Theatre

Please thoroughly review the expectations laid out below to better prepare for your audition. The adjudicators will be taking into consideration your ability to follow the expectations listed.

Performance Applicant Information

Log into your application portal to select your audition date and upload your headshot or photo and theatrical resume.

• Your headshot or photo should be a well-lit photo that focuses on your face and resembles what you currently look like.
• Your theatrical resume should be a one-page resume that highlights your theatrical experience and training. Please include any relevant school courses, vocal coaching and dance classes under training. A theatrical resume sample format can be found here. Only include what applies to you.

Audition Day Expectations

• Material
  • Prepare an audition package consisting of two contrasting contemporary monologues from full length published play scripts that do not exceed two minutes in length combined, including transition time. All material must be memorized.
    • What does “contrasting” mean? While contrasting is typically understood as comedic and dramatic it actually means two pieces that clearly showcase different aspects of your abilities. This could be comedic and dramatic or it could be differences in any of the following:
      • Tone
      • Character types
      • Objectives (what the character is to attempting to achieve)
      • Circumstances 
      • Energy or rhythm (ex. one that is active and physical and one that is contained and intimate)
      • Ultimately, the adjudicators want to see your range so select two pieces that demonstrate the various sides of your acting abilities and have two completely different feels to them.
  • What does “contemporary” mean? Contemporary means any play that uses “modern” language rather than heightened or poetic. We encourage individuals to use plays written after 1950. 
  • What does “from full length published play scripts” mean? A full length play is one that runs longer than 75 minutes. This excludes many one act plays as they are typically less than an hour in length. A published play is one that is copyrighted and available to the public through a licensing house or publisher (ex. Samuel French or Concord Theatricals). Material found on websites such as www.monologueblogger.com, www.monologuegenie.com and www.dramanotebook.com do not fit this criteria.
  • Suggested Playwrights- Some playwrights we suggest considering when selecting material are:
    1. Joshua Harmon
    2. Amy Herzog
    3. Samuel D. Hunter
    4. James Ijames
    5. Branden Jacobs-Jenkins
    6. Matthew Lopez
    7. Dominique Morisseau 
    8. Theresa Rebeck
    9. Jen Silverman
    10. Neil Simon
    11. Bess Wohl
    12. Lauren Yee
  • Playwrights to Avoid- We encourage individuals to stay away from works written by the following playwrights:
    1. Joseph Arnone
    2. Anton Chekhov
    3. David Mamet
    4. Eugene O’Neill
    5. Harold Pinter
    6. William Shakespeare
    7. Adam Szymkowicz
    8. Tenessee Williams 

• Dress
  • This audition is equivalent to a job interview. You are expected to dress in a professional manner. As you plan your audition outfit, keep the following in mind:
    • Do’s
      • Blouses, button-up/polo shirts, and sweaters
      • Slacks, skirts and dresses
      • Business casual or dress shoes
    • Don’ts
      • T-shirts, crop tops, sweatshirts/hoodies, and athletic wear
      • Ripped jeans, sweatpants/pajamas, and leggings
      • Athletic shoes, Crocs, and flip flops
    • Additionally, dress in clothing that allows you to adequately move while you act. Please stay away from clothing that is too constricting or requires you to constantly readjust it. This also applies to your footwear, make sure it is something you can comfortably walk in.
• In the Room
  • Entrance
    • When you enter the room, you will stand on an X marked on the floor with tape. If you have a hardcopy of your headshot and resume you will hand it to the adjudicators before you stand on the X. 

• • Slate
    • When instructed to begin, you will slate both of your monologues. Below is a sample slate format and an example:
      • “Hello, my name is (your name) and this is (character name #1) from (play title #1) by (playwright #1) and (character name #2) from (play title #2) by (playwright #2)”
      • Ex: “Hello, my name is Sally Smith and this is Shelby from John Proctor is the Villain by Kimberly Belflower and Ester from Dry Land by Ruby Rae Spiegel.”
  • Present Monologues
    • After the slate, you will present both monologues one directly after the other, with a breath to transition between the two. When both monologues are completed, please end with a “thank you”. 
  • Possible Redirection
    • Following the completion of both monologues, you may be given a redirection for one of your monologues if the adjudicators need to see more from you.
  • Interview
    • The audition will end with adjudicators asking you a few questions to get to know you better. Be prepared to articulate your specific interests in the VCU Theatre program and to ask questions yourself.
• Tips
  • Do’s
    • Make sure your pieces fit inside the allotted time frame.
    • It is to your advantage to select material you connect with at your current age.
    • Make sure your monologues have a clear beginning, middle and end.
  • Don’ts
    • Avoid monologues that are telling a story/recounting an event. It will be to your advantage to select material that feels like an active conversation where you are pursuing something from another individual. 
    • No dialects/accents.

Log into your application portal to select your interview date and upload your theatrical resume and portfolio.

• Your theatrical resume should be a one-page resume that highlights your relevant experience and training.
• Your portfolio should consist of 12 to 16 images that show your promise as a Theatre student. Present your strongest work and demonstrate your potential to develop a diverse set of skills and ideas. We prefer to see a diverse range of 2D and 3D media. This can include photographs of productions you have worked on, pieces you have built such as props or costumes as well as other works of 2D and 3D art. For more information about acceptable file types, please see the information in the application portal.

