Undergraduate Programs

BA Theatre: Musical Theatre

two actors singingDesigned to prepare students for a professional career in musical theatre, both the BA and BFA provide a more specialized curriculum in the four pillars of musical theatre — acting, singing, dancing, and musicianship.

By studying musical theatre at UA, you will have the opportunity to

  • Train rigorously in four areas of musical theatre: acting, singing, dancing, and musicianship
  • Perform in both plays and musicals as part of our diverse theatre season and occasional touring productions as well as at SummerTide Theatre, the University’s professional theatre at the beach
  • Understand the business of theatre (theatre career courses and individualized mentoring)
  • Connect with working professionals (regular guest artist masterclasses and Q&As)
  • Cultivate meaningful professional relationships with a dedicated musical theatre faculty
  • Prepare for varying types of professional auditions (ppen calls, EPAs, ECCs, SETC, UPTA, cruise lines, and many more)
  • Showcase your talents in NYC for industry professionals during senior year
  • Join an elite network of working alumni:

Broadway:  Hamilton, Kinky Boots, Carousel, King Kong, Tina:  The Tina Turner Musical, Wicked

Off-Broadway:  Carrie, Sweeney Todd, Invisible Thread, Frankenstein

National/International Tours:  Hamilton, Chicago, Cats, Cinderella, Sister Act, Beauty and the Beast, Finding Neverland, The Color Purple, The Wizard of Oz, Wicked, Something Rotten, Oklahoma!, A Chorus Line, Hairspray

And various professional regional theatres across the country (and abroad) including:

Flatrock Playhouse (NC)
Forestburgh Playhouse (NY)
Florida Studio Theatre (FL)
Big Fork Summer Playhouse (MT)
Red Mountain Theatre (AL)
SummerTide Theatre (AL)
Texas Outdoor Musicals (TX)
Tent Theatre (MO)
Riverside Theatre (FL)
Crane River Theatre (NE)
Broadway Dreams (NY)
Maine State Music Theatre (ME)
Music Theatre Wichita (KS)
City Springs Theatre (GA)
Peach State Summer Theatre (GA)
Lake Compounce Theme Park (CT)
Music Academy International (Italy)
Fulton Theatre (PA)
Highlands Playhouse (NC)
Hangar Theatre (NY)
Okoboji Theatre (IA)
Theatre Works Tour
Tulane Summer Lyric (LA)
Independent Musical Productions (AL)
Quisisana Resort (ME)
The College Light Opera Company (MA)
Leavenworth Summer Theatre (WA)
Lyric Theatre (GA)
Windish Music and Productions (PA)

Apprenticeships/Intensives:
Gus Giordano Dance Summer Intensive
Broadway Dance Center

Cruise Ships:
Norwegian Creative Entertainment
Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines
Princess Cruise Lines

Theme Parks:
Dollywood (TN)
King’s Island (OH)
Busch Gardens (VA)
Walt Disney World (FL)
Hersheypark (PA)
Cedar Point (OH)
Six Flags over Georgia (GA)
King’s Dominion (VA)
Tweetsie Railroad (NC)

Television:  Bamber Bridge, Bluff City Law, The Gifted, She’s Gotta Have it

Our students have also gone on to study in various graduate programs and law schools across the country including but not limited to:

Parsons School of Design
Emory University School of Law
The University of Alabama
Lamar University
NYU Tisch School of the Arts Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program

Admission Process

Admission to the BA-Musical Theatre concentration is by audition. Auditions are held on campus each November and January, with exact dates published annually on the auditions page. Students must complete the online application form (also on the website) and apply to The University of Alabama in order to be considered for admission.

Students will be notified of acceptance, and eligibility for a possible departmental scholarship, no later than Feb. 1. If accepted, continuance is dependent upon satisfactory development, evaluated annually by the musical theatre faculty.

Auditions

Find current, detailed information about the audition process at on our acting and musical theatre auditions page.

a musical theatre professor speaks to a class

About the Programs

There is overlap between the material covered by both the BA and BFA. They are very similar but what’s right for one prospective student isn’t always right for another. No matter what degree one decides to pursue, our mission is to develop the knowledge, skills, and concepts essential to the life of a musical theatre professional.

For more information, please contact Stacy Alley, Director of Musical Theatre, at (205) 348-6247 or slalley@ua.edu.

Have any questions? Visit our FAQ page.

Interested in visiting campus to learn more about our musical theatre program? Complete our campus visit form.

Curriculum

Read details about the curriculum on our BA Musical Theatre Curriculum page.

More Information

For more information on the department, University and/or core curriculum requirements, please visit the UA Undergraduate Catalog.

Have any questions? Visit our FAQ page.