Interpretative Dancer on stage gesturing upward

Admission

Applying as a new student?

Applying for admission to the Department of Theatre and Dance is a two-step process:

  1. The University application First, submit an online application to Montclair State University, following guidelines for undergraduate or graduate admission:

Undergraduate Admissions

Graduate Admissions

  1. The Department Audition, or interview – Admission requirements vary from program to program. Click on the links below for specific program details and instructions.

Students participating in an audition event conducted by a Partner Organization are required to register for the event online after submitting a University application. 

Please note – prospective students who apply to the University through the CommonApp will receive an email from the Office of Admissions inviting them to create an MSU application portal. All audition materials should be uploaded there.

BFA Acting

BFA Musical Theatre

BFA Theatre Design, Technology and Management

BA Theatre Studies

Minors in Theatre and Musical Theatre

BFA Dance

BA Dance (Concentrations in Studio Teaching; and Dance Education with P-12 Teacher Certification)

MFA, in Dance – Visit the Graduate School website for additional application requirements and deadline details.

Changing your major?

Current Students seeking a Change of Major

If you are currently enrolled at Montclair State University and wish to change your major to a program in the Department of Theatre and Dance, you do not need to reapply to the university. Instead, email the appropriate representative below to submit an interview, audition, or portfolio review. You will be notified of the result by email.

You will be required to submit for review all of the materials that appear on the Department of Theatre and Dance Application website.

Application reviews will begin at the end of November and continue on a rolling basis.

BFA Musical Theatre

Professor Ryan Kasprzak
kasprzakr@eagle1027.com

BFA Acting

Professor Heather Benton
bentonh@eagle1027.com

BFA Theatre Design, Technology and Management

Professor Mysti Stay
staym@eagle1027.com

BFA/BA Dance

Christina Paolucci – Admissions Coordinator
paoluccic@eagle1027.com

Prospective Student Audition/Appointment Calendar

As admission to our programs is competitive, we encourage you to complete your application with special attention to the following:

 Once you have submitted your application, including any required pre-screen videos, you will be invited to schedule an audition on one of the following dates. Please note that if you do not move past the pre-screening, you will be notified and your audition appointment will be canceled.

DANCE (BFA and BA):
  • Wednesday November 13, 2024 Campus Audition
  • Wednesday December 4, 2024  Campus Audition
  • Wednesday January 29, 2025 Campus Audition
  • Wednesday February 12, 2025 Campus Audition
  • Wednesday March 5, 2025 Campus Audition
  • Wednesday March 19, 2025 Virtual Audition

 

MUSICAL THEATRE (BFA)

  • Saturday December 14, 2024 Campus Audition
  • Saturday January 18, 2025 Virtual Audition 
  • Saturday February 15, 2025  Campus Audition
  • Saturday March 1, 2025  Campus Audition
  • Saturday March 22, 2025  Virtual Audition

 

ACTING (BFA)

  • Saturday December 14, 2024 Campus Audition
  • Saturday January 18, 2025 Virtual Audition 
  • Saturday February 15, 2025  Campus Audition
  • Saturday March 1, 2025  Campus Audition
  • Saturday March 22, 2025  Virtual Audition

 

DESIGN, TECHNOLOGY & MANAGEMENT (BFA)

  • Saturday December 14, 2024 Campus Audition
  • Saturday January 18, 2025 Virtual Audition 
  • Saturday February 15, 2025  Campus Audition
  • Saturday March 1, 2025  Campus Audition
  • Saturday March 22, 2025  Virtual Audition

 


  • All applicants for the spring semester must submit a completed University application by November 15, 2024.
  • Freshman applicants for the fall semester should submit a completed university application by a date no later than March 1, 2025 in order to be considered for housing and financial aid.
  • Application reviews will occur on a rolling basis through approximately March 1, 2025.
  • Applications submitted after March 1, 2025 are intended for late-applying transfer applicants and University-enrolled students who wish to change their majors.

Partner Organizations Event Calendar

*Please note that  guidelines for some Partner Organizations are currently under development.

 

BFA, BA Dance

NYCDA (New York City Dance Alliance)

Dancewave Through College & Beyond

Booker T Washington Showcase/ College Auditions

  • November 16 – 17 2024  – Dallas, TX

For further information visit http://www.btwshowcase.com/

 

 

BFA Musical Theatre Pittsburgh Unifieds – VIRTUAL

 

BFA Musical Theatre and BFA Acting

National Unified Auditions

  • New York City – January 25 – 26, 2025
  • Chicago – February 3 – 6, 2025
  • Los Angeles – February 8 – 9, 2025
  • For further information, visit unifiedauditions.com

 

Moonified Auditions – BFA Musical Theatre

 

Mid-Atlantic Auditions (MARCAS) – BFA Acting Program only

 

National Thespians – BFA Design, Technology & Management 
Corpus Christi State Festival
American Bank Center, Corpus Christi, TX November 15-18, 2024
November 11-13, 2023
Grapevine State Festival
Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center November 20 – 23, 2024

 

New Jersey Thespian Festival – BFA Acting, BFA Design, Technology and Management

 

Theatre Studies

No audition is required for this program


Notification of Admission Status

Following the application review, the Department will forward its recommendation to the Admissions Office, which will notify you of your overall status .  Please note that, in some cases, applicants may be placed on a waiting list.

Graduate Appointment Dates

For MA Theatre, with concentration in Theatre Studies in:

Interview appointments for all graduate programs are scheduled individually with the Graduate Program Coordinator, generally weekdays 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Events for Prospective Students

We encourage all applicants and prospective students to visit the campus to learn more about our programs. Please visit the Arts Days events page for more information as well as our Visit Us page.

Financial Aid and Scholarships


Applicants to Department of Theatre and Dance programs may qualify for one of the scholarships, grants and/or other sources of financial aid offered by the University.  The following resources may be of help:

Please note: Students who wish to return to a major in theatre and dance after an absence of two or more consecutive semesters must reapply, and in some cases re-audition, to be considered for readmission to the program. At the discretion of the faculty, students may be required to satisfy program requirements in effect at the time of readmission.