Theatre Majors

Be the star in a show, design the set or become in expert in the performance arts—all are possible career paths you can follow through our three Theatre programs.

Audition Day

Theatre Audition

Students who wish to audition for the BFA Theatre or BFA Theatre/Musical Theatre track, and, who would like to be considered for a Theatre & Dance program scholarship, will need to schedule a required meeting on one of the below dates:

  • Saturday, January 21, 2023 |  8:30 AM
  • Saturday, February 18, 2023  |  8:30 AM
  • Saturday, February 25, 2023 |  8:30 AM

Below are the audition requirements that will need to be prepared for your audition day.  The wild card will need to be submitted to srpavlovich@ysu.edu 5 days prior to your audition date. 

BFA Theatre audition materials:

  • 2 contemporary monologues of 1-2 minutes in length from a full-length, non-musical play.
  • One-page performance resume to include performance experience, training, and classes.
  • WILD CARD: An additional, optional, video of up to 90 seconds that showcases something that you think we should know about you. This may be a narrative about you or something about which you are passionate, or a skill you think we should know about. This is your opportunity to share something special so anything goes.


BFA Theatre/Musical Theatre track audition materials:

  • VOICE: 2 32-bar cuts of contrasting styles (i.e. Golden Age, Contemporary, etc.) and tempo (i.e. upbeat, ballad, etc.).
  • ACTING: 2 contemporary acting monologues of 1-minute in length.
  • WILD CARD: An additional, optional, video of up to 90 seconds that showcases something that you think we should know about you. This may be a narrative about you or something about which you are passionate, or a skill you think we should know about. This is your opportunity to share something special so anything goes.

Wildcard videos will need to be sent to Stephanie Pavlovich at srpavlovich@ysu.edu with subject line AUDITION.

Auditions will be accepted after February 25, 2023, but applications received prior to February 25 will receive full consideration for a Theatre program scholarship.

Reserve an Audition

Student Productions

2022-2023 UNIVERSITY THEATRE SEASON

Fall Semester 2022

THE REVOLUTIONISTS

9/30–10/2, 10/7–10/9 (Spotlight Theater)

GODSPELL

11/11–11/13, 11/18–11/20 (YSU Ford Theater)

SPRING SEMESTER 2023

THE LAST FIVE YEARS

2/16–2/19 (YSU Ford Theater)

ANTIGONE

3/31–4/2, 4/7–4/9 (YSU Ford Theater)

 

 

What You'll Study

Youngstown State University offers three different theatre majors to undergraduate students:

  • Musical Theatre
  • Theatre
  • Theatre Studies

All three programs are taught by our expert faculty, who live and breath all aspects of show business.

If you can hit the high notes, our Musical Theatre major provides extensive training in theatre performance with vocal, keyboard and music theory studies. The program prepares you for opportunities like musical directing or arranging, drama instructing, choreography, acting and performing.

Looking for intensive performance training? The Theatre major prepares you for a career in professional or academic theatre. You will focus heavily on theatre studies and production experiences, as well as dance instruction, throughout your coursework. By experiencing it all, you may find an area of special interest or benefit from a rounded education that covers all aspects of your craft.

Finally, YSU's Theatre Studies major is designed to give you an understanding of various techniques of theatre production. You'll work closely with professors in the classroom and in lab settings and gain a broad understanding of the art of theatre , while also sharpening your skills in production and performance. Major career paths include performance and education.

Majors

  • Musical Theatre Major

    You'll complete an audition consisting of two parts before entering the program. The first will be a vocal audition, where you'll give two contrasting vocal selections of your choice. You'll then schedule a separate acting audition, consisting of two contrasting monologs.

    Upon successful completion of the two-part audition, you'll take a combination of required general education studies, electives and major courses. Major courses include a mix of theatre , applied voice, applied keyboard, music theory, dance and vocal ensemble. 123 Credit Hours

    Course Listing

  • Theatre Major

    After being accepted into the program through audition or interview, you will take a combination of theatre, dance and production courses. 120 Credit Hours

    Course Listing

  • Theatre Studies Major

    You will take a combination of general studies and theatre courses. A minor or double major is also required to complete the program. 124 Credit Hours

    Course Listing

Minor

Internships and Jobs

OUR GRADUATES WORK FOR:

  • Youngstown City Schools
  • Students Motivated by the Arts
  • Liz Rubino Music & Studios LLC
  • Fairmont Pittsburgh
  • Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre
  • Mosser Casting
  • Leap of Faith Theatre Production

One More Thing

My favorite part of the program is how many aspects of theatre I have been exposed to. I've been able to try my hand in performance, costume and set construction, design, stage management, playwriting and so much more. There are a great deal of opportunities students can take advantage of during their time here. I am thankful every single day that I transferred to YSU."

Allison Dolphin, Theatre Studies Student