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 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.

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.

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

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):
  • Wednesday November 15, 2023 Campus Audition
  • Wednesday December 6, 2023  Campus Audition
  • Wednesday January 24, 2024 Campus Auditions
  • Wednesday February 14, 2024 Campus Auditions
  • Wednesday March 6, 2024 Campus Auditions
  • Wednesday March 20, 2024 Virtual Auditions

MUSICAL THEATRE (BFA)

  • Saturday December 9, 2023 Campus Audition
  • Saturday January 20, 2024 Virtual Audition 
  • Saturday February 17, 2024  Campus Audition
  • Saturday February 24, 2024  Campus Audition
  • Saturday March 2, 2024  Campus Audition

ACTING (BFA)

  • Saturday January 20, 2024 Virtual Audition 
  • Saturday February 10, 2024 –  Campus Audition
  • Saturday February 24, 2024 –  Campus Audition
  • Saturday March 16, 2024 –  Campus Audition
  • Saturday March 23,  2024 – Campus Audition

DESIGN, TECHNOLOGY & MANAGEMENT (BFA)

  • Saturday December 9, 2023  Campus Audition
  • Saturday January 20, 2024 Virtual Audition 
  • Saturday February 10, 2024 Campus Audition
  • Saturday February 24, 2024 Campus Audition
  • Saturday March 2, 2024 Campus Audition

  • All applicants for the spring semester must submit a completed University application by November 15, 2023.
  • Freshman applicants for the fall semester should submit a completed university application by a date no later than March 1, 2024 in order to be considered for housing and financial aid.
  • Application reviews will occur on a rolling basis through approximately March 1, 2024.
  • Applications submitted after March 1, 2024 are intended for late-applying transfer applicants and University-enrolled students who wish to change their majors.

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)

Dancewave Through College & Beyond

Signatures (Toronto, Canada)

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

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

Moonified Auditions – BFA Musical Theatre, BFA Acting

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

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

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

 

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

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.

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:

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.