B.F.A. in Theatre Arts (Musical Theatre)
The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Arts with a concentration in Musical Theatre provides personalized and intensive classroom instruction and stage experience to prepare students for performance careers in Musical Theatre. Students receive a rigorous grounding in history, literature, theories and methodologies of classical and contemporary theatre arts, and work with professional musicians, actors and playwrights. Students also have a variety of opportunities to perform in main stage productions directed by renowned New York City directors. The 120-credit program is selective and acceptance into the program requires an audition.
The musical theatre concentration draws from the Suzuki, Stanislavsky, Chekhov and Linklater techniques with concentrated study in techniques and approaches to musical theatre. The core program, taught by professional theatre artists, emphasizes development of a riveting stage presence based on dynamic physicality, emotional authenticity and a commanding voice. Students receive individual and ensemble training in television and film acting, singing and dancing from artists of national and international renown. The program culminates at the end of the senior year, when students showcase their talent before agents, managers and directors in New York City.
This exciting program is coordinated with the Post Theatre Company, where students gain hands-on participation in all aspects of a working theatre company. Students gain a wider perspective through internships on and off campus, and have the opportunity to travel to festivals in the United States and abroad.
Students have access to excellent facilities to gain practical experience and showcase their talents.
Qualities That Set Our Program Apart
- Physical acting training based on the Suzuki Method with an emphasis on building technique through movement, dance, voice, and speech training
- Producing contemporary works in musical theatre with the Post Theatre Company; past productions include Bat Boy, Urinetown, Rocky Horror, Into the Woods
- Main stage productions directed by professional New York City directors, public performances and collaborations with renowned New York City-based artists that offer networking opportunities and access to potential employers
- Extensive internship offerings
- A stellar roster of alumni working on Broadway and Off-Broadway, in American regional theatres, on national tours and in international venues and in films and TV programs including Memphis, Aida, "ER" and "Six Feet Under."
- Training in all areas of the industry - stage, film, television, and more.
About the Field
The B.F.A. in Theatre Arts: Musical Theatre can lead to rewarding careers in musical theatre performance as well as stage and screen acting and work in related fields such as playwriting, directing, stage management, costume design, lighting design, make-up artistry, set design and much more. The Musical Theatre concentration particularly prepares graduates for careers as lead performers in musicals and cabaret or to pursue graduate study for careers as acting teachers and coaches.
Beyond working with acclaimed performers and instructors on and off campus, students at LIU Post gain outstanding direction and leads through LIU Post’s offices of Cooperative Education and Career Services. Career counselors in the LIU Post Division for Student Success meet with students one-to-one to discuss career options in theatre arts, including those best suited to graduates of the Musical Theatre concentration.
Admission RequirementsStudents must have an interview and audition for admission to the B.F.A. in Theatre Arts: Musical Theatre program. Applicants will be notified of departmental admissions decisions by the early spring. Mid-year transfer students are contacted individually. All B.F.A. candidates must maintain a 3.0 grade point average in the major.
Auditions
To audition for the Theatre Arts - Musical Theatre Program:
- Apply to LIU Post
- Call 516-299-2353 to schedule an audition slot. Total audition time is 3 minutes.
- Prepare one short monologue and 16 bars of a song.
- Submit a headshot and résumé at the audition.
Auditions for admission into the B.F.A. Theatre Arts Musical Theatre Program are held in the Theatre, Dance & Arts Management Department and at multiple locations in the United States.
Auditions for Post Theatre Company Productions
Auditions for the season productions are open to all theatre majors and are held in the Little Theatre on Mainstage unless otherwise posted. Check the callboard in the Theatre and Dance Building for audition requirements and sign-up sheets.
Program Curriculum
| Course # | Course Name | Credit |
| Required Acting Courses (21 credits) | ||
| THE 121 | Basic Acting I | 3 |
| THE 122 | Basic Acting II | 3 |
| THE 123 | Intermediate Acting I | 3 |
| THE 124 | Intermediate Acting II | 3 |
| THE 125 | Advanced Acting I | 3 |
| THE 126 | Advanced Acting II | 3 |
| One of the Following Junior Courses linked to THE 125/126 Option (3 Credits) | ||
| THE 168 | Advanced Voice & Speech I | 3 |
| THE 542 | Advanced Theatre Movement | 3 |
| Required Additional Theatre History and Literature Courses (3 Credits) | ||
| THE 148 | The History of American Musical | 3 |
| Required Additional Theatre Arts and Techniques Courses (21 credits) | ||
| THE 131 | Directing I | 3 |
| THE 151 | Beginning Suzuki Technique | 3 |
| THE 152 | Professional Skills: The Business of Acting | 3 |
| THE 166 | Beginning Speech | 3 |
| THE 167 | Beginning Voice | 3 |
| Six credits of the following | ||
| THE 180 | Contemporary Musical Theatre Seminar | 3 |
| THE 195 | Musical Theatre Seminar II | 3 |
| Required Theatre, Music, Dance, Voice Jury Courses (8 Credits of the following) |
||
| MUS 88A | Voice Lessons | 1 |
| MUS 88B | Voice Lessons | 2 |
| Dance Electives (9 credits) | ||
| Course # | Course Name | Credits |
| Required Core Courses
(32-33 Credits)
|
||
| POST 101 | Post Foundations | 1 |
| FY | First-Year Seminar | 3 |
| ENG 1** | Writing 1 | 3 |
| ENG 2** | Writing 2 | 3 |
| MTH 5 | Quantitative Reasoning | 3-4 |
| Choose one course from each of the five below course clusters and one additional course from one of the clusters. | ||
| Scientific Inquiry & the Natural World |
4 | |
| Creativity Media & the Arts | 3 | |
| Perspectives on World Culture | 3 | |
| Self, Society & Ethics | 3 | |
| Power, Institutions & Structures (ECO 10 Required) | 3 | |
| One additional course from one of the five above clusters. (ECO 11 Required) | 3 | |
| General Elective (3 Credits from Any Course) | ||
* Some courses may count as core and others as electives.
