Adding the Musical Theatre Concentration

Musical Theatre Concentration Requirements

The Musical Theatre Concentration is a 15-hour sequence of courses which may be taken by students already pursuing the BFA Theatre Performance major.  Designed as a complement to the BFA Theatre Performance curriculum, the concentration offers robust, targeted elective coursework to performers with special interest and ability in musical theatre.  Acceptance into the concentration sequence occurs at the end of the second year.  Continuation in the concentration requires successful evaluation by a faculty jury at the end of the third year. Some upper level musical theatre coursework is restricted to concentration students only. However, there are also many other ways to be involved in musical theatre at Baylor.

Musical theatre opportunities at Baylor University Theatre include:

Our annual mainstage musical

