BFA MUSICAL THEATRE

The Bachelor of Fine Arts Musical Theatre major is designed to prepare students for professional advanced theatre training and performance careers. We are committed to guiding students to become well-rounded performers in musicals and plays, prepare for today’s professional field, and to use their artistic calling to better their community.

Our holistic Musical Theatre curriculum offers private voice study in every semester of training in addition to essential music-based courses. Our dance courses lay a firm foundation for numerous styles of dance. At the core of our training are first-rate methods in acting, movement, and voice & speech, integrating all aspects of the student’s expression and grounding their work in truth.

Performance opportunities are available in department productions – there are 4 per year on 2 stages – as well as cabarets, special projects, and collaborations with faculty and with area theaters.

CURRICULUM

In the first two years, the focus is on the fundamentals. Acting 1-4 offers a variety of techniques including Stanislavski, Meisner, and Michael Chekhov. Voice and Movement 1 & 2 focus on freeing the voice and body to communicate with clarity. Applied Voice (private lessons) develops singing technique and musicality, while Fundamentals of Music and Piano provide theory and aural skills. Acting the Song explores vocal styles and storytelling skills. Ballet and Jazz fosters strong dance technique. The curriculum is rounded out with foundational courses that expand the student’s understanding of theatre as a collaborative art.

The last two years focus on advanced training and career preparedness. Musical Theatre Workshop 1 & 2 and Advanced Theatre Studies emphasize building repertoire, audition skills, ensemble work, and scene study. Dance training is further specialized in Tap, Musical Theatre Dance, and Advanced Dance Workshop. Work with Shakespeare and heightened text (in Acting 5) and dialects deepen the students’ range and connection to language. A rich offering of electives, such as Stage Combat, Acting for Film, Dialects, Directing, Playwriting, and Advanced Meisner allow students to develop their individual interests. They prepare to enter the professional market in Career Strategies for Actors. The Senior Project offers students creative space to showcase their skills and unique artistry before graduation.

Musical Theatre Major Required Courses (62 credits):

TPP 1110 Acting I (3)
TPP 2111 Acting II (3)
TPP 2112 Acting III (3)
TPP 3113 Acting IV (3)
TPP 4114 Acting V (3)
TPP 2160 Theatre Voice and Movement I (3)
TPP 2161 Theatre Voice and Movement II (3)
TPP 3164 Theatre Voice and Movement III (3)
TPP 3923 Musical Theatre Workshop I – An Introduction to Musical Comedy Performance (3)
TPP 3XXX Musical Theatre Workshop II – Musical Theatre Styles (3)
TPP 4253 Advanced Musical Theatre Studies – Acting in Contemporary Musical Theatre (3)
TPP 4971 Senior Projects (1)
TPP 3276 Acting the Song (2)
MUT 1001 Fundamentals of Music (3)
MVK 1111L Class Piano I (1)
MVV 1211 Secondary Applied Voice (1)
MVV 1211 Secondary Applied Voice (1)
MVV 2221 Secondary Applied Voice (1)
MVV 2221 Secondary Applied Voice (1)
MVV 3221 Secondary Applied Voice (1)
MVV 3221 Secondary Applied Voice (1)
MVV 4241 Secondary Applied Voice (1)
MVV 4241 Secondary Applied Voice (1)
DAA 1200 Ballet Techniques I (3)
DAA 1500 Jazz Dance Techniques I (3)
DAA 2520 Tap Dance Techniques I (3)
DAA 3XXX Dance for Musical Theatre (3)
DAA 4XXX Advanced Dance Workshop (3)
TPP 4084 Career Strategies for Actors (3)
THE 3243 History of Musical Theatre in America (3)
TPP 3940 Internship Experience (0)
TPA 2010 Introduction to Design (3)
TPA 2290L Technical Theatre Lab I (1)
TPA 2291L Technical Theatre Lab II (1)

Choose 2 courses from the following – 6 credits

TPA 2210 Stagecraft I (3)
TPA 2220 Stage Lighting I (3)
TPA 2332 Costume Technology (3)

University Common Course Requirements: 36 credits
Additional Theatre or University Electives: 12 credits

Total Credits Required to Graduate with a BFA in Theatre (Musical Theatre Performance): 128 credits

For more information, visit the course catalog.

AUDITIONS

Students must audition for the BFA Musical Theatre major. For more information and to schedule your audition visit the auditions page.

QUESTIONS?

For information on auditions, including deadlines and what you will need to prepare, please visit the Auditions page.

For information on scholarships, please visit the Scholarships page.

If you have additional questions about the BFA in Musical Theatre, please contact the head of performance, Rebecca Covey, at rcovey@fiu.edu or (305) 348-3728.

If you have additional questions about courses or advising, please contact academic advisor, Jessica Amores Diaz, at jamores@fiu.edu or (305) 348-2442.

BFA DESIGN

The Design major of our BFA degree is designed to prepare students for a professional theatre career and/or advanced professional theatre training. BFA and BA candidates complete a similar curriculum in the first two years of study. BFA Design candidates then go on to take advanced courses in theatrical design.

