Music (Musical Theatre) Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Set the Stage for a Performing Arts Career with a Musical Theatre Degree

Whether you want to take center stage or work behind the scenes, you will be prepared for any type of theatrical employment with a Musical Theatre degree. Marywood's ensemble philosophy is the foundation of the program, so students have opportunities to participate in all aspects of production.

Combining music and theatre, the program promotes these objectives:

  • Introducing students to the technical facilities of musical theatre;
  • Familiarizing students with the standards required for an effective theatrical or musical performance;
  • Developing students' skills in various theatrical roles;
  • Providing students with a comprehensive musical theatre experience.

Recent productions include Godspell, Songs for a New World, A Little Night Music, Once Upon a Mattress, The Fantasticks, Elegies, Pippin, and Sunday in the Park with George.

All seniors have the opportunity to present a capstone project that represents a culmination of their studies. The capstone can be an original musical, a show directed by the student, or a production featuring the student.

Audition Information

Top Employers

  • Theaters
  • Motion Picture/Video Industries
  • Dance/Theater Studio

Top Career Paths

  • Theatrical Director
  • Actor/Actress
  • Stage Manager

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Undergraduate Admissions Requirements

  • Completed application
  • Official transcripts
  • Letter of recommendation
  • Official SAT and/or ACT test scores (Marywood is test optional)
  • Essay (optional)

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All Undergraduate & Transfer Students

Acceptance by the University is required before an audition can be scheduled. See below for procedures, scholarship deadlines, and 2020-2021 audition dates.

  • Apply to University.
  • FAFSA Deadlines for financial aid: February 15 (fall entry) and November 1 (spring entry).
  • For talent scholarship consideration, auditions must be completed by March 1.
  • Transfer students must complete a minimum 30 credits in music courses at Marywood. Transfer students in education must have GPA 3.0 minimum for acceptance.
  • Freshmen education majors must have SAT 970 minimum score (Math/Reading combined)

General Guidelines for Theatre Arts Auditions

Musical theatre majors must audition in voice, acting, and dance.

Voice (for Musical Theatre Majors) — Musical theatre applicants should perform two contrasting musical theatre selections, or one classical piece and one musical theatre selection.

Dance (for Musical Theatre Majors) — Please prepare a short dance excerpt that shows your proficiency with dance/movement.

Acting (for Musical Theatre Majors and Theatre Majors)

Please prepare a 1-2 minute memorized monologue from a published play, screenplay, or teleplay. Select a piece that is appropriate for your age and ability. The theatre evaluator will be looking for a truthful and believable representation of the character. Show through your voice and body that you understand the character’s thoughts, feelings, and actions.

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The Sette LaVerghetta Performing Arts Center (PAC) is a three-story structure located on the western edge of campus that houses the Music, Theatre, & Dance (MTD) department within the College of Arts and Sciences. The MTD department is comprised of faculty offices and studios, classrooms and practice rooms, music therapy lab and clinical observation room, small recital room, dance studio, Black Box Theatre, and main stage theatre.

The Performing Arts Theatre is the main stage theatre and recital hall for all University-related events. This large 1100-seat performance space contains a proscenium stage, orchestra pit, dressing rooms, box offices, control room, backstage area and the ability to fly scenery. Other features include sound and lighting boards, a 9-foot Steinway grand piano and 7-foot Steinway grand piano (on stage), a Mason & Hamlin grand piano (orchestra pit), and large Allen electronic organ.

PAC Room 104 (first floor) is used as a student recital hall, large-ensemble rehearsal space, and meeting room. It houses two grand pianos and has a raised stage for performances. Two classrooms, the music therapy lab and observation room, and music therapy faculty offices are also located on the first floor. The second floor houses teaching studios, ten practice rooms containing both upright Yamaha and Grand pianos, a small harp studio with three harps, guitar studio, and faculty offices.

Music Therapy Research Lab (Room 106, first floor) contains biofeedback equipment interfaced on PC (Electromyography/EMG -2 channels), Temperature, Skin Conduction (2 channels). Also included are stand-alone biofeedback instruments: Resp@Rate; OMRON and a Marshall-Auto-Oscillometric Electronic Digital Blood Pressure and Pulse Monitor with Print-Out. The Music Therapy Clinic (Room 106, first floor) is a fully-supervised clinical setting complete with a one-way mirror for observations. University music therapy students, under the supervision of the clinic coordinator, offer weekly services to community individuals with special needs.

Computer Lab (first floor) is an open lab classroom with sixteen MAC computers for student use. In addition to Microsoft Office and Internet capability, software applications include set/lighting design and scriptwriting.

The Electronic Music Lab (second floor) has eight computers with Internet access and Sibelius music-writing software; eight portable MIDI keyboards; two full-size electronic keyboards; and mixers. The Piano Lab (second floor) contains twelve Yamaha Clavinova electronic pianos in addition to a master piano, each featuring a full-sized touch-sensitive keyboard. Piano Lab also houses a MAC computer. Music scores library/storage space for choral and orchestral music is also located on the second floor. Six large classrooms and a student lounge are located on terrace floor/lower level.

Black Box Theatre (terrace floor/lower level) is a laboratory theatre designed with flex staging to accommodate student-directed productions and to support experimental theatre.

Across campus, The Swartz Center, adjacent to Loughran Hall houses the University chapel and is a dual-use space. The chapel offers the music department an intimate 180-seat performing space. Completely renovated in 2007, the Marian Chapel (formerly the IHM Marian Convent), boasts a new Peragallo pipe organ and new 7-foot Steinway grand piano.

The Latour Room -  located in Nazareth Hall Student Center, is a large multi-purpose venue that is occasionally used for music rehearsals and concerts.

The Rotunda, a large, multi-story dome clad in marble at the center of the Liberal Arts Center, is a main focal point of the campus. It is an especially effective performing space for unaccompanied vocal ensembles.


Sette LaVerghetta Center Theatre

2300 Adams Avenue
Map & Directions

The Sette LaVerghetta Center Theatre is a 1,100-seat main stage theatre and concert hall for all University-related events.

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Sette LaVerghetta Center for Performing Arts

2300 Adams Avenue
Map & Directions

The Sette LaVerghetta Center for Performing Arts is a three-story structure that houses the Music, Theatre, & Dance (MTD) department. The facility includes studios, classrooms and practice rooms, music therapy lab and clinical observation room, a small recital room, dance studio, and a Black Box Theatre.

Learn More  |  Take a Virtual Tour

Black Box Theatre

2300 Adams Avenue
Map & Directions

Black Box Theatre, located on the terrace level of the Sette LaVerghetta Center for Performing Arts, is a laboratory theatre designed with flex staging to accommodate student-directed productions and to support experimental theatre.

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An affordable education is possible at Marywood. 

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MTD Student Handbook

The information in this handbook is designed to familiarize you with university and department policies specific to the MTD degree programs.
Please save this handbook, as it will provide guidance throughout your studies at Marywood. Bring this handbook to all academic advising sessions.

Student Handbook

From #DayOne, Marywood is here for you each step of the way.

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