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. To ease the concerns families may have during the 2020-21 admissions cycle, we have reduced our one-time audition fee to $20. The Accept'd fee will remain the same.

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 for the 2020-2021 cycle.

Overall Link

Each piece should be filmed/uploaded as a separate piece of media. No continuous videos.

Slate Link

There should not be a separate “slate” video. Instead slates are to appear at the beginning of each piece. 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 Link

(Musical Theater Common Prescreen Option A) Link

Students should prepare two contrasting pieces:

• One song should be a ballad and one song should be an up-tempo
• 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)
• Songs should be filmed in a ¾ shot which means the top of the head to the knees should be visible in the frame.
• One song should be written prior to 1970. This song can be either the up-tempo or the ballad (student’s choice).
• One song should be written after 1970 and contrast the style of the first.

Monologues Link

Students should prepare two 60-90 second contemporary monologues (written during the 20^th Century-present) from a published play. 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.

• The contemporary 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.
• 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 Link

• 30-60 seconds of dance, in whatever dance discipline you are most comfortable with: jazz, ballet, modern, African, hip hop, lyrical, or contemporary.
• No barre.  A ballet solo is acceptable.
• No tap. For applicants that tap, consider showcasing that skill as part of your wild card 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; no “a cappella” dance media please.
• 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.
• HELPFUL HINT: Applicants are encouraged to keep a full-length mirror behind the filming device so as to see themselves as they execute choreography.

Wild Card Link

(The Wild Card video is optional)

• Submissions should be no more than 60 seconds.
• This media can be ANYTHING you want: a special skill, an interesting story about yourself, a passion speech, an instrument that you play, etc. “What do you want us to know about you?” and “What makes you unique?”

Additional Requirements Link

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 head shot)

Applicants who successfully pass the prescreening must submit new final audition materials (see below), schedule an interview date via Acceptd, and submit the Syracuse University application.

Applicants who successfully pass the prescreening for both musical theater and acting should prepare and upload the following to their Acceptd account.

Songs Link

Two songs from the musical theater repertoire that are 60-90 seconds in length. You may re-record one of your prescreen songs for this round (do not resubmit the same recording). New song repertoire may be from any era of musical theater, and should contrast with previously submitted material.  Use this opportunity to show us another side of your personality or of your voice.   Help us get to know you better, as a person and a performer.

Monologues Link

Two monologues from modern or contemporary plays (preferably written after 2000) by characters fairly 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.

Dance (for Musical Theater) Link

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—clothing that allows freedom of movement. Women should wear leotards and tights. Men should wear jazz pants or tights and a T-shirt. Jazz shoes are recommended for both men and women. No bulky or oversized sweatpants or sweatshirts are permitted. 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 (for Acting) Link

Movement recording: 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

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.

Printable Self-Recording Tips

• 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. This link provides examples of how to make your own tripod for cell phones: https://bit.ly/33b8Gfl. 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 so as 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:
  • Directional microphone
  • Lavalier microphone
• Slating: At the beginning of each video performance, slowly and clearly state your name, the name of the piece from which you are performing, and the name of the playwright/composer/lyricist. If possible, film this as a separate video and crossfade into the video of the performance. If video editing is not possible, make sure to take a moment to transition from the slate to your performance piece, but no more than a beat or two.
• 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:
  1. “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.
  2. “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.
  3. “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 Link

Waist Shot Link

Cowboy Shot Link

Final advice: It may seem like not being able to audition in person is a disadvantage; however, think about all the films and tv shows you’ve watched that have made you laugh and cry. You will be auditioning for us on the same medium those actors used to affect you emotionally! Approach recording yourself with an attitude of fun and adventure, and it will greatly enhance your performance. Finally, don’t obsess over trying to make the self-tape technically perfect. Give yourself a time limit to film and send in the best take.

We look forward to seeing your work!