Acting and Musical Theatre Auditions

Overview: Audition Process for Academic Programs

UA Theatre and Dance holds auditions annually to admit high school seniors into its Musical Theatre and Acting concentrations. For applicants looking to start their degree program in the 2023-24 academic year, two audition days will be held in January 2023.  Students who wish to attend one of these Audition Days must submit an application via Acceptd and undergo the prescreen process.

Once prescreen videos have been reviewed, selected applicants will be sent invitations to attend on-campus Musical Theatre and Acting auditions. More information about the audition criteria will be communicated via email if an applicant is selected to participate.

Note that entering freshmen must be admitted by January 15 of their senior year in high school in order to access the scholarship application. If you would like to apply for scholarships with The University of Alabama, make sure to apply to the university by that deadline. You can find more information about these scholarships at the Undergraduate Scholarships website. Also be sure to visit our Academic Common Market to see if you qualify for tuition scholarships and reduction opportunities.

Have any questions? Visit our FAQ page.

Interested in visiting campus and the UA Department of Theatre and Dance? Complete our campus visit form.

Auditions and Admission for Fall 2024

All students who submitted Musical Theatre and Acting prescreen videos by the November 10, 2023 deadline will be considered and may receive an email invitation to audition on campus. If you receive an invitation, you will choose one of the following days to attend an on-campus audition:

  • January 20, 2024 (Musical Theatre and Acting)
  • January 27, 2024 (Musical Theatre)

More details regarding audition days will be sent to invited students via the email submitted on Acceptd. You do not need to attend both days.

Please note, a virtual audition is an option to those under certain extenuating circumstances and can be scheduled once a prospective student has passed the Prescreen.

Acting (BFA) Concentration Prescreen Criteria

UA REQUIREMENTS

Overall

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

Slate

There should not be a separate “slate” video, rather slates are to appear at the beginning of each piece. The proper slate for a song is to share your name, the 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.

Monologue

Students wishing to audition for the acting concentration should submit two contrasting monologue pieces that fit the following description:

  • One 60-90 second contemporary monologue (written during the 20th century-present).
  • One 60-90 second classical monologue.
  • Monologues must be from a published play.
  • Monologues cannot be from musicals, television shows, or movies.

Please note that the time includes your slate. Please do not submit media files longer than 90 seconds.

Musical Theatre (BA and BFA) Concentration Prescreen Criteria (College Musical Theater Common Prescreen Criteria)

The University of Alabama is a participant in the College Musical Theater Prescreen Criteria in partnership with Paper Mill Playhouse and dozens of other university and collegiate equivalent musical theater training institutions. We use Option A for both Monologue and Song requirements.

UA Prescreen Criteria

Overall

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

Slate

There should not be a separate “slate” video, rather slates are to appear at the beginning of each piece. The proper slate for a song is to share your name, the title, and the show in which it appears. The proper slate for a monologue is to share your name, the title of the play, and the playwright.

Monologue

  • 60-90 second contemporary monologue (written during the 20th 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, meaning the top of the head to the chest should be visible in the frame.

Songs

Students should prepare 2-contrasting pieces:

  • One song should be a ballad and one song should be 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)
  • Students must sing to live or recorded accompaniment. No “a cappella” singing.
  • 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.

One of the two songs should be filmed in a full frame show to see your full range of expression and the other one in a close-up show (top of the head to the chest should be visible in the frame).

Dance

Students should prepare a piece of dance/movement that meets these criteria:

  • Students may be asked to execute one or both of the following options. Each institution is responsible for indicating their specified requirements.
  • 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.
  • All choreography must be performed to music; no “a cappella” dance media please.

HELPFUL HINT:

Applicants are encouraged to keep a full-length mirror behind the filming device so as to see themselves as they execute choreography.

  • 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, hip hop, lyrical, contemporary, or dance styles beyond American and Euro-western styles.
  • No barre work. A ballet solo is acceptable.
  • Please use steps, movement, and physical vocabulary that you are familiar with and can execute well. To the best of your ability, move your body fully. Please include at least one turn, one jump, and one kick (or other suitable rotation, elevation, and extension that works for your body).
  • 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.

Wild Card

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?”.

More Information

More information on the 2020-2021 College Musical Theater Common Prescreen Criteria can be found on the Papermill Playhouse website.

Audition and Interview Day Application

To be considered for an audition into the Acting and/or Musical Theatre Concentration, you must submit an application on Acceptd by November 10, 2023. More information can be found here:

https://getacceptd.com/musical-theater-common-prescreen