The BFA Design program has three areas of emphasis to choose from in scenic, lighting, and costume design. A limited number of designers are selected. This provides many opportunities for realized design work in our shows.

Small class sizes ensure one-on-one attention with professors actively working professionally both in Miami and in regional theatres across the country.

Students train in a professional-caliber venue which includes cutting-edge scene and costume shops, design studio, and light lab stocked with the latest technology.

Students travel to, and present their work at, KCACTF and USITT where they are consistently rewarded for the quality and excellence of their work. Many of our students have won national awards from KCACTF which include all expenses paid fellowships at the National Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival in Washington, D.C.

CURRICULUM

Design Major Required Courses (60 credits)

THE 4110 Theatre History I (3)
THE 4111 Theatre History II (3)
THE 4314 Classical Dramatic Literature (3) OR THE 4370 Modern Dramatic Literature (3)
THE 4950 Internship (6)
THE 4971 Senior Projects (1)
TPA 2010 Introduction to Design (3)
TPA 2210 Stagecraft I (3)
TPA 2220 Stage Lighting I (3)
TPA 2332 Costume Technology (3)
TPA 3226C Lighting Design I (3)
TPA 3002 Period Styles in Theatre Design (3)
TPA 3045 Costume Design I (3)
TPA 3060 Scenic Design I (3)
TPA 3073 Stage Rendering (3)
TPA 3296 Advanced Technical Project I (2)
TPA 4912 Portfolio 1 (1)
TPA 4297 Advanced Technical Project II (2)
TPP 1110 Acting I (3)
TPP 2653 Playscript Analysis (3)
TPP 3310 Directing I (3)
TPA 2290L Technical Theatre Lab I (1)
TPA 2291L Technical Theatre Lab II (1)
TPA 2292L Technical Theatre Lab III (1)

Electives selected with advisor approval Select 21 credits from the following:

TPA 2248 Stage Makeup (3)
TPA 3230 Costume History (3)
TPA 3930 Special Topics in Theatre: ComputerAided Drafting (3)
TPA 3930 Special Topics in Theatre: Scene Painting (3)
TPA 3930 Special Topics in Theatre: TBA (3)
TPA 3930 Special Topics in Theatre: Costume Crafts (3)
TPA 3930 Special Topics in Theatre: Costume Patterning (3)
TPA 4041 Costume Design II (3)
TPA 4061 Scenic Design II (3)
TPA 4221 Stage Lighting II (3)
TPA 3400 Stage Management (3)

University Common Course Requirements: 36 credits
Additional Theatre or University Electives: 11 credits

Total Credits Required to Graduate with a BFA in Theatre (Design): 128 credits

For more information, visit the course catalog.

PORTFOLIO REVIEWS AND INTERVIEWS

Students seeking to be admitted into the BFA Design program must schedule an interview and portfolio review with our design and technology management faculty. For more information and to schedule your interview visit the portfolio reviews page.

INFORMATION FOR TRANSFER STUDENTS

The BFA in Design/Technology at FIU is a competitive program that prepares talented students for careers as professional designers and technicians. Successful students transferring from a Junior College into the BFA in Design/Technology graduate in 3 years with careful guidance from the Theatre and Design/Technology faculty.

Placement of transfer students in the design sequence is mainly determined by the portfolio and interview, regardless of previous course work in design.

To graduate in a timely manner from FIU with a BFA in Design, transfer students are encouraged to take foundational courses (when offered) at their Junior College. These foundational courses may include Stagecraft, Costume Technology, Acting I, Acting II, Voice and Movement I, a Technical Theatre Lab, Script Analysis and Playwriting or Stage Makeup. This is a total of nineteen (19) credits. (FIU Theatre acknowledges that most Junior Colleges do not offer many of these classes.)

QUESTIONS?

If you have additional questions about the BFA in Design, please contact the head of design, technology, and management, Tony Galaska, at agalaska@fiu.edu or (305) 348-2564.

If you have additional questions about courses or advising, please contact academic advisor, Jessica Amores Diaz, at jamores@fiu.edu or (305) 348-2442.

BA THEATRE

Our BA in Theatre is a versatile and comprehensive liberal arts degree with courses in all the basic aspects of theatre. This degree contains a fairly equal balance of academic, technical, and performance courses and then allows the student to focus on whatever area of theatre interests them most.

Small class sizes ensure one-on-one attention from faculty mentors. Students also learn on the job working on productions.

Students train in a professional-caliber theatre venue, including cutting-edge scene and costume shops, design studio, and light lab stocked with the latest technology.

Our students are consistently awarded prestigious fellowships from the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. Our stage managers have won national fellowships for three straight years and our directors have won national fellowships for two out of the past four years.

CURRICULUM

Students take classes in the areas of acting, design, directing, theatre history, and dramatic literature.

Students are able to select their area of focus by selecting electives in stage management, playwriting, and additional acting or directing courses.

