Why Choose Nazareth for Musical Theatre?

The BFA in musical theatre is a pre-professional degree that integrates voice, acting, and dance to prepare you for a life in the arts. Classes are taught by industry professionals, Nazareth faculty, and visiting guest artists in a rigorous yet supportive environment.

Program Highlights

  • Small class sizes enable individual attention.
  • Students showcase talents each year in spotlight performances.
  • You can begin auditioning for casting as early as your second semester.
  • Industry professionals regularly teach and direct musicals in the program.
  • You are prepared and encouraged to audition for regional theaters as well as StrawHat in New York City and New England Theatre Conference.
  • Benefit from Nazareth's strategic regional partnerships with professional theatres, agents, and producers. Nazareth is proud to partner with Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival, a unique collaboration that allows Nazareth students to get real world experience both on and off the stage.
  • Seniors perform their final showcase for agents in New York City.
  • Option: Train with professionals on London’s West End through short-term study abroad with other Naz musical theatre students and faculty.

Guest Artists

More artists

Current Students and Recent Graduates

Logos and names of stages and performance venues, including Disney Resort, Geva, The Rev

Recent graduates have secured positions at the following: Disney Tokyo, Busch Gardens, Cinderella national tour, Romeo & Bernadette: A Musical Tale of Verona and Brooklyn (off Broadway), Kid Frankenstein The Musical (off Broadway), Arizona Broadway Theatre, Geva Theatre, The Argyle Theatre, mainstage at Merry Go Round Playhouse, resident Youth Tour, Bristol Valley Theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville, and New York Musical Theatre Festival. Other recent graduates work as agents at Meg Pantera The Agency and Liz Lewis Casting Partners.

Program Details

Options, Requirements, and Course Descriptions

Alumni Spotlights

Anna Kostakis
Anna Kostakis ’19

BFA, Musical Theatre; Business Management minor

Upon graduation, she moved to NYC and signed with a talent agent at Pantera and Murphy Agency in New York City. Anna has been very busy performing professionally at venues across the country, including Geva Theatre Center, Axelrod Performing Arts Center, and the Rev Theatre Company (Broadway in the Finger Lakes, formerly Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival) on a new workshop of a musical, From Here to Eternity. Most recently, Anna completed an off-Broadway run with Romeo & Bernadette: A Musical Tale of Brooklyn and Verona, portraying the title character Bernadette.

Ty Gabriel Jones
Ty-Gabriel Jones ’21

BFA, Musical Theatre

Ty-Gabriel has performed professionally all over the country since graduation, including at The Goodspeed, Blackfriars Theatre, Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe and Pickleville Playhouse. In 2022, they are a mainstage performer on Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship, The Disney Wish, playing Prince Eric in the contemporary retelling of Disney’s The Little Mermaid. Ty-Gabriel is also featured in the ensemble of Aladdin and is an understudy for Aladdin. The Gray Talent Group, a bicoastal talent agency, currently represents Ty-Gabriel, who credits their time at Naz for helping them achieve their performance career goals. 

Cat Flint
Cat Flint '21

BFA, Musical Theatre; Communication & Media, and Marketing minors

After graduation, Cat relocated to the country music capital of the world — Nashville, Tennessee. For the past year, Cat has been making her presence known in Music City, performing live at many of Nashville’s popular musical bars and lounges — including Kid Rock’s Big Honkey Tonk, Tin Roof, Rippy’s, and the world-famous Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge. Tootsie’s invited Cat to perform at their 62nd annual Tootsie’s Birthday Bash, in the heart of Nashville.

Violet Stephania ’22
Violet Stephania '22

BFA, Musical Theatre; Musical Theatre and Technical Production minors

After graduation, Violet wanted to learn more about the casting side of the industry and secured a job as the personal assistant to Nazareth musical theatre  alum Katie Murphy, casting director and owner of the Pantera/Murphy The Agency in New York City. Violet believes that theater has the power to shape the world and is so grateful to be a speck of dust in creating that change. She credits her time at Nazareth for making it all possible.

Christopher Salvaggio, musical theatre degree program alum, musical theatre major, Nazareth College
Christopher Salvaggio '18

BFA, Musical Theatre; Dance minor

Upon graduation, he signed with a talent agent at the Luedtke Agency in New York City. Since that time, Christopher has been very busy performing professionally at venues across the country, including Arizona Broadway Theatre, Axelrod Performing Arts Center, The Argyle Theatre, Forestburgh Playhouse, and Tibbits Opera House. In 2022, Christopher completed a year-long tour with Cats, The Musical for the 40th Anniversary North American Tour, portraying Skimbleshanks the Railway Cat.

Vinny Capluzzi
Vinny Capluzzi '20

BFA, Musical Theatre

Vinny Capluzzi is thrilled to be at The REV as the Company Manager. Growing up in Hornell, NY he took advantage of theatre in many aspects and began his career as an actor. He recently graduated from Nazareth College in Rochester, NY with a BFA in Musical Theatre and holds a Directing Certificate from the TEPPER Semester at Syracuse University. He first began at The REV in 2019 as the Assistant Director for Loch Ness, a New Musical. Previously, Vinny was the Assistant Producer at Forestburgh Playhouse in the Catskills. He is excited to work with the cast, crews, and staff at The REV to continue to grow the artistry in the area.

How to Audition

Auditions are required for this major. View audition details and register.

Example Careers

  • Performer
  • Director
  • Choreographer
  • Arts administrator
  • Agent/manager
  • Stage manager

Internships/Field Experiences

  • The Juilliard School
  • Merry-Go-Round Playhouse
  • Geva Theatre Center
  • Rochester Broadway Theatre League
  • Bristol Valley Theatre
  • Stella Adler Acting
  • Summer stock around the country
  • Woodstock Playhouse

Graduate Schools/Employers

  • Theatreworks USA
  • Walt Disney World
  • Goodspeed Opera House
  • The New School
  • Geva Theatre Center
  • RWS and Associates Entertainment, Inc.
  • Actor's Theatre of Louisville
  • Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival
  • Southern Methodist University