** In addition to ENG 1 and 2, students take at least 3 more writing intensive (WAC) courses as part of their major, core, or elective courses. ENG 303 and 304 can satisfy the ENG 1 and 2 requirement for students in the Honors College.
| Credit Requirements | |
| Total Major Requirement Credits | 85 |
| Total Core Requirement Credits | 32-33 |
| General Elective | 3 |
| Total Degree Credits | 121 |
Courses
MUS 88A Studio Lessons: Voice
Private studio lessons are given once a week. Twelve lessons are scheduled and ten lessons must be fulfilled for course completion in a given semester. Upon registration, students must visit the Department of Music, Fine Arts Center, Room 108, to complete a Lesson Availability Form after which a studio faculty member will contact the student to establish a mutually convenient lesson time.
Credits: 1.00
MUS 88B Studio Lessons: Voice
Private studio lessons are given once a week. Twelve lessons are scheduled and ten lessons must be fulfilled for course completion in a given semester. Upon registration, students must visit the Department of Music, Fine Arts Center, Room 108, to complete a Lesson Availability Form after which a studio faculty member will contact the student to establish a mutually convenient lesson time.
Credits: 2.00
THE 121 Basic Acting I
Introductory studio course focused on exercises, improvisations, and basic scene work intended to develop the student's imagination and ability to identify intentions and given circumstances.
Credits: 3.00
THE 122 Basic Acting II
Introduction to scene study and basic character development. Continuation of THE 121.
Credits: 3.00
THE 123 Intermediate Acting I
Scene study course with a focus on connection to given circumstance and character development. Voice, speech and movement techniques are integrated into the studio practice.
Credits: 3.00
THE 124 Intermediate Acting II
The course is a continuation of THE 123.
Credits: 3.00
THE 125 Advanced Acting I
This course offers two different options:
Option I focuses on scene and monologue study with texts from Greek classical drama and Shakespeare. Alternative performance techniques drawn from postmodern theater practitioners will provide the means through which students will develop personal process that deviates from the traditional Stanislavski system. Corequisite of THE 542.
Option II focuses on scene and monologue study within Shakespearean text with emphasis on original performance practices.Corequisite THE 168.
Credits: 3.00
THE 126 Advanced Acting II
A continuation of Theater 125, with the continued two options.
Option I focuses on texts taken from Modern and Post-Modern playwrights. Through script analysis and practical experience in physical performance techniques, students will continue to develop a personal process that incorporates a broad range of performance practice.
Option II focuses on a strong foundation in Lecoq technique. Students will develop an awareness of personal mannerisms, a sense of playfulness, collaboration, and openness.This provides tools to heighten creativity and physical expressiveness.
Credits: 3.00
THE 131 Directing I
This is a studio course in all basic elements of theatrical direction: play selection and analysis, pre-production planning, casting, rehearsals, integration of production elements. Students direct short plays for public performance. Substantial rehearsal time required. May be repeated for a maximum of four semesters.
Credits: 3.00
THE 148 The History of American Musical
This course is a study of musical comedy from its origins in the 18th century through its fruition in the 19th, to its innovations in the modern era.
Credits 3.00
THE 151 Beginning Suzuki Technique
This course is an introduction to the Suzuki method of actor training. This rigorous physical training develops the actor's concentration and focus, discipline, and ability to create theatrical presence.
Credits: 3.00
THE THE 152 Professional Skills: The Business of Acting
This is an encyclopedia course in preparation for the actor's entry into the profession. It is required for any actor participating in the Senior Showcase. Includes audition techniques, choice of appropriate material, marketing, and introductions to members of the industry.
Credits: 3.00
THE 166 Beginning Voice and Speech I
This course teaches the fundamentals of speech for the stage and provides a working knowledge of the phonetic alphabet. It also focuses on the use of the vocal instrument. Through exercises and text work, the student explores the relationship of breath to the text and acquires the knowledge to care for and maintain vocal health and production.
Credits: 3.00
THE 167 Beginning Voice and Speech II
This course is a continuation of THE 167.
THE 168 Advanced Voice and Speech I
This course is a Voice and Speech studio practicum integrating Laban technique and elliptical energy work with the vocal practices established in THE !66 & 167.
Corequisite of THE 125 Option II.
Credits: 3.00
THE 180 Contemporary Musical Theatre Practices
This course is a practicum in musical theatre performance techniques with emphasis on developing a clear process. Repertoire and movement are also included in the course work.
Credits: 3.00
THE 195 Musical Theatre Practices II
This is an upper level course, developing advanced performance techniques, and building an extensive repertoire in preparation for the profession.
Credits: 3.00
THE 542 Advanced Suzuki
The goals of this class are to find and synthesize approaches to the generation of new theatrical material which are guided by the physical, aided by the intellect, and inspired by the emotive; to use the voice as an extension of the body and sound as a physical impulse instead of the means to convey thought; to explore individual expression of the human experience, firstly by means of the physical self, and then adding the spoken word. The primary physical technique employed is the Suzuki Method complemented by other techniques. Focus on physical vocal training and compositional work. Co-requisite for students in THE 125 Option I.
Credits: 3.00
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