Undergraduate Theatre Arts and Dance Admissions
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Find your place on the stage, behind the scenes, or in the classroom.
ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï offers professionally focused degrees in Acting, Musical Theatre, Design and Technology, Theatre Education and Theatre Studies.
Application requirements vary by program. Find your intended degree below to see whether you need to complete an audition, interview or supplemental materials.
Choose Your Program
B.F.A. in Acting
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Train for Stage and Screen. Build your craft through sequential training in acting, voice, speech, and movement. Apply your work through mainstage productions, student-led projects, camera work, and professional preparation.
Admission requirement: Audition required
B.F.A. in Musical Theatre
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Become a Versatile Storyteller. Develop as an actor, singer, and dancer through intensive training designed to prepare you for the professional stage and screen.
Admission requirement: Audition required
B.F.A. in Design and Technology
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Build the World Behind the Story. Develop practical and creative experience in areas such as scenic, costume, lighting, sound, projections, technical direction, and stage management.
Admission requirement: Work samples and interview required
B.A. in Theatre Education
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Prepare to Teach and Lead. Combine theatre practice with education coursework, classroom experience, and student teaching leading to Colorado K–12 Drama and Theatre Arts teacher licensure.
Admission requirement: Supplemental materials and interview required
B.A. in Theatre Studies
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Design a Flexible Path Through Theatre. Explore performance, directing, production, stage management, arts entrepreneurship, and other areas while building a program around your creative and professional goals.
Admission requirement: Supplemental materials required. No audition or interview is required for admission.
An optional interview is available for talent-scholarship consideration.
How to Apply
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1. Apply to ÍøÆسԹÏ
Complete the ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï undergraduate application and select your intended Theatre Arts and Dance program.
2. Complete the Audition Form
After submitting your ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï application, log in to your application portal and complete the Audition Form.
The form is used to:
- Submit required program materials
- Select an audition or interview date, if required
- Choose an in-person or virtual option
- Request scholarship consideration when applicable
3. Prepare Your Materials
Review the detailed requirements for your program before submitting the form.
View Audition/Portfolio Requirements
4. Complete Your Audition or Interview
Acting and Musical Theatre applicants complete an audition. Design and Technology and Theatre Education applicants complete an interview. Theatre Studies applicants do not interview for admission but may complete an optional interview for scholarship consideration.
5. Watch for Your Decision
Continue checking your email and ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï application portal for updates from ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï and the School of Theatre Arts and Dance.
Audition & Interview Days
2026–2027 Dates
November 21, 2026: In Person
January 23, 2027: Virtual Only
February 13, 2027: In Person
March 6, 2027: In PersonÌý
Audition and interview requirements vary by undergraduate program. Additional video, virtual and off-campus options are available for eligible programs.Ìý
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Off-Campus & Unified Auditions
ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï Theatre Arts and Dance participates in select off-campus and virtual audition events. Indicate the event you plan to attend when completing the ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï audition form. For virtual events, ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï faculty will review your submitted audition materials after the event. You may be asked to provide additional materials by video.
Scheduled by PVA AdmissionsÌý
Select one of these options on the audition form. PVA Admissions will schedule your audition and email your assigned time.Ìý
Chicago Unified Auditions
February 1–3, 2027
Chicago, IllinoisÌýÌýÌý
Los Angeles Unified Auditions
February 6, 2027
Anaheim, CaliforniaÌý
Scheduled Through the Event
Register directly with the presenting organization, then indicate the event on your ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï audition form. PVA Admissions does not schedule audition times for these events.ÌýÌýÌý
Pittsburgh Unified Auditions
October 16–18, 2026 | VirtualÌý
DC Unified Auditions
October 23–24, 2026 | VirtualÌý
CAP United Auditions
November 14, 2026 | St. Louis, MissouriÌý
Colorado Thespian Conference
December 10–12, 2026 | Denver, ColoradoÌý
Virginia Thespian Festival Auditions
January 9–11, 2027 | VirtualÌý
Detailed Audition & Interview Requirements
Application Materials
- Audition FormÌý(found inÌý your ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï Application Portal after submission of the ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï Application)
- Contact information for 2 references
- Photo/headshot (optional)
- Video Introduction (optional)
Audition Requirements
- Live Auditions
- Prepare three monologues: two contrasting monologues not to exceed two minutes combined, and an additional one-minute contrasting monologue.
- All applicants will be required to perform their two contrasting monologues and may be asked to perform the third.
- In-person auditions are scheduled in 3-minute slots. Please make sure your slate/introduction and 2 monologues fit within the 3-minutes. If the faculty wish to see your third monologue, they will ask for it in the audition room.
- Video Auditions
- Prepare two contrasting monologues not to exceed two minutes total.
- Please make sure to slate/introduce yourself and your monologues in your audition video. This is not included in your two minute time limit.
