An audition or presentation is required for entry into the Theater major at IUP or the Music-Theater or Dance Arts’ tracks in the Interdisciplinary Fine Arts Major, in addition to an interview.
The purpose of the audition/presentation is to discern whether or not each student is prepared for success in our program. Your performance in the audition/presentation, your interview with our faculty, your academic record in high school or college, your SAT scores, and your recommendations will all be taken into consideration when we make our decision.
How to Determine Whether to Audition or Do a Presentation:
The degree we offer is a B.A. in Theater or Interdisciplinary Fine Arts. You get to study all areas of theory and practice in the discipline(s), including literature, history, performance, and technical production. Theater majors typically begin a theater concentration focusing on acting, directing, design/tech, music-theater, or theory/history by their junior year. Coming into the program, we ask you to give us some indication of what you’ve done creatively and what you are capable of now. Depending upon your area of interest, please note below whether an audition or a presentation would be required. Be sure to look at the specific guidelines provided on the Requirements/Guidelines for Auditions page.
- Performance Audition—For potential Theater majors who consider performance their strength, a two- to three-minute audition of contrasting monologues (with an option to sing or dance, if desired as the contrast to one short acting monologue).
- Design/Tech Presentation—For potential Theater majors who consider design, technical production, directing, playwriting, or theory their strength, a prepared statement of one minute or less followed by a presentation of at least one and no more than three examples of your production or artistic skills. (Examples may be from any arts activity, not just theatrical productions.) Likewise, a student who considers academic research their strength should present essays or other examples of their scholarship.
- Musical Theater Audition—All applicants for Interdisciplinary Fine Arts majors with a track in Music-Theater are required to prepare two memorized musical theater songs (in their entirety) of contrasting style with no repeats. In addition to the required music audition, each applicant for this track also needs to prepare either a short (one to two minute) acting monologue or a short (one to two minute) dance audition. Musical Theater Track auditionees will be required to learn and repeat a dance combination in the audition process. This is only a diagnostic. Those with little or no dance background may still be admitted to the program, but we need to see your movement capabilities and potential. Time will be given for you to dress for movement, and then change for your vocal/monologue audition. Please bring appropriate clothing with you. Please see further details of this audition/testing process under Requirements/Guidelines for Auditions for the Music-Theater Track.
- Dance Audition—For Interdisciplinary Fine Arts majors with a track in Dance Arts: includes a maximum ninety (90) second dance demonstrating technical proficiency and performance capabilities at the intermediate level of either ballet or modern dance techniques, in addition to a second maximum ninety (90) second dance demonstrating technical proficiency and performance in a secondary area of dance selected from ballet, tap, jazz, modern, ballroom, or ethnic styles.
What to Expect in the Audition/Interview:
At least two to three theater faculty members will meet with all prospective majors before you begin. There will be time for questions and preparation. We will be videotaping your audition/presentation for our records. Please relax and don’t worry. You will do your best by being yourself. Follow the guidelines for auditions and presentations provided in the packet and you will do fine.
If You Don’t Know What to Perform or Present:
We are most interested in seeing your creative potential. If you don’t have a performance or production history from which to draw, you should consider creating something in response to any play script. Possible creations include but are not limited to:
- A written playscript or monologue
- A drawing or painting
- A sculpture or model
- A dance or performance piece
- A musical composition
- A scholarly essay
