An audition, portfolio, or departmental interview is required for all students applying to the Department of Drama. Acting and musical theater applicants are required to submit a prescreening audition.
Students are responsible for completing their required talent component in addition to meeting VPA and Syracuse University application deadlines. Refer to your program of interest below for specific instructions.
Prospective students must also complete the Syracuse University application. Note: you will receive an email notification with details on how to access the applicant portal within 72 hours of submitting your application. Please plan accordingly.
Drama Application Deadlines
Acting and Musical Theater (Regular Decision only*):
- December 1, 2024*: University application and prescreen audition materials due
- January 5, 2025: Audition callback: virtual audition materials due
- January-February 2025: Audition callback: in-person audition events
*Early Decision is not available for applicants to acting and musical theater. Please note the distinct deadlines for these programs which are different than other University application deadlines.
Stage Management, Theater Design and Technology, and Theater Management (B.S. Drama):
- November 15, 2024: Early Decision application and portfolio materials due
- January 5, 2025: Early Decision II and Regular Decision application and portfolio materials due
- January-February 2025: In-person campus interviews and portfolio reviews
Early Decision:
- Not available for acting and musical theater
- November 15, 2024: Application and portfolio materials for stage management, theater management, and theater design and technology
Early Decision II:
- Not available for acting and musical theater
- January 5, 2025: Application and portfolio materials for stage management, theater management, and theater design and technology
Regular Decision (fall):
- December 1, 2024: Application and prescreen auditions for acting and musical theater
- January 5, 2025: Application and portfolio materials for stage management, theater design and technology, and theater management
- January and early February 2025: Final in-person auditions, portfolio reviews, and virtual interviews will be scheduled.
Spring Enrollment:
Spring enrollment into VPA programs is very limited. Please call the Office of Recruitment and Admissions to discuss availability and timeline.
Acting Prescreening and Audition Requirements
Please note that applicants to acting may not apply Early Decision. The Regular Decision deadline for applicants to acting and musical theater is December 1.
Applicants to the acting program must submit an online audition for prescreening via the application portal after submitting an application to Syracuse University. Applications and prescreening auditions must be received by December 1. There is a one-time audition fee of $50 for submission of your prescreening audition.
Applicants wishing to be considered for the "actor-singer track" concentration must apply to both acting (first choice) and musical theater (second choice) and then submit the required materials for both.
If you are interested in both the musical theater and the acting programs, please be sure to submit all required materials for both programs, and please list them as a first and second choice (in order of preference) on your application.
Note: If you are using YouTube as the platform for your audition, our application reader system is able to load videos directly from YouTube. As a result, we will view your prescreen materials within our portal which will not register a "view" within YouTube.
If you have any questions about our process or fees, please contact us at or 315.443.2769.
Monologues
Two contrasting monologues (memorized) from modern or contemporary plays (preferably written after 2000):
- Characters should be close to your own age.
- Each monologue should be less than 90 seconds.
- Monologues should not be taken from a musical.
It is recommended that at least one of the monologues demonstrates your ability to be physically expressive and is shot to show your whole body.
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 the theater.
- A photograph of yourself alone. This does not have to be a professional headshot.
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 the application portal, or
- Submit new final virtual audition materials and schedule an interview date via the application portal. (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.)
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 acting are listed below.
Final In-Person Audition
Applicants who successfully pass the prescreening for acting and who choose the in-person audition option should come prepared with the following:
- Two contrasting 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.
- Monologues should not be taken from a musical.
- 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 acting and who choose the virtual audition option should prepare and upload the following to their applicant portal:
- Two contrasting 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.
- 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 its natural environment, show how it feeds and how it drinks water. At one point in the piece show the animal frightened or angry in response to something it hears or encounters. Finally, show the animal returning to its favorite sleeping place (nest, den, treetop…) and going to sleep.
- A current resume listing all productions in which you have been involved, and when and where produced.
Musical Theater Prescreening and Audition Requirements
Please note that applicants to musical theater may not apply Early Decision. The Regular Decision deadline for applicants to musical theater and acting is December 1.
Applicants to the musical theater program must submit an online audition for prescreening via the applicant portal after submitting an application to Syracuse University. Applications and prescreening auditions must be received by December 1. There is a one-time audition fee of $50 for submission of your prescreening audition.
