Department of Theatre and Dance
Interpretative Dancer on stage gesturing upward

Admission

Applying as a new student?

Applying for admission to the Department of Theatre and Dance is a two-step process:

  1. The University application – First, submit an online application to Montclair State University, following guidelines for undergraduate or graduate admission:
    Undergraduate AdmissionsGraduate Admissions
  2. The Department Audition, or interview – Admission requirements vary from program to program. Click on the links below for specific program details and instructions.

Students participating in an audition event conducted by a Partner Organization are required to register for the event online after submitting a University application.

Please note – prospective students who apply to the University through the CommonApp will receive an email from the Office of Admissions inviting them to create an MSU application portal. All audition materials should be uploaded there.

Changing your major?

Current Students seeking a Change of Major

If you are currently enrolled at Montclair State University and wish to change your major to a program in the Department of Theatre and Dance, you do not need to reapply to the university. Instead, email the appropriate representative below to submit an interview, audition, or portfolio review. You will be notified of the result by email.

You will be required to submit for review all of the materials that appear on the Department of Theatre and Dance Application website.

Application reviews will begin at the end of November and continue on a rolling basis.

Professor Ryan Kasprzak
kasprzakr@montclair.edu

Professor Heather Benton
bentonh@montclair.edu

Professor Mysti Stay
staym@montclair.edu

Christina Paolucci – Admissions Coordinator
paoluccic@montclair.edu

Prospective Student Audition/Appointment Calendar

As admission to our programs is competitive, we encourage you to complete your application with special attention to the following:

Once you have submitted your application, including any required pre-screen videos, you will be invited to schedule an audition on one of the following dates. Please note that if you do not move past the pre-screening, you will be notified and your audition appointment will be canceled.

 

DANCE (BFA and BA):

Friday, November 14, 2025 – Campus Audition 

Friday, December 12, 2025 – Campus Audition 

Friday, January 23, 2026 – Campus Audition

Friday, February 27, 2026 – Campus Audition 

Friday, March 20, 2026 – Campus Audition

Friday, March 27, 2026 – Virtual Audition

 

MUSICAL THEATRE (BFA)

Saturday, December 13, 2025 Campus Audition

Saturday, January 17, 2026, Virtual Audition 

Saturday, February 14, 2026  Campus Audition

Saturday, March 7, 2026  Campus Audition

Saturday, March 21, 2026 Virtual Audition

Saturday, April 11, 202,6 Campus Audition

 

ACTING (BFA)

Saturday, December 13, 2025 Campus Audition

Saturday, January 17, 2026, Virtual Audition 

Saturday, February 14, 2026  Campus Audition

Saturday, March 7, 2026  Campus Audition

Saturday, March 21, 2026 Virtual Audition

Saturday, April 11, 2026, Campus Audition

 

DESIGN, TECHNOLOGY, & MANAGEMENT (DTM)

Saturday, December 13, 2025 Virtual Interview

Saturday, January 24th, 2026 Virtual Interview

Saturday, February 21, 2026,  On-Campus Interview

Thursday, April 2, 2026, On-Campus Interview

Details regarding the interview

After you submit your application to the University, you will receive an invitation to schedule an interview on one of the available dates. We offer both virtual and in-person options for the interviews. For the virtual interviews, you will be assigned a time slot between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., lasting 30 minutes. During the interview, we will review any sample paperwork or images you provide and address any questions you may have about the program. Additionally, a current student will be present to answer any questions related to student life.
 
If you decide to join us in person, the session will include both an interview and an experience related to Montclair Design, Technology, and Management. You will have the opportunity to participate in an interview with faculty members, tour our facilities, and sit in on a class related to technology and/or performance. 
 
You can choose to attend only the interview portion, which will take place on the morning of February 21 and the afternoon of April 2, or you can extend your visit to include the full Montclair experience. Additional information will be provided closer to the interview dates.

 

  • All applicants for the spring semester must submit a completed University application by November 15, 2025.
  • Freshman applicants for the fall semester should submit a completed university application by a date no later than March 1, 2026 in order to be considered for housing and financial aid.
  • Application reviews will occur on a rolling basis through approximately March 1, 2026.
  • Applications submitted after March 1, 2026 are intended for late-applying transfer applicants and University-enrolled students who wish to change their majors.

Partner Organizations Event Calendar

 

BFA, BA Dance

NYCDA (New York City Dance Alliance)

Dancewave Through College & Beyond

 

BFA Musical Theatre Pittsburgh Unifieds – 

  •  IN PERSON – October 10 – 13, 2025

BFA Musical Theatre and BFA Acting

National Unified Auditions

  • New York City – January 24 – 25, 2026
  • Chicago – February 2 – 5, 2026
  • Los Angeles – February 7 – 8, 2026
  • For further information, visit unifiedauditions.com

Moonified Auditions – BFA Musical Theatre

 

Mid-Atlantic Auditions (MARCAS) – BFA Acting Program AND Design, Technology & Management (DTM)

National Thespians – BFA Design, Technology & Management 
Corpus Christi State Festival
American Bank Center, Corpus Christi, TX November 14-17, 2025
November 11-13, 2023
Grapevine State Festival
Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center November 19 – 22, 2025

VA Thespians, January. 8-10, 2026 Tyson’s Corner, VA

 

New Jersey Thespian Festival – BFA Acting/ BFA Design, Technology, & Management

Jan 17-18, 2026, Washington Township High School, Sewell, NJ

BFA Design, Technology & Management – International Thespian Festival, June 21-26, Bloomington, IN

 

Theatre Studies

No audition is required for this program

Notification of Admission Status

Following the application review, the Department will forward its recommendation to the Admissions Office, which will notify you of your overall status .  Please note that, in some cases, applicants may be placed on a waiting list.

Graduate Appointment Dates

Interview appointments for all graduate programs are scheduled individually with the Graduate Program Coordinator, generally weekdays 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Events for Prospective Students

We encourage all applicants and prospective students to visit the campus to learn more about our programs. Please visit the Arts Days events page for more information as well as our Visit Us page.

Financial Aid and Scholarships


Applicants to Department of Theatre and Dance programs may qualify for one of the scholarships, grants and/or other sources of financial aid offered by the University.  The following resources may be of help:

Residency Requirements

Please note: Students who wish to return to a major in theatre and dance after an absence of two or more consecutive semesters must reapply, and in some cases re-audition, to be considered for readmission to the program. At the discretion of the faculty, students may be required to satisfy program requirements in effect at the time of readmission.