Required Courses (42 credits):

THE 4110 Theatre History I (3)
THE 4111 Theatre History II (3)
THE 4314 Classical Dramatic Literature (3)
THE 4370 Modern Dramatic Literature (3)
TPA 2010 Introduction to Design (3)
TPA 2210 Stagecraft I (3)
TPA 2220 Stage Lighting I (3)
TPA 2290L Technical Theatre Lab I (1)
TPA 2291L Technical Theatre Lab II (1)
TPA 2292L Technical Theatre Lab III (1)
TPA 2332 Costume Technology (3)
TPP 1110 Acting I (3)
TPP 2111 Acting II (3)
TPP 2160 Theatre Voice and Movement I (3)
TPP 2653 Playscript Analysis (3)
TPP 3310 Directing I (3)

Choose 1 course from the following (3 credits):

TPA 3226C Lighting Design I (3)
TPA 3045 Costume Design I (3)
TPA 3060 Scenic Design I (3)

Choose 15 credits from these electives:

FIL 2000 Introduction to Filmmaking (3)
SPC 2050 Voice and Diction (3)
THE 4760 Methods of Teaching Theatre (3)
THE 4916 Research (1-5)
THE 4950 Internship (1-6)
TPA 2211 Stagecraft II (3)
TPA 2248 Stage Makeup (3)
TPA 3002 Period Styles in Theatre Design (3)
TPA 3060 Scenic Design I (3)
TPA 3230 Costume History (3)
TPA 3400 Stage Management (3)
TPA 3930 Special Topics in Theatre (1-3)
TPP 2112 Acting III (3)
TPP 2161 Theatre Voice and Movement II (3)
TPP 3113 Acting IV (3)
TPP 3530 Stage Combat I (3)
TPP 3730 Dialects (3)
TPP 3923 Musical Theatre Workshop I (3)
TPP 4311 Directing II (3)
TPP 4532 Stage Combat II (3)
TPP 4564 Mime (3)
TPP 4600 Playwriting I (3)
TPP 4601 Playwriting II (3)
TPP 4920 Advanced Actor’s Workshop I (3)

University Common Course Requirements: 36 credits
Additional Theatre or University Electives: 12 credits

Total Credits Required to Graduate with a BA in Theatre: 120 credits

For more information, visit the course catalog

ADMISSIONS

Students seeking admission to the BA in Theatre program have two options. Students with a greater interest in acting should schedule an audition. Students with a greater interest in design and technology management should schedule an interview and portfolio review.

ADMISSION INFORMATION FOR TRANSFERS

The BA in Theatre is a versatile and comprehensive liberal arts degree.  Students transferring into the BA can usually graduate in three years.

To graduate in a timely manner from FIU with a BA in Theatre, transfer students are encouraged to take foundational courses (when offered) at their Junior College.  These foundational courses may include Stagecraft, Costume Technology, Acting I, Acting II, Voice and Movement I, a Technical Theatre Lab, Script Analysis and Playwriting or Stage Makeup. This is a total of nineteen (19) credits. (FIU Theatre acknowledges that most Junior Colleges do not offer many of these classes.)

All transfer students are encouraged to apply early and contact the Theatre department advisor as soon as possible to review their transfer credits and to estimate their graduation date. Timely graduation will be contingent on registering promptly for required courses, passing all classes, and working closely with the theatre advisors and faculty.

QUESTIONS?

If you have additional questions about courses or advising, please contact academic advisor, Jessica Amores Diaz, at jamores@fiu.edu or (305) 348-2442.

THEATRE MINOR

The Minor in Theatre is open to all FIU undergraduate students interested in theatre study (with the exception of Theatre Majors).

CURRICULUM

Students must take 15 credits for the minor. The selection of courses varies from semester to semester.

THE 2000: Theatre Appreciation (3)
TPP 2100: Introduction to Acting (3)

1 of the following courses:

TPA 2210: Stagecraft (3) OR
TPA 2220: Stage Lighting (3) OR
TPA 2332: Costume Technology (3) OR
TPA 2010: Intro to Design

2 Theatre electives:

For full list of available electives, visit the course catalog

Please note: Theatre Minors may not register for Acting I, Acting II, or above. Those courses are only open to Theatre Majors.

ADMISSIONS

Interested students must contact academic advisor Jessica Amores Diaz at jamores@fiu.edu or (305) 348-2442.

DANCE MINOR

The Minor in Dance is designed to meet the needs of liberal arts students who wish to pursue dance for the purpose of increasing creative development, artistic awareness, and intercultural understanding.

For more information on the Dance Minor, contact Pioneer Winter at pwinter@fiu.edu.

CURRICULUM

Students must take 15 credits for the minor. The selection of courses varies from semester to semester.

Nine credits in dance technique courses:

DAA 1100 Modern Dance Technique I (3)
DAA 1200 Ballet Techniques I (3)
DAA 2610 Dance Composition I (3)

Three credits in dance theory courses:

DAN 2100 Dance Appreciation (3)

Three credits in theatre courses:

TPP 2100 Introduction to Acting (3)

For more information, visit the course catalog

ADMISSIONS

Any student admitted to FIU can sign up for a Dance Minor. Please contact academic advisor Jessica Amores Diaz at jamores@fiu.edu or (305) 348-2442.