduled but they must attend one of the dance calls.
- In order for the dance faculty to properly assess placement, alignment, and movement
skills, it is essential that students adhere to the dress code below for the audition:
- Supportive undergarments – dance belts and sports bras as appropriate.
- Hair neat and pulled up and away from the face.
- No loose or dangling jewelry of any kind.
- All attire needs to be form fitting and snug to the body.
- Ballet shoes and jazz shoes (flat or heels) are required.
- The dance audition will run in the following order and be taught as a class:
- Center floor ballet combination including grand battements and pirouettes (both sides)
- Musical Theatre jazz combination.
- If you wish to be considered for advanced placement in tap, you may also complete a tap combination, but please note that this portion of the audition is optional and for placement purposes only.
Due to the academic rigor of the Musical Theatre program we do ask that applicants have a minimum GPA of a 3.0.
