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Home › Prospective Students › Acting & Musical Theatre

Acting & Musical Theatre

While we undertake the revision and innovation of our curriculum, the School of Theatre, Film & Television is not accepting applications for the 2023/2024 academic year for the BFA program in Acting. Our goal is to re-open applications for the revised program for Fall 2024.

Going forward, the School is no longer accepting applications for the BFA in Musical Theatre.

The BA program in Theatre will continue to accept applications for the 2023/24 academic year. This program will be engaged in a curricular reassessment process that will result in revised degree programs beginning in Fall 2024. Matriculating students who wish to change to the revised plans can do so at that time, after speaking with their academic advisors to assess impact on their time to graduation.

Learn more at tftv.arizona.edu/news/envisioning-the-future-of-the-school-of-theatre-film-television/.

Bachelor of Fine Arts: Theatre Production – Professional Actor Training
Bachelor of Fine Arts: Musical Theatre

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

  • Our BFA programs in Acting and Musical Theatre are designed to prepare students for careers in the professional workplace.
  • Acting and Musical Theatre students share the same rigorous core curriculum in acting, voice and movement and performance.
  • Our program provides a conservatory-style training course within a university setting.
  • Small classes allow our emphasis to remain on individualized attention, encouraging collaboration while working in an ensemble.
Production: The Full Monty

Performance Opportunities

The School offers very active production programs for performers in live performance modes and film, including:

Debut

All Freshman BFA Acting majors are in the Debut ensemble, and create and perform an original production focused on the process of acting.

Encore

Freshman Musical Theatre majors perform in a specially-created revue which celebrates the Broadway musical and the American Songbook.

Arizona Repertory Theatre (ART)

Sophomore, junior, and senior company members are cast every semester in the School of Theatre, Film & Television’s ART season, which produces two musicals, one Shakespeare play, and three other plays each year.

Arizona Theatre Company (ATC) Internship Program

The School of Theatre, Film & Television maintains an internship program with ATC, the state’s regional LORT B repertory theatre. Our acting/musical theatre interns:

  • Perform in featured roles, as understudies or ensemble members in ATC productions
  • Earn points in the AEA Equity Membership Candidate Program
  • Receive academic course credit

Student Films

Students have the opportunity to work on multiple film productions each semester.

Acting Program Coursework

Acting

Eight semesters of Stanislavsky-based training covering various styles including Shakespeare, Chekhov, screen acting and audition techniques.

Voice and Movement

Four semesters of studio work, grounded in the Linklater approach to voice and various physical techniques.

Stage Combat

Classes in stage combat with the opportunity of testing for the Society of American Fight Directors.

On-Camera Technique

Classes in audition technique and film performance in partnership with faculty and BFA filmmakers.

Showcase

Professional development and business strategies culminating in a showcase for leading industry professionals from New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and major regional markets.

BFA Academic expectations

A student’s good standing in the BFA Acting Theatre program is contingent upon the following criteria:

  1. Students must meet all University of Arizona Academic Standards for continuing status.
  2. Students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 in TAR Major course work.

Each student will meet with the Acting/Musical Theatre faculty at the end of each semester to evaluate their progress. It is the student’s responsibility to make sure they have completed all of the requisite course work for each year of study.  If a student’s GPA within their major remains below a 3.0 for two semesters in a row, they will not be eligible to continue in the BFA program.

For more information contact Prof. Hank Stratton, Head of Acting,

BFA Acting Degree Requirements

Musical Theatre Program Coursework

Acting

Eight semesters of Stanislavsky-based training covering various styles including Shakespeare, Chekhov, screen acting, and audition techniques.

Voice And Movement

Four semesters of studio work, grounded in the Link later approach to voice and physical techniques.

Musical Theatre Voice Training

Eight semesters of private voice lessons.

Musical Theatre Performance Classes

Three semesters of musical theatre performance classes in varying styles and genres including New Musical Theatre, Golden Age, American Songbook and audition techniques.

Dance

Fundamentals of Musical Theatre Styles grounded in the techniques of ballet, jazz and tap are taught within the School of Theatre, Film & Television. Students also have the opportunity to take additional courses in the School of Dance.

Showcase

Professional development and business strategies culminating in a showcase for leading industry professionals from New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and major regional markets.

BFA Academic Expectations

A student’s good standing in the BFA Musical Theatre program is contingent upon the following criteria:

  1. Students must meet all University of Arizona Academic Standards for continuing status.
  2. Students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 in TAR Major course work.

Each student will meet with the Acting/Musical Theatre faculty at the end of each semester to evaluate their progress. It is the student’s responsibility to make sure they have completed all of the requisite course work for each year of study.  If a student’s GPA within their major remains below a 3.0 for two semesters in a row, they will not be eligible to continue in the BFA program.

For more information contact Prof. Danny Gurwin, Head of Musical Theatre

BFA Musical Theatre Degree Requirements

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  • Acting & Musical Theatre
  • Design & Technical Production
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  • Film & Television Production
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Acting

Kevin Black Professor of Practice
kblack@arizona.edu Drama Bldg, Room 113
520-621-9380
Profile
Brent Gibbs Professor, School of Theatre, Film and Television
brentg@arizona.edu Drama Bldg, Room 111
520-621-9402
Profile
Danny Gurwin Associate Professor, School of Theatre, Film and Television
Co-Chair, Acting/Musical Theatre Division
dgurwin@arizona.edu Drama Bldg, Room 117
520-621-7504
Profile
Christie Kerr Assistant Professor, School of Theatre, Film and Television
ckerr1@arizona.edu Drama Bldg, Room 121
520-621-1324
Profile
David Morden Associate Professor, School of Theatre, Film and Television
dmorden@arizona.edu Drama Bldg, Room 115
520-621-3356
Profile
Jamie Rae Reed Assistant Professor of Practice
jamiereed@arizona.edu Drama Bldg, Room 129B1
520-621-2446
Darnell T Roulhac Assistant Professor of Practice
dtroulhac@arizona.edu Drama Bldg, Room 129B1
520-621-9418
Profile
Hank Stratton Associate Professor, School of Theatre, Film and Television
Artistic Director
hstratton@arizona.edu Drama Bldg, Room 119
520-621-3350
Profile

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  • Prospective Students
    • Acting & Musical Theatre
    • Design & Technical Production
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School Of Theatre, Film & Television

Theatre

P.O. BOX 210003
1025 N Olive Rd.
Drama Bldg, Rm 239
Tucson, AZ 85721-0003

Email: theatre@cfa.arizona.edu

Phone: (520) 621-7008

Fax: (520) 621-2412

Film & Television

P.O. BOX 210158B
845 N Park Ave.
Marshall Bldg, Rm 220
Tucson, AZ 85721-0158b

Email: ftvinfo@cfa.arizona.edu

Phone: (520) 621-7352

Fax: (520) 621-9662


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College of Fine Arts

P.O. BOX 210004
1017 N Olive Rd.
Music Bldg, Rm 111
Tucson, AZ 85721-0004

Email: finearts@cfa.arizona.edu

Phone: (520) 621-1302

Fax: (520) 621-1307