Musical TheatreBFA

Emerson’s renowned Musical Theatre BFA combines conservatory-style training with liberal arts, helping you develop and grow as a student, performer, collaborator, and creative thinker. Housed in the Department of Performing Arts in the School of Arts and Interdisciplinary Studies, the program is highly selective and highly individualized. You’ll be guided by faculty who have worked on Broadway, with touring productions, regional theatres, television (on-screen and voiceover), and more. You’ll build a strong foundation in acting, singing, dance, and musicianship, all while learning the history and culture of musical theatre.

The curriculum supports both artistic growth and professional preparation. You will gain foundational training in movement, voice, musicianship, acting, and ensemble work, while studying theatre through the lenses of history, literature, and the liberal arts. Upper-level coursework provides specialized training, including advanced performance techniques, swing pedagogy, and business skills that you’ll need when you’re off the stage. Throughout the program, you’ll be encouraged to develop your unique artistic voice while learning to collaborate and communicate authentically, and to approach the creative process with curiosity and confidence. Graduates of this program work regularly on and off Broadway, regionally, internationally, on tour, and in major entertainment venues.

You’ll perform in Emerson Stage productions in historic theatres, collaborate with student filmmakers, and participate in a vibrant community of student performance organizations. Tap into Boston’s theatre scene, collaborate with visiting artists, attend masterclasses put on by professional actors, and network with Emerson alumni who have landed careers in the theatre industry. In your senior year, you’ll perform in showcases in Boston and New York, presenting your best self to casting directors, agents, alumni, and industry professionals. You’ll leave with the skills to pursue a career in the theatrical world, an expanded acting resume, and a greater appreciation for the rich history of musical theatre.

Your voice is your instrument. Emerson’s Vocal Wellness Program helps Musical Theatre students understand and care for it through vocal health education and free screenings tailored to singers and professional voice users. In partnership with the Communication Sciences and Disorders program and the Robbins Speech, Language and Hearing Center, you can access screenings throughout your time at Emerson, including vocal imaging when needed, with referrals to voice therapy and specialists if additional care is recommended.

Exceptional incoming Musical Theatre students can receive a four-year scholarship covering full tuition, fees, and room and board. All students admitted to the Musical Theatre BFA are automatically considered based on their potential for academic and artistic success; no additional application or essay is required. The scholarship renews each year as long as the recipient remains a full-time, degree-seeking Musical Theatre student.

Musical Theatre students spend as much time doing as they do studying. Perform in professional-quality theatres, participate in Emerson Stage productions, collaborate with filmmakers and fellow artists, and learn from working professionals in Boston’s vibrant theatre community. Here are some ways Musical Theatre students learn by doing:

• Graduating seniors have the chance to perform in front of industry reps, casting directors, and noted Emerson alumni at two annual spring Showcases, one in Boston and one in New York City.
• Students have the opportunity to perform in our five professional-quality theater spaces. Our theaters are supported by modern rehearsal studios, practice rooms, and a design studio, light lab, costume shop, scenic shop, and makeup suite.
• Emerson Stage is the producing organization within the Department of Performing Arts. Musical Theatre students may audition for the entire season, which includes musicals, plays, theatre for young audiences, workshops, labs, and readings. Emerson Stage presents the classics as well as contemporary theatre and new works.
• Boston’s vibrant theatre industry provides many opportunities for our students to engage with working professionals. The faculty regularly invite artists from visiting national tours to meet with students through master classes and Q&As.
• Many Emerson students find summer work through a number of Unified auditions. The faculty is committed to helping students prepare and advising on the required audition and interview protocols.
• Students have the opportunity to hone their skills for the camera by acting in student films produced on real working sets on campus and on location through our School of Film, Television, and Media Arts.

The skills you learn in the Musical Theatre program will prepare you any number of careers in the theatrical space, including:

• Performer (stage, screen, voice)
• Director
• Music Director
• Choreographer
• Producer
• Artistic Director
• Casting or Talent Agent
• Teaching Artist
• Content Creator

• Jessica Phillips
  • Actor, Frozen (Broadway), Kinky Boots (Broadway and touring)
• Betsy Morgan
  • Actor, Kimberly Akimbo (Broadway), The Little Mermaid (Broadway), High Fidelity (Broadway)
• Julia Mattison
  • Composer/Lyricist, Death Becomes Her (Broadway); actor, Godspell (Broadway)
• Merri Sugarman
  • Casting director
• Lauren Nicole Chapman
  • Actor, Frozen (Broadway), Kinky Boots (Broadway and touring)

Musical Theatre faculty are experts in acting, singing, history of theatre, and directing.

Explore Emerson’s theatres, rehearsal spaces, and production studios, then stay for an informational session about the Performing Arts programs and Artistic Review process.

If the Musical Theatre BFA program is for you, you’ll need to first apply to Emerson College. You’ll then need to create an Artistic Application through Emerson’s Acceptd portal. Here you’ll submit a theatrical resume highlighting your acting credits, along with a headshot. You’ll also submit a Musical Theater Common Prescreen (MTCP), showing your singing, acting, and dance abilities. More information about the application requirements can be found on the Artistic Review Requirements page.

Audition spaces fill up fast and spaces are limited, so make sure to get your application in as soon as possible.