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Application Materials
- Audition Form (found in your ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï Application Portal after submission of the ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï Application)
- Contact information for 2 references
- Photo/headshot (optional)
- Video Introduction (optional)
- Due to the academic rigor of the Musical Theatre program we do ask that applicants have a minimum GPA of a 3.0.
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)
- While there is a rigorous dance curriculum in the ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï Musical Theatre program, no dance audition is required in the application process. Should admitted students commit to the program, there will be a dance placement call held at the start of the school year to place students in a suitable level of dance courses.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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)
- While there is a rigorous dance curriculum in the ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï Musical Theatre program, no dance audition is required in the application process. Should admitted students commit to the program, there will be a dance placement call held at the start of the school year to place students in a suitable level of dance courses.
- Students are asked to perform two full songs and one monologue. See below for specific requirements:
- Off-Campus Auditions
- The ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï Musical Theatre program participates in the off-campus audition events listed above under Off-Campus & Unified Auditions. Please see that section for details about how to register for these kinds of auditions.
To ensure that the audition process remains unbiased and equitable, feedback on auditions to the musical theatre program will never be given by faculty or staff to prospective students.
A note about auditioning from Professor Ryan Driscoll, Head of Musical Theatre:
The musical theatre audition at ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï 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 ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï 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 ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï 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 FormÌý(found in your ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï Application Portal after submission of the ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï Application)
- Contact information for 2 references
- Copy of current transcript (we can use the same one you send in for your university application)
- Work samples of theatre production work
- Example: show paperwork, images, sketches
- Theatre resume or list of relevant performance, production, or work experience (optional)
- Video Introduction (optional)
- Applicants with a GPA of 2.7 or below are welcome to submit an application but may be ineligible to interview pending a transcript review. If your GPA is 2.7 or below, we will contact you after reviewing your transcript to let you know whether or not you may proceed to the interview portion.
Interview Requirements
- 15-minute interview with Design and Technology faculty member(s) conducted in-person or virtually
- Present/show work samples
Application Materials
- Audition FormÌý(found in your ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï Application Portal after submission of the ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï Application)
- Contact information for 2 references
- Copy of unofficial transcripts (we can use the same one you send in for your university application)
- Theatre Education Essay : Be prepared to submit a 250 to 500 word answer to each of these questions:
- Why do you think theatre education is important for children and teenagers? Discuss how you think it can be an effective method to help build both individuals and a community.
- What makes for a quality learning environment for young people? Discuss your ideal environment and use specific examples from your past to support your argument.
- What kind of teacher would you like to be?
- Why teaching? Why now?
- What are some obstacles you think teachers face and how do you plan on facing these obstacles?
- Discuss your journey in education.
- What are some academic challenges or successes from your past?
- How did you overcome an obstacle?
- How did you succeed?
- How do you think these experienes will help you in college?
- How do you plan on being successful academically in college?
- How do you keep yourself organized and on task?
- Theatre Resume or List of relevant performance, production, or work experience (optional)
- Video Introduction (optional)
- A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required to apply for admission to the Theatre Education program.
Interview Requirements
- 15-minute interview with a Theatre Education faculty member conducted in-person or virtually
Application Materials
- Audition FormÌý(found in your ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï Application Portal after submission of the ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï Application)
- Contact information for 2 references
- Copy of unofficial transcripts (we can use the same one you send in for your university application)
- 300-500 word essay briefly answering the following questions:
- Why is theatre important to you?
- Why is theatre important to the world?
- What aspects of theatre do you plan to pursue professionally?
- Theatre Resume or List of relevant performance, production, or work experience (optional)
- Video Introduction (optional)
- A minimum GPA of 2.5 is required to apply for admission to the Theatre Studies program.
Interview Requirements
- No interview is required for entrance to the Theatre Studies program. A program decision will be made based on your submitted supplemental items.
- If you wish to be considered for a scholarship to pursue the Theatre Studies major, you should schedule a 15-minute interview with Theatre Studies faculty during an in-person or virtual audition/interview day. You can schedule this via the Audition Form in your ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï application portal.
Scholarships
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For Acting, Musical Theatre, Design and Technology, and Theatre Education applicants, your admission audition or interview also serves as your talent-scholarship consideration.
Theatre Studies applicants may complete an optional interview for talent-scholarship consideration.
Students should also complete the ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï Scholarship Application to be considered for additional foundation and university scholarships.
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Experience Theatre Arts and Dance
Tour our theatres, studios, classrooms, shops, and production spaces. Observe a class or rehearsal, meet faculty when available, and see what your life at ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï could look like.
Contact PVA Admissions
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Not sure which program is right for you or how to prepare? PVA Admissions can help you compare degrees, understand your requirements, and select an audition or interview option.
PVA Admissions
PVA.Admissions@unco.edu
970-351-1921