The Bachelor of Fine Arts track in Musical Theatre is offered for students who, upon graduation, plan to pursue a specialized performance career on the musical theatre stage. It provides the student with a thorough foundation in theatre complemented by very structured and intensive career preparation in all areas of musical theatre. The Musical Theatre B.F.A. program offers a sequence of courses in acting, movement, voice, dance, music theory, and piano. Classwork is augmented with practical production experiences. Drawing upon a variety of acting, dance, and voice methodologies, the professional musical theatre performance program offers an organic approach to musical theatre performance training. The first two years focus on the fundamentals of music theory, piano, acting, ballet, jazz, and musical theatre voice, with an emphasis on the development of artist's instrument. During the junior and senior years, emphasis is placed on studio training, musical theatre scene study, and musical theatre repertoire. The program culminates with a professional internship where students are able to apply their education in a real world work environment. While most students choose to enter the work force following graduation, the BFA is an excellent degree for students interested in pursuing graduate studies in theatre. Work within the BFA program requires energy and dedication; therefore, other part-time study or outside employment is very challenging. BFA standards are high, both for admission and for continuation in the program.
Admission Requirements
- The departmental faculty evaluates students desiring to become BFA majors via auditions and interviews. This should be completed the academic year prior to attending UCF. For complete information visit the audition site online at https://performingarts.cah.ucf.edu/study/#theatreundergrad. All BFA students are accepted on a "Provisional" basis their first year. Faculty will evaluate their work and decide whether or not the student may continue the program at the end of the first year.
- The Musical Theatre plan of study requires a Fall start for proper course sequencing. Students are not accepted to begin theatre courses in the Spring or Summer semesters.
Degree Requirements
- Students who change degree programs and select this major must adopt the most current catalog. Students must follow the most recent department, internship and school student handbooks which are available on the department website at http://www.performingarts.cah.ucf.edu/academics/student-resources.
- Students in this major must earn a "C" (2.0) or better or an "S" in each theatre course and maintain a 3.0 GPA for all courses required in the major and all courses taken in theatre and music; must not receive a negative evaluation in a regularly scheduled program review; and must not exhibit chronic unprofessional behavior. Failure to meet these standards will result in probation and/or dismissal from the program. Refer to the SPA Undergraduate Student Handbook - Theatre (http://www.performingarts.cah.ucf.edu/academics/student-resources) for details on program standards.
- Departmental Residency Requirement consists of 60 semester hours of courses taken from the UCF Theatre Department.
- All BFA Musical Theatre majors are required to audition for all Fall and Spring productions and must accept the roles assigned. Students must be registered for the appropriate Theatre Participation course in the term in which they participate. Students need not take additional hours to satisfy practicum requirements. Once students have completed their production participation requirements, they may register for a "0" credit participation course to meet departmental registration requirements if they choose. Students may use additional participation credits as electives.
- The department will accept one credit of Theatre Participation coursework for students transferring into the program. Any additional transfer participation credits will count toward electives.
- Internships are subject to departmental approval and may not be fulfilled through participating on a UCF theatre production.
- Courses designated Common Program Prerequisites are usually completed in the first 60 hours.
- Courses designated General Education Program are taken throughout all four years.
- Co-op cannot be used in this major.