Musical Theatre (B.F.A.)

Program Overview

The B.F.A. in Musical Theatre provides professional training in the skills needed to perform musical theatre. An interdisciplinary degree, students gain skills in theatre, dance, and music. The department offers frequent fully-mounted musical theatre productions, and in the senior year students complete a senior project in musical theatre and have the opportunity to participate in an audition showcase for an invited audience of theatre professionals.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates from Messiah’s Musical Theatre program can:

  1. Develop fundamental, comprehensive understanding of the various elements and basic interrelated processes of creation, interpretation, performance, and production
  2. Develop technical skills requisite for artistic self-expression in at least one major area of production
  3. Gain an overview understanding of the major aspects, techniques, and directions in musical theatre
  4. Learn a fundamental, conceptual understanding of the expressive possibilities of theatre
  5. Develop and defend informed judgments about theatre
  6. Gain a familiarity with theatre literature of various historical periods, cultural sources, and modes of presentation
  7. Gain experience with specific repertories and comparative standards of production quality through performance, academic study, and attendance at productions
  8. Develop the ability to analyze plays perceptively and to evaluate them critically
  9. Understanding of the common elements and vocabulary of theatre and of the interaction of these elements, and be able to employ this knowledge in analysis
  10. Place works of theatre in historical and stylistic contexts and have some understanding of the cultural milieu in which they were created
  11. Knowledge and skills sufficient to work in both collaborative and individual roles in matters of theatre interpretation
  12. Demonstrate growth in artistry, technical skills, collaborative competence, and knowledge of repertory through regular performance and production experiences
  13. Acquire a working knowledge of technologies and equipment applicable to their area(s) of specialization
  14. Work independently on a variety of professional problems by combining their capabilities in performance, repertory, theory, history, and technology
  15. Demonstrate achievement of professional, entry-level competence in the area of specialization including significant technical mastery, the capability to produce work and solve professional problems independently, and a coherent set of artistic/intellectual goals that are evident in their work
  16. Demonstrate their competence by developing a body of work for evaluation in the major area of study.
  17. Develop achievement of the highest possible level of performance as an actor-singer
  18. Develop skills in acting and skills in dance as appropriate to musical theater
  19. Develop basic musical skills including voice performance, musicianship, and music theory
  20. Develop a high level of skill in sight-singing
  21. Communicate ideas, concepts, and requirements to theatre professionals and laypersons related to the practice of the major field. Such communication may involve oral, written, visual, and musical media
  22. Awareness of identity, character and vocational calling by developing repertory and techniques for auditions
  23. Awareness of identity, character and vocational calling through opportunities for developing repertory and techniques for auditions
  24. Develop abilities to explore the intersections between Christian faith and theatre art
  25. Cultivate the stewardship of the intellect and imagination.

Major Requirements

Complete the following for your major:

DANC 101Ballet I

1

DANC 102Jazz and Dance Theatre I

1

DANC 103Modern Dance I

1

DANC 104Tap Dance I

1

DANC 201Ballet II

1

DANC 202Jazz and Dance Theatre II

1

DANC 203Modern Dance II

1

DANC 204Tap II

1

DANC 404Choreography

2

THEA 115Production Practicum

1

THEA 120Acting I

3

THEA 150Introduction to Technical Theatre and Design

3

THEA 223Acting II

3

THEA 230Directing I: Fundamentals of Play Directing

3

THEA 240Survey of Dramatic Literature and Criticism

3

THEA 260/MUSI 271Musical Theatre

3

THEA 323Acting III

3

THEA 325Acting Techniques for Musical Theatre

3

THEA 341History of Theatre II: Renaissance to Postmodernism

3

THEA 420Audition Techniques

3

THEA 423Acting IV

3

THEA 460Advanced Musical Theatre

3

THEA 470Theatre Capstone Project

1-3

THEA 475Theatre Capstone Seminar

3

THEA 115: 1 credit per semester for 5 semesters

THEA 260: 3 credits per semester for 2 semesters

Music Core

MUTH 107Sight Singing & Ear Training I

1

MUTH 108Sight Singing & Ear Training II

1

MUED 251Conducting I: Fundamentals

2

10 credits of MUAP 111 Applied Voice

Two of the following:

MUGE 101Fundamentals of Music Theory

3

MUTH 101Music Theory I

3

MUTH 102Music Theory II

3

Two credits from the following:

MUAP 121Applied Piano Lessons

1-4

MUTH 109Keyboard I

1

MUTH 110Keyboard II

1

Two credits from the following:

MUEN 111Concert Choir

0 - .5

MUEN 113Women's Ensemble

0 - .5

MUEN 114One College Ave

0 - .5

MUEN 115Men's Ensemble

0 - .5

MUEN 149Opera Workshop

0 - .5

General Education Requirements

Experiential Learning requirement   0
General Education requirements   Credits
First Year Seminar IDFY 101/102H  3
Written Communication ENGL 110/110H 3
Oral Communication COMM 105 waived
Mathematical and Scientific Ways of Knowing Mathematics 3 or 4
Science with Lab 3 or 4
Social Scientific Ways of Knowing
Social Science 3
Cultural/Humanistic Ways of Knowing 24GE History 3
Literary & Aesthetic Ways of Knowing
Literature or Arts (THEA 120, THEA 150 met/major
Cultural/Humanistic Ways of Knowing
Philosophy or Religion 3
Cultural/Humanistic Ways of Knowing 1st and 2nd Level Language 6
Intercultural Perspectives Intercultural Global or International Cross-cultural or 3rd Level Language 3
Bible
24GE Bible 3
Christian Beliefs
24GE Christian Beliefs 3
Holistic Wellness
WELL 1xx (DANC 101, DANC 102, DANC 103, DANC 104) met/major
Ethics and the Common Good
24GE Ethics and the Common Good 3
Intercultural Perspectives
Intercultural U.S. or Domestic Cross-cultural 3
Common Learning
Experiential Learning  
General Education requirements   42-44
Major requirements (inclusive of concentration)   84
Free Electives    0
Total credits   123