Applicants wishing to be considered for the “actor-singer track” concentration must apply to both musical theater (first choice) and acting (second choice) and then submit the required materials for both.
If you are interested in both the musical theater and the acting programs, please be sure to submit all required materials for both programs, and please list them as a first and second choice (in order of preference) on your application.
Note: If you are using YouTube as the platform for your audition, our application reader system is able to load videos directly from YouTube. As a result, we will view your prescreen materials within our portal which will not register a "view" within YouTube.
If you have any questions about our process or fees, please contact us at or 315.443.2769.
Syracuse University is a participant in the Musical Theater Common Prescreen (MTCP) for the 2024-25 cycle.
General Information and Tips
- Each piece should be filmed/uploaded as a separate piece of media. No continuous videos.
- Students are encouraged to use standard technology/recording devices available to them (i.e. smartphones, tablets, etc.).
- Solid-colored walls are ideal, but any background that does not steal the focus from your performance is desired.
- Take care that your space allows for adequate lighting. Having a lamp or window directly behind you will cast a shadow over your face. Keep the lighting source behind your recording device or to the side of you so that your face is lit.
- When using pre-recorded music, place the music source (the speaker) closer to you than it is to the device on which you are recording. By having the accompaniment near you, your voice and music will reach the microphone on your device in a more balanced manner.
- Before filming, do a trial run to test both your audio and visual presentation. Watch your video back to ensure everything looks and sounds okay.
- Ensure the camera portion of your device is at eye level. You can use a tripod built for a smartphone or tablet. If you do not have a tripod, consider using a stack of books on a desk or box. Filming in “landscape” (horizontally) is recommended.
Introduction (Slate) Video
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 to learn the pronunciation of your name.
There is no need to slate your individual performance videos and pieces. Instead, clearly label each video with your name and the title of the piece you are performing (see more details below).
Video Labeling Guidelines
Label each video file with the piece you are performing, the show or playwright, and your first and last name.
- Title of Song — Musical/Show — Your First and Last Name
- Title of Play — Playwright — Your First and Last Name
Examples of this format include:
- Slate — James Smith
- Your Daddy's Son — Ragtime — Minnie Mouse
- Much Ado About Nothing — William Shakespeare — Luke Skywalker
Video Time Guidelines
All song, monologue, dance, and wild card videos are recommended to be between 60-90 seconds each.
Song Requirements
- 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.
Song Tips
Some examples of contrasting songs are fast tempo versus slow tempo, sustained melodic singing versus speech-like singing, dramatic versus comedic, and belt versus head/falsetto mix.
Many accompaniment tracks are available on YouTube and other websites. If you do not have a way to work with a live accompanist or don’t have access to a recorded track of your music, consider using an app that will play the piano part for you. Harmony Helper is one such app that allows you to take photos of your sheet music, upload them to the app, and generate a piano track that you can use.
Monologue Requirements
Submit 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.
If you have listed acting on your application in addition to musical theater, you will be required to submit a second contemporary monologue. It is preferred that that monologue be from a modern play (after the year 2000).
Monologue Tips
It is recommended to choose monologues that are age-appropriate (generally within five to 10 years of your actual age) and feel authentic to your culture, background, and lived experience.
Active monologues are often better for auditions. An active monologue takes place in real time, focuses on what you want, and puts you in direct communication with an imaginary scene partner. This is often more successful in an audition situation than pieces that are a story or remembrance. Additionally, it can be helpful to avoid monologues that rely on extreme emotions as it can be hard to justify those responses in a short piece.
Dance Requirements
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).
Dance Tips
- 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 weaknesses.
- You may use recent videos of you from a show or concert, but it must just be you in the frame.
- The 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, and dance styles beyond American and Euro-Western styles.
- Dance media can be “self-choreographed,” but it must be a solo video of you.
- 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, several institutions provided resource videos for applicants who do not have access to a choreographed combo for the prescreen process. You may submit this choreography (or a combination of it) to any of the schools you are applying to that ask for a dance prescreen.
Ballet Option (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)
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, an instrument you play, etc.
Some ideas that have been successful in the past include:
- Performing an original composition or poem
- Singing a pop song
- Performing your own Saturday Night Live-styled skit where you create a comedic character
- Sharing a hobby or activity that means something to you
- Performing in a language other than English in which you are fluent
- Playing an instrument
- Making a “how-to” video on something you are good at, such as baking, calligraphy, or gymnastics
- Showing us a different style of dance you excel in, such as tap, hip hop, lyrical, ballet, etc.
