Admission

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 Admissions

Graduate Admissions

1. 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.

BFA Acting

BFA Musical Theatre

BFA Theatre Design, Technology and Management

BA Theatre Studies

Minors in Theatre and Musical Theatre

BFA Dance

BA Dance (Concentrations in Studio Teaching; and Dance Education with P-12 Teacher Certification)

MFA, in Dance – Visit the Graduate School website for additional application requirements and deadline details.

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.

BFA Musical Theatre

Professor Mark Hardy

hardyma@montclair.edu

BFA Acting

Professor Heather Benton

bentonh@montclair.edu

BFA Theatre Design, Technology and Management

Professor Mysti Stay

staym@montclair.edu

BFA/BA Dance

Christina Paolucci – Admissions Coordinator

paoluccic@montclair.edu

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

Partner Organizations Event Calendar

*Please note that  guidelines for some Partner Organizations are currently under development.

 

BFA, BA Dance

NYCDA (New York City Dance Alliance)

• July 5, 2023For further information visit https://www.nycdance.com/

Dancewave Through College & Beyond

• October 3 – 8, 2023

For further information visit https://dancewave.org/dtcb/

Signatures (Toronto, Canada)

• October 29, 2023For further information visit https://www.adaptsyllabus.com/adapt-post-secondary-auditions/

Booker T Washington Showcase/ College Auditions

• November 15 – 18, 2023 – TBD

For further information visit http://www.btwshowcase.com/

 

 

BFA Musical Theatre, BFA Acting Auditions Pittsburgh Unifieds – VIRTUAL

•  VIRTUAL – October 6-8; 14 & 15, 2023
• For Further information, visit pittsburghauditions.com

 

BFA Musical Theatre, BFA Acting, and BFA Design, Technology and Management

National Unified Auditions

• New York City – January 27 – 28, 2024
• Chicago – February 5 – 8, 2024
• Los Angeles – February 10 – 11, 2024
• For further information, visit unifiedauditions.com

College Audition Projections Auditions – BFA Musical Theatre Program only

• Atlanta – November 11 & 12, 2023
• For further information, visit collegeauditionproject.com

Moonified Auditions – BFA Musical Theatre Program only

• Dallas – November 18 – 19, 2023
• For further information, visit collegeauditioncoach.com/moonifieds

Mid-Atlantic Auditions (MARCAS) – BFA Acting Program only

• November 11, 2023
• For further information visit https://www.midatlanticauditions.com/

National Thespians – BFA Design, Technology & Management 
San Antonio State Festival
Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center
November 11-13, 2023
Grapevine State Festival
Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center November 15-18, 2023

Booker T Washington Showcase/ College Auditions – BFA Acting Program only

• November 16 – 19, 2023
•  For further information visit http://www.btwshowcase.com/

New Jersey Thespian Festival – BFA Acting, BFA Design, Technology and Management

• January 13 – 14, 2024
• For further information visit https://www.njthespians.org/

 

Theatre Studies

No audition is required for this program

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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

For MA Theatre, with concentration in Theatre Studies in:

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

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.

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:

• University Office of Financial Aid
• Graduate School Financial Information
• Outside Scholarships and Scholarship Search Engines