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Academics

Theatre Arts Auditions & Interviews

The Department of Music and Theatre Arts wants to thank you for your interest in us and express our personal commitment to you as a student as you further your education in theatre. 

The ETBU Music and Theatre Arts Department is an active, vibrant program that seeks to provide opportunities that inspire, encourage, and challenge students to grow intellectually, artistically, and spiritually. We are dedicated to preparing you for real-world experience, striving to make you a marketable artist who can:

  • apply for and receive professional internships,
  • find work in professional theatre,
  • seek employment as a teacher in educational theatre, or
  • pursue graduate studies.

Our production seasons are designed to offer students experience in varying literary genres, acting and musical styles, and theatrical venues. Students are given multiple opportunities to participate as performers, designers, and/or technicians in our main stage and Discovery Series productions. Theatre Education students also serve as directors for our student-led Discovery Series productions. 

The audition and/or interview is mandatory for entry into the program. This process will also serve as an application for a theatre arts scholarship if one is available. Funds are limited, so schedule your audition early.

Scheduling an Audition 

Auditions and interviews for admittance into the Department of Music and Theatre Arts are typically scheduled as part of Tiger Day activities. However, special arrangements will be made if a prospective student cannot attend on those dates. Auditions will be held at ETBU in the Jenna Guest Music Building. Please keep in mind that our faculty are rarely on campus during the summer months so schedule your audition in conjunction with the ETBU academic year.

Students who wish to audition/interview will need to contact the School of Communication and Performing Arts to schedule a date and a time. The student will also be required to complete an audition form (see button below) at least two business days prior to your arrival on campus. If auditioning as a performer, please do not change your chosen materials after submitting the audition form. 

Audition Requirements

All students should bring a current headshot (or a recent photo) and a résumé detailing prior theatre experience to the audition.

For Theatre and Musical Theatre Performers:

Auditions for program entry consist of two contrasting monologues (either dramatic and comic or contemporary and classical) of approximately one minute each. Musical Theatre candidates should bring 30 bars of a song from a published Broadway musical. After the audition, the candidate will have an informal interview with the faculty.

For Theatre Education and Technical Theatre Majors:

Interviews for the education program involve a portfolio/resume review and a discussion of why the student wants to teach. Interviews for the technical theatre program consist of a portfolio and/or prompt book presentation.  We suggest that the portfolio include photographs of your work on set construction, painting, props, costumes, or lighting as well as any drawings, sketches, drafting, or renderings you completed.  Those students with stage management experience should present their prompt book and photographs of the production.

For Minors and Non-Majors:

No formal audition is required of minors or non-majors. If you are interested in participating in our productions, we encourage you to audition for the season or schedule an appointment with our faculty to learn more.

Audition Contacts, Location, and Results

Contact

First, students who wish to audition will need to contact the School of Communication and Performing Arts to schedule a date and a time. Please call 903.923.2158 to set up your appointment.

Second, you will need to fill out an audition form (see button above) at least two business days prior to your arrival on campus.  If auditioning as a performer, please do not change your chosen monologues after submitting this form. 

Location

Auditions and interviews are held in the Jenna Guest Music Building on the ETBU Campus.

Results

Following the audition/interview, the faculty will jointly decide whether to admit the student, admit the student under provisional acceptance, or deny the student admittance to the program.  Students are notified via email and a letter sent to their permanent address within two weeks of the audition.