Additional Requirements
Please upload the following:
- A current resume listing all productions in which you have been involved, and when and where they were 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 successfully pass the prescreening must either:
- Register for an in-person audition at one of our on- or off-campus audition days via the applicant portal, or
- Submit new final virtual audition materials and schedule an interview date via the applicant portal. (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.)
There is no advantage in choosing an in-person audition versus a virtual audition. The audition requirements are listed below.
Final In-Person Audition
Applicants who successfully pass the prescreening for musical theater only 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 reuse 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 musical theater only and who choose the virtual audition option should prepare and upload the following to their applicant portal:
- 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.
- A current resume listing all productions in which you have been involved, and when and where produced.
Audition Preparation Advice
Preparing for your audition should be fun for you; it's a chance to show how good you really are!
- Choose material with which you are comfortable. Don't attempt Shakespeare or any other verse drama unless you feel entirely comfortable with it.
- Choose a character close to your own age and experience. Connection to character is one of the most important components of the audition.
- We are not looking for students who necessarily have an extensive performance background. We are looking for students with dedication and talent and who are open to direction and training.
- Remember that it is okay to be nervous or apprehensive. The people on your audition committee have been in your position and will have empathy.
- The most important aspect of recording yourself is your performance. Your connection to the material, your character, your objectives, etc. Everything else that follows in this list should be at the service of your performance. In other words, don’t stress too much if you can’t do all the technical aspects below for recording yourself. In the end, if you have a strong performance it will come through the screen no matter what.
- Location: Film indoors in a room that you can control for noise and light. Film against a backdrop that is as plain and simple as possible. A bare wall is perfect. If possible, perform two to three feet away from the backdrop to keep some distance between yourself and the backdrop to minimize shadows.
- Camera: A cell phone camera is perfectly sufficient for filming. Please film in landscape mode (horizontal) and not in portrait mode (vertical). If possible, use a tripod. If a tripod is not available, try to use a bookcase, stack boxes, etc. to mount the camera. Ideally, the camera lens should be at approximately eye level. The following link provides examples of how to make your own tripod for cell phones. If using a tripod is not possible, have the camera operator try to hold the camera as still as possible.
- Lighting: Make sure there is sufficient lighting for your performance to minimize the “grainy” quality of the recording. Place the primary light source in front of yourself two to three feet to the left or right of the camera above your head level. Using natural sunlight from a nearby window is perfectly adequate. Avoid a strong light source coming from behind you to minimize “backlighting” and casting shadows on your face.
- Audio: If the filming location can be secured for noise, then the internal microphone from the camera should be sufficient. If there is a concern about noise, the use of an external directional microphone or lavalier microphone may be considered. There are several options for cell phone attachments such as:
- Slating: 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. There is no need to slate your individual performance videos and pieces. Instead, clearly label each video with your name and the title of the piece you are performing.
- Framing: This term means how your body is placed within the screen as if you are in a picture frame. For the monologues and song performances, place yourself in one of the following three frames:
- “Chest Shot” if there is minimal movement in your performance. The top of the frame is just above your head and the bottom of the frame is at your sternum.
- “Waist Shot” if there is limited movement in your performance (i.e. you use your hands a lot, small crosses, etc.). The top of the frame is just above your head and the bottom of the frame is at your waistline.
- “Cowboy Shot” if there is a lot of movement in your performance (i.e. you sit down or stand up, bigger crosses, high energy, etc.). The top of the frame is just above your head and the bottom of the frame is at mid-thigh.
For the movement/dance performance, you will use a “Full Body” frame, meaning the top of the frame is just above your head and the bottom of the frame is at your feet.
Please see the illustrations below for reference:
Chest Shot
Waist Shot
Cowboy Shot
Final advice: Record yourself with a sense of fun and adventure, and the best of you will shine through your work. Don’t obsess over a technically perfect tape — give yourself a time limit and send in the best take.
We look forward to seeing your work!
Stage Management Portfolio and Interview Requirements
Applicants applying to stage management must present a portfolio and have an interview with faculty.
- Your portfolio should consist of samples of stage management production materials such as a complete production book, running notes, or other materials that show evidence of organizational skills and stage management abilities, as well as photos of past productions if possible.
