musical theater program, musical theater major in the Department of Theater Arts at Nazareth College of Rochester, NY
Alumni Spotlight
Audra Cramer '09
"I am so proud to be one of the first graduates of the Nazareth College
Musical Theatre program. Since graduation, I have been fortunate enough
to work consistently as both a performer and a music director/pianist."
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- Nazareth Strengths
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Example Careers/Outcomes
- Acting
- Musical Theatre Direction
- Choreographer
- Performance Marketing
- Performance Management
- Stage Management
Internships/Field Experiences
- Julliard
- Merry-Go-Round Playhouse
- Geva Theatre Center
- Rochester Broadway Theatre League
- Bristol Valley Theatre
- Stella Adler Acting Internship
- Summer stock around the country
Graduate Schools/Employers
- Theatreworks USA
- Walt Disney World
- Goodspeed Opera House
- The New School
- Norwegian Cruise Lines
- Geva Theatre Center
- RWS and Associates Entertainment, Inc.
- American Family Theatre
The B.F.A. in Musical Theatre is a pre-professional degree in music, theatre, and dance, with an emphasis on the essential integration of these elements. Our faculty creates an environment where aspiring musical theatre artists can begin a career and where powerful transformational experiences occur.
While we intend to generate young artists who can
sing, dance, and act with technical ease and facility, a liberal
arts-based education becomes a necessary tool for a performer. Critical,
analytical, and independent thinking are essential qualities as they
serve as the foundation of creative work. Also, a small class size is
crucial so that the individual attention from the faculty can be
maintained as well as the monitoring of our students’ growth vocally,
physically, intellectually, and emotionally.
At Nazareth College, training in the musical theatre major is not about being famous or becoming a star. It is about learning to work in ways that contribute positively to our art form, collaborating with fellow artists, and fostering a lasting appreciation for, and life in, the performing arts.
Because the Nazareth musical theatre program is small, every student has an opportunity to shine, and students are cast as early as their freshman year. The department produces two musicals and two straight plays each year in our state-of-the-art, newly renovated theater. Through intensive rehearsing, students learn firsthand the commitment and discipline required for professional performance in music, dance, and drama. They also learn the production end of theatre: set design, costuming, make-up, and lighting. At the same time, they receive a well-rounded liberal arts education that deepens their performance experience.
- Program Highlights
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- Excellent preparation for competing in the performance industry or continuing on to graduate studies.
- Students can begin auditioning for casting as early as their second semester.
- Students perform each year in a showcase featuring their graduating class.
- Guest artists from professional theatre regularly direct and teach in the program.
- Includes an introduction to all phases of theatre arts, music and dance in academic as well as studio settings.
- Students compete annually at the regional American College Theatre Festival.
- Seniors perform their final showcase for agents in New York.
Sample Course Schedule
Freshman Year
Fall
-THA 90: New Student Spotlight
-MTHA 123: Musicianship I
-MTHA 125: Aural Skills I
-THA 105: Dance Studio Class
-THA.F 120: Introduction to Theatre: Arts and Analysis
-THA 140: Fundamentals of Acting
-ENGW 101: College Writing I
-ACS 101: Academic College Success
-MUG 131: Piano Class
-ENS 096/097: Men's/Women's Chorus
-MUP 1A: Voice Lesson
-MUG 096: Voice Studio Class
-THA 120L: Intro to Theatre Arts Lab
-THAWF: Work Call
Spring
-MTHA 124: Musicianship II
-MTHA 126: Aural Skills II
-THA 106: Tap Studio
-THA 141: Introduction to Acting in Comedy
-THA 270W: American Musical Theatre
-ENGW 102: College Writing II
-MTH 102: Thinking Mathematically
-ENS 096/097: Men's/Women's Chorus
-MUG 132: Piano Class
-MUP 1A: Voice Lesson
-MUG 096: Voice Studio Class
-THL: Production Lab
-THAWS: Work Call
Sophomore Year
Fall
-MTHA 101: Page to Stage
-MTHA 260: Musical Theatre Performance I
-THA 205: Ballet I
-THA 240: Intermediate Acting: Characterization
-HIS 101: Western Civilization I
-SOC 101: Introduction to Sociology
-MUG 231: Piano Class
-MUP 1A: Voice Lesson
-MUG 096: Voice Studio Class
-THL: Production Lab
-THAWF: Work Call
Spring
-MTHA 360: Musical Theatre Performance II
-THA 150: Technical Theatre I
-THA 206: Ballet II
-THA 216: Improvisation
-PHL 101: Logic and Inquiry
-MUG 334: Functional Piano
-MUP 1A: Voice Lesson
-MUG 096: Voice Studio Class
-THA 150L: Technical Theatre I Lab
-THL: Production Lab
-THAWS: Work Call
Junior Year
Fall
-MTHA 101: Page to Stage
-MTHA 130G: Dance and Culture
-THA 305: Musical Theatre Dance Technique: Fusion
-THA 340: Acting Styles I: Classical Forms
-MUS 209: History of Rock & Roll
-ENGL 135: Crime and Detective Fiction
-PED 115: Juggling
-MUP 1A: Voice Lesson
-MUG 096: Voice Studio Class
-THL: Production Lab
-THAWF: Work Call
Spring
-MTHA 430: Musical Theatre Performance III
-THA 221: Voice for the Stage
-THA 306: Musical Theatre Dance Technique: Characterization
-RES 101: Exploring Religion
-MTH 205: Mathematical Connections
-PED 117: Yoga
-MUP 1A: Voice Lesson
-MUG 096: Voice Studio Class
-THL: Production Lab
-THAWS: Work Call
Senior Year
Fall
-MTHA 101: Page to Stage
-MTHA 452: Senior Seminar and Showcase
-MTHA 499: Senior Comprehensive
-THA 307: Ballet and Dance Continuation
-SOC 332: Sociology of the Arts
-SCI 101: Integrated Science Inquiry
-SCI 101L: Integrated Science Inquiry Lab
-MUP 1A: Voice Lesson
-MUG 096: Voice Studio Class
-THL: Production Lab
-THAWF: Work Call
Spring
-THA 308: Ballet and Dance Continuation
-THA 320: Diction and Dialects
-THA 375: Principles of Play Directing
-ENGL 331: Experimental Feminist Drama
-PHL 222: Philosophy of Art
-MUP 1A: Voice Lesson
-MUG 096: Voice Studio Class
-THL: Production Lab
-THAWF: Work Call
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