Theatre with a Musical Theatre Concentration, BA

Bachelor of Arts-Musical Theatre Concentration

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) Musical Theatre concentration in the Department of Theatre and Dance is committed to fostering a student's talent and technique in all aspects of musical theatre. Students enjoy the advantage of being part of a vibrant liberal arts community with the added benefit of more intimate class sizes.

Our BA in Theatre with a Musical Theatre concentration, now in its 15th year, is a more flexible degree program designed to help the student become a well-rounded and competitive musical theatre scholar/artist, while offering room to explore other fields of study.

By studying Musical Theatre at UA, you will:

work with a faculty of passionate, highly trained professionals.

make valuable connections in professional musical theatre by participating in master classes and auditions here on campus.

receive hands-on preparation for various employment opportunities through professional theatre conferences and on-campus auditions.

have an invaluable, competitive edge with information and material that prepares students for a comprehensive career in the business aspects of musical theatre.

have the opportunity to audition for participation in a senior showcase in NYC, performing for industry professionals.

have the opportunity to perform as part of our diverse season, in occasional touring productions, as part of SummerTide Theatre (our professional theatre in Gulf Shores), and in student productions.

Admission into the Major

Admission to the BA-Musical Theatre concentration is by audition. Auditions are held on campus each fall and spring, with exact dates published annually on the department website. 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 possible departmental scholarship in a timely fashion. If accepted, continuance is dependent upon satisfactory development, evaluated annually by the musical theatre faculty.

Please visit the departmental website for up-to-date, detailed information on the audition process at https://theatre.ua.edu/ba-programs/program-auditions/

Note: There is overlap between the material covered by both the BA and BFA, but as a whole they have distinct differences, which means 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.

Special Opportunities

The Department of Theatre and Dance offers various programs of study leading to the BA degree in theatre. These program areas include acting, musical theatre, theatre management and administration, scene design and technical production, and costume design and production. Please see the principal advisor in each of these areas for entrance requirements and a suggested course of study.

The highly motivated student who seeks to be well prepared for either the profession or graduate education may choose to take more hours in the major than the specified 36. This plan of action is highly desirable and strongly advised, but is not required. If more than 42 hours are accrued in the major, the student will be exceeding the 120 credit hour requirement for graduation by the number of hours taken over the single-subject 42 semester hour limit.

• The undergraduate international admissions office will review the applicant’s transcripts within the context of the school, curriculum and country.
• GPA will be calculated on all coursework, not just core subjects. UA considers applicants with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for admission.
• UA will accept unofficial transcripts for admission purposes. These can be emailed or uploaded by the student. 
  • If a student applies with unofficial documents, we MUST receive the official documents directly from the school or testing authority by July 1 for Fall admission and November 1 for Spring admission. 
  • Any student who does not provide official copies will not be able to enroll for courses. 
  • If a student’s official documents are not available by that time, exceptions will be made on a case-by-case basis. Students requesting an exception must email [email protected] before the deadline to be considered.
• For academic admission, students must meet the English proficiency requirement. For more information see UA’s English Language Proficiency page. 
• Students who meet the academic and financial qualifications, but do not meet the TOEFL, IELTS or PTE score requirement may apply for conditional admission.
  • Conditionally admitted students will begin their studies in the English Language Institute and then enter directly into their academic coursework once they have satisfied English proficiency. 
  • For more information see UA’s conditional admission page.
• Students requiring F-1 and J-1 visas must also send documentation in order to secure an I-20 or DS-2010.
• Successful candidates for UA will have completed a college preparatory curriculum.

• The undergraduate international admissions office will review the applicant’s transcripts within the context of the school, curriculum and country.
• GPA will be calculated on all coursework, not just core subjects. UA considers applicants with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for admission.
• UA will accept unofficial transcripts for admission purposes. These can be emailed or uploaded by the student. 
  • If a student applies with unofficial documents, we MUST receive the official documents directly from the school or testing authority by July 1 for Fall admission and November 1 for Spring admission. 
  • Any student who does not provide official copies will not be able to enroll for courses. 
  • If a student’s official documents are not available by that time, exceptions will be made on a case-by-case basis. Students requesting an exception must email [email protected] before the deadline to be considered.
• For academic admission, students must meet the English proficiency requirement. For more information see UA’s English Language Proficiency page. 
• Students who meet the academic and financial qualifications, but do not meet the TOEFL, IELTS or PTE score requirement may apply for conditional admission.
  • Conditionally admitted students will begin their studies in the English Language Institute and then enter directly into their academic coursework once they have satisfied English proficiency. 
  • For more information see UA’s conditional admission page.
• Students requiring F-1 and J-1 visas must also send documentation in order to secure an I-20 or DS-2010.
• Successful candidates for UA will have completed a college preparatory curriculum.

Commercial theatre in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles; regional theatre; film and television; education; theme parks; cruise ships; scenery and costume studios; technical production companies

Types of Jobs Accepted

Film and television performance, production personnel in regional theatre, sales and technical personnel in production companies, high school educators, community theatre technical direction and business management, graduate school

Jobs of Experienced Alumni

Executive director at 2nd Stage, NYC (Broadway (Hamilton, Kinky Boots), Off-Broadway (Sweeney Todd), engineer at major Las Vegas production firm, national Broadway tours (Finding Neverland, Hamilton, Cinderella, Sister Act, Chicago, The Wizard of Oz, Wicked, Something Rotten), television and film acting, costume designer at major regional theater, technical director for major Broadway scenic studio, university and high school educators, management at all levels in entertainment industry

Learn more about opportunities in this field at the Career Center

• Copy of your passport
• Relevant visa and immigration documents (This includes PR card, current visa, or F-1/ J-1 visa request and supporting documents)
• Unofficial transcript copies from every secondary school you have attended. This includes academic transcripts, mark sheets, grade reports, diplomas or certificates, national standardized examination results, or other academic course work.
  • Include an English translation for all documents not written in English. If you need assistance translating your documents into English, we recommend using the American Translators Association to find a certified translator.
  • Students graduating high school in Nigeria, Liberia, Ghana, The Gambia or Sierra Leone must submit a copy of their WASSCE results and scratch card information (serial number and PIN) in order to complete their application.
• Students that graduated 6 or more months ago should also provide a brief statement listing any academic activities since graduation (including any post-secondary coursework at institutions inside or outside of the US, English language programs, study abroad programs, etc.) List name(s) of the institutions and dates of attendance. If you have no additional academic activities, please write a short statement that speaks to your activities during the gap period. In the statement, please include the following and send to International Admissions at [email protected]:
  • Full Name
  • Address
  • High School/Secondary School
  • Graduation Date