- Also submit
- 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 stage management
- Three letters of reference from directors, theater teachers, or technical directors with whom you have worked
Applicants must submit the portfolio online through the applicant portal. You will receive access to your Syracuse University applicant portal shortly after submitting your application. More detailed information about portfolio submission will be posted soon. All application and portfolio materials must be submitted by the appropriate deadlines.
Applicants must also complete an interview with the stage management faculty, which can be completed either virtually or in person at an on-campus audition day. Once your application is submitted and your portfolio received, you will be contacted to schedule your interview.
If you have any questions, you may contact the VPA Office of Recruitment and Admissions at or 315.443.2769.
Theater Design and Technology Portfolio Requirements
1. Upload a single, multi-page PDF or PowerPoint presentation with 10-15 examples of work in several media and techniques. Not all samples of work have to pertain to theater. For each piece or project list the name of the project or piece, when it was completed, your role in the production or in creating the piece, the media, and the size (if applicable).The portfolio may include:
- Drawing and/or paintings
- Use of design elements: color, line, texture, form, light
- Drafting or mechanical drawing, CAD drawings
- Light plots
- Photography (composition, texture, use of light)
- 3-D work such as sculpture, costumes, masks, models, etc.
- Production paperwork such as schedules, magic sheets, plots, etc.
- Evidence of your thought process for technical solutions
- Photographs of produced work, finished and in stages of completion
- Relevant video clips of specific work in action
2. Submit a current resume listing all productions in which you have been involved, your role in the production, and when and where produced.
3. Include a brief statement describing why you are choosing a career in theater design and technology. Specify if you have any particular area(s) of interest: set, costume, lighting, and/or theater technology.
4. Applicants must also complete an interview with the theater design and technology faculty. Interviews can be completed virtually after submitting the portfolio.
Applicants must submit their portfolio online through the applicant portal. You will receive access to your Syracuse University applicant portal shortly after submitting your application. More detailed information about portfolio submission will be posted soon.
Once your application is submitted and portfolio received, you will be contacted to schedule your interview.
Virtual advisory portfolio reviews are available to students who would like to share their work and get advice on strengthening the portfolio prior to the final online submission. These can be scheduled on an individual basis by contacting the Office of Recruitment and Admissions at or by participating in Virtual National Portfolio Days. View our Visit VPA page for more information. We also offer sessions on portfolio preparation twice monthly; you can find registration information on the VPA Visit page as well.
If you have any questions, you may contact the VPA Office of Recruitment and Admissions at or 315.443.2769.
B.S. in Drama: Theater Management Requirements
If you’re interested in the theater management track, you should apply to the B.S. in drama program. Applicants must submit the following materials online via the Syracuse University Applicant Portal.
- Submit a resume showing prior theater and/or related work experience.
- Submit a statement of interest.
Applicants must submit the portfolio online through the applicant portal. You will receive access to your Syracuse University applicant portal shortly after submitting your application. More detailed information about portfolio submission will be posted soon.
Applicants must also complete an interview with a representative of the Department of Drama. Please be prepared to discuss your interests in theater management and your career goals both during college and after graduation. We will be interested in hearing about the qualities and skills that you have (or hope to develop) that you feel will allow you to succeed in a career in this area.
- Interviews can be completed either virtually or in person at a campus audition day event.
Applicants to B.S. in drama: theater management must submit the required resume and statement to us online through the applicant portal. All application materials must be submitted by the appropriate deadlines.
Applicants must also complete an interview with the theater management faculty, which can be completed either virtually or in-person at an on-campus audition day. Once your application is submitted, you will be contacted to set up your interview.
If you have questions, contact the VPA Office of Recruitment and Admissions at or 315.443.2769.
Transfer Students
Transfer students are encouraged to complete the application and audition, portfolio review/interview or transcript review as soon as possible, as space is limited in some programs. It is strongly recommended that transfer applicants to VPA follow the first-year application deadlines. Transfer applicants to the acting and musical theater programs must follow the first-year deadlines due to the prescreening audition requirement, which transfer applicants must complete. Please note:
- Include with your talent submission an unofficial college transcript. This is in addition to the official college transcript you send with your application for admission.
- Include a paragraph explaining why you wish to study drama, what major you hope to pursue and why, what you expect from the major, and your career aspirations.