Department of Drama Admission Requirements

Please note that prescreening audition submissions will be accepted beginning on September 1.

Applicants to the acting and musical theater programs must submit an online audition for prescreening via Accept’d. All prescreening auditions must be received by November 1. There is a one-time audition fee of $50 plus a $30 fee charged by Accept’d for submission of your prescreening audition.

If you wish to apply Early Decision to acting or musical theater, you must complete the prescreening as early as possible and no later than October 1. All materials, including the SU application and final audition, must be completed by the November 15 Early Decision deadline.

Early Decision applicants will receive the results of their prescreening two to three weeks after their submission. Regular Decision applicants will receive notification by November 30. If you do not receive notification by November 30, please contact us.

We encourage students to wait for their prescreening results before submitting the SU application (Common Application) so that you have the opportunity to change your major indication on the application if you are not invited to submit final audition materials for acting or musical theater.*

If you are not invited to submit a final audition for acting or musical theater, we encourage you to apply to Syracuse University for other programs in which you may be interested.*

If you have any questions about our process or fees, please contact us at  or 315.443.2769.

*If you submitted your Common Application indicating acting or musical theater prior to receiving your prescreening results, and if you do not successfully prescreen for your preferred program, it is your responsibility to contact the SU Office of Admissions at  and request an official change to your application so that you can be considered for admission to other SU programs.

Syracuse University is a participant in the Musical Theater Common Prescreen (MTCP) for the 2021-2022 cycle.

For the 2021/2022 Audition Cycle, MTCP has included 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. To view the MTCP Resources Page, go to www.papermill.org/musical-theater-common-prescreen/

Overall

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

Introduction ("Slate")

There should not be a separate introduction or “slate” video. Instead, “slates” are to appear at the beginning of each piece and included as part of the time allotment.

• The proper slate for a song is to share your name, the song title, and show in which it appears.
• The proper slate for a monologue is to share your name, the title of the play, and the playwright.

Songs

(Musical Theater Common Prescreen Option A)

Students should prepare two contrasting pieces.

• One song should be a ballad and one song should be an uptempo to contrast style.
• One song should be written before 1970. This song can be either the “uptempo” or the “ballad” (student’s choice).
• One song should be written after 1970 and contrast the style of the first.
• Each song file should be 60-90 seconds (This time limit includes the slate at the beginning of the piece and is strictly adhered to; please do not upload media files longer than 90 seconds)
• Students must sing to musical accompaniment, which could include live or pre-recorded accompaniment. No “a cappella” singing (meaning singing without music).
• Songs should be filmed in a ¾ shot which means the top of the head to the knees should be visible in the frame.

Monologues

Two monologues from modern or contemporary plays (preferably written after 2000) by characters close to your own age. Each monologue should be less than 90 seconds.

• One monologue should be filmed in a “close-up” shot, which means the top of the head to the chest should be visible in the frame.
• One monologue should demonstrate your ability to be physically expressive and be shot to show your whole body.
• Monologues must be from a published play.
• Monologues cannot be from musicals, television shows, or movies.
• Each monologue file should be 60-90 seconds in length (this time limit includes the slate at the beginning of the piece and is strictly adhered to; please do not upload media files longer than 90 seconds)

Dance

 Dance Option  (required)

• 30-60 seconds of dance in whatever dance discipline you feel most confident. This may include, but is not limited to jazz, ballet, tap, modern, cultural dance styles, hip hop, lyrical, or contemporary.
• Please do not submit “barre work”. Instead, check to see if the auditioning program offers the optional “Ballet Submission”.
• Please use steps, movement, and physical vocabulary that you are familiar with and can execute well.
• Dance media can be self-choreographed but 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.
• All choreography must be performed to music; please no “a cappella” dance media.
• All dance media should be filmed in a “full body” shot taking care to keep the student’s entire body in the frame at all times.
• Applicants do not need to slate in any dance media.
• Regardless of which style of dance you execute, the choreography and the movement should be story-driven and connected to the music where the applicant is dancing with a sense of purpose.

Ballet Option (optional)

• Ballet Media should be no more than 30 seconds.
• Execute a brief series of plié, tendu, and grande battement;
• Execute pirouette en déhors (to both sides)
• Execute one or more grand jeté across the floor.

Wild Card (required)

• The Wild Card video is required
• Submissions should be no more than 60 seconds.
• Applicants do not need to slate in any wild card media.
• 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?” and “What makes you unique?”

Additional Requirements

Please upload the following:

• A current resume listing all productions in which you have been involved, and when and where produced
• A brief statement describing why you are choosing a career in musical theater
• A photograph of yourself alone (this does not have to be a professional headshot)

Applicants who wish to be considered for both the acting and musical theater programs must indicate this when they submit their prescreening audition. To receive consideration for both programs, applicants must submit the required acting audition materials and the required musical theater audition materials according to the requirements listed for each program (for a total of two contrasting songs, two contrasting monologues, a dance segment, a wild card video, and an optional ballet segment). In addition, applicants in acting who wish to be considered for the concentration in musical performance (the “actor-singer track”) must submit for both programs.

Applicants who successfully pass the prescreening must either:

• Register for an In-Person Audition at one of our on- or off-campus audition days via Acceptd scheduling, or on- or off-campus audition days via Acceptd scheduling, or
• Submit new final Virtual Audition materials and schedule an interview date via Acceptd (candidates who submit a recorded virtual audition will be invited to an information session with current students and a brief interview with the faculty over Zoom.)

You will also need to submit your application to Syracuse University (Common App) by the appropriate deadline.

There is no advantage in choosing an In-Person Audition versus a Virtual Audition.  The audition requirements for applicants who successfully pass the prescreening for both musical theater and acting are listed below.

Final In-Person Audition

Applicants who successfully pass the prescreening for BOTH musical theater and acting and who choose the In-Person Audition option should come prepared with the following:

• Two contrasting songs from any era of musical theater repertoire that are 60-90 seconds in length.  One song must be a ballad, and at least one of the songs should be different from your pre-screen.
• Two monologues from modern or contemporary plays (preferably written after 2000) by characters close to your own age. Each monologue should be less than 90 seconds.  You may re-use one of your prescreen monologues for this round.  If you choose to do this, we encourage you to try to take on the piece in a new way and explore other possible choices.
• Please be advised you might only sing one of the two songs prepared and perform one of the two monologues. The second song and monologue will be heard if needed.
• You may bring your own accompanist, but an accompanist is provided. You must bring your sheet music in a binder so that the pages may be turned easily (a small, hard-back three-ring binder works best) and in the key in which you will sing it.
• Dance: All musical theater applicants are required to participate in a dance audition. When auditioning in person, you will be asked to learn a short dance combination to be performed in small groups. Students will be evaluated to assess level of achievement, aptitude for dance study, and potential for success in a demanding training program for musical theater triple-threats (students equally proficient in acting, singing, and dance). Candidates should dress in basic dancewear or rehearsal attire, such as leotard and tights or a T-shirt and jazz pants--whatever clothes you feel most comfortable in that allow for freedom of movement.  No bulky or oversized sweatpants or sweatshirts are permitted.  Please choose footwear that is best for you: jazz shoes, character heels, oxfords, foot thong, or bare feet, etc.
• Please bring with you to the audition (1) a current resume listing all productions in which you have been involved, and when and where produced; (2) a photograph of yourself alone. This does not have to be a professional headshot.

Final Virtual Audition

Applicants who successfully pass the prescreening for BOTH musical theater and acting and who choose the Virtual Audition option should prepare and upload the following to their Acceptd account:

• Two contrasting songs from any era of musical theater repertoire that are 60-90 seconds in length.  One song must be a ballad, and at least one of the songs should be different from your pre-screen.
• Two monologues from modern or contemporary plays (preferably written after 2000) by characters close to your own age. Each monologue should be less than 90 seconds. You may re-record one of your prescreen monologues for this round.  If you choose to do this, we encourage you to try to take on the piece in a new way and explore other possible choices.
• One dance video: Candidates will be given an online link to a short dance combination that they must prepare and film. Students will be evaluated to assess level of achievement, aptitude for dance study, and potential for success in a demanding training program for musical theater triple-threats (students equally proficient in acting, singing, and dance). Candidates should dress in basic dancewear or rehearsal attire, such as leotard and tights or a T-shirt and jazz pants--whatever clothes you feel most comfortable in that allow for freedom of movement.  No bulky or oversized sweatpants or sweatshirts are permitted.  Please choose footwear that is best for you: jazz shoes, character heels, oxfords, foot thong, or bare feet, etc.  All dance media should be filmed in a “full body” landscape-oriented shot taking care to keep the candidate’s entire body in the frame at all times.
• Movement Recording (for Acting): We are looking to see how your whole body moves, the front, back, sides, top and bottom. Please prepare a short movement piece of no more than 90 seconds duration, based on a non-human creature of your choosing. Show the animal (or bird, reptile, fish, snail…) moving through their natural environment, show how they feed, and how they drink water. At one point in the piece show the animal frightened or angry in response to something they hear or encounter. Finally, show the animal returning to their favorite sleeping place (nest, den, tree top…) and going to sleep.
• A current resume listing all productions in which you have been involved, and when and where produced.