Log into your application portal to select your interview date and upload your theatrical resume and example of stage management paperwork.

• Your theatrical resume should be a one-page resume that highlights your relevant experience and training.
• Your stage management paperwork should demonstrate your organizational and management skills and might include things like prompt book pages, blocking notes, call sheets, rehearsal notes, communications, etc., to help demonstrate your stage management process.

Stage Management applicants should bring examples of Stage Management paperwork, if they have not already uploaded it beforehand in their VCU student applicant portal.

Log into your application portal to select your interview date and upload your theatrical resume and statement of intent.

• Your theatrical resume should be a one-page resume that highlights your relevant experience and training.
• Your statement of intent should be a paragraph or two, please tell us why you are interested in pursuing a BA degree in Theatre. What are your goals? What do you hope to achieve?

Admission to the BFA Musical Theatre program requires an on campus audition.

There is also an optional recorded pre-screen submission if you would like to receive feedback from the head of the musical theatre program.   

Optional Musical Theatre Prescreen

VCUarts invites applicants to submit an optional prescreen using the Musical Theater Common Prescreen criteria. Submitting a prescreen gives you an opportunity to receive feedback before your audition.

Applicants who choose to submit a prescreen should upload:

1. A brief introduction video stating your name and, if you wish to share them, your pronouns
2. Two contrasting songs, using either of the following options:
   1. One song written before 1970 and one contrasting song written after 1970
   2. One musical theatre song and one contrasting song in any style, from any time period
3. One age-appropriate monologue from a published play or professional playwright
4. One video demonstrating your best choreographed dancing or movement
5. A current artistic résumé
6. A current headshot

You do not need to introduce or slate each individual performance video.

Applicants may also submit optional ballet and wild-card videos. A wild-card submission may showcase an additional skill, talent, interest, or aspect of your artistry that you would like the faculty to know about.

On-Campus Auditions

• Saturday, November 21, 2026
• Saturday, December 5, 2026
• Saturday, January 23, 2027
• Saturday, February 6, 2027

On-Campus Audition Preparation
The on-campus audition consists of singing, acting, and dance. Faculty may also ask applicants a few brief informal questions during the audition.

Singing
Prepare two contrasting songs:

• One ballad
• One up-tempo selection

At least one selection must come from the musical theatre repertoire. The second selection may also be musical theatre or may be in a pop/rock style.

Each song should:

• Be no longer than two minutes
• Use a 32-bar cut when possible
• Avoid a long instrumental introduction
• Reflect your personality and artistic strengths
• Demonstrate vocal quality, phrasing, lyric interpretation, and storytelling
• Express a clear emotional objective or character journey

The total singing portion of the audition will not exceed four minutes. Applicants will perform both selections in the order they choose.

Accompaniment – A live pianist will be provided.
Bring clearly marked sheet music in a binder:

• Write the song title at the top of the first page.
• Clearly mark introductions, cuts, repeats, and endings.
• Arrange the music with as few page turns as possible.
• Do not use plastic sheet protectors or sleeves.

Acting
Prepare one contemporary monologue that:

• Was written after 1970
• Is no longer than one minute
• Comes from a published play or professional playwright
• Features a character reasonably close to your age
• Is active rather than primarily narrative
• Demonstrates clear objectives, responsiveness, and emotional truth

The monologue may be comic or dramatic. Applicants may perform a character of any gender identity. Faculty may offer a brief redirect if time permits.

Dance
All applicants participate in an approximately 60-minute group dance audition consisting of:

• A physical warm-up
• A jazz/musical theatre combination
• Performance of the combination in small groups

No prior formal dance training is required. Faculty consider musicality, coordination, physical awareness, focus and adaptability and willingness to engage and learn

Wear clothing that allows you to move freely, such as dance pants, leggings, athletic wear, or a fitted top. Recommended footwear includes jazz shoes, character shoes, sneakers. Applicants should rehearse and audition in the attire and footwear they plan to wear on audition day.

Faculty Conversation
Faculty may ask applicants a few brief, informal questions during the individual audition. These questions help faculty learn more about each applicant’s interests, goals, curiosity, collaborative spirit, and readiness for intensive BFA training.

No special preparation is required. Be prepared to speak authentically about your experiences, interests, and reasons for pursuing musical theatre.

Auditions/interviews take place at the W.E Singleton Center for the Performing Arts, located at 922 Park Ave, Richmond, VA. The department will send more information in advance of your audition date.

All students participate in a group general info and Q+A session.

Parents are encouraged to attend, too. We continue with a parent Q+A session after applicants head off to auditions/interviews.

Performers participate in group warm-ups.

Applicants will present their portfolio or appropriate audition pieces (details dependent on intended major).

Applicants will interview with faculty in their area of interest.

Applicants will tour Theatre facilities.

Applicants will talk with current students.

Paid parking is available in VCU’s parking decks. The West Broad Street Parking Deck is the closest parking deck to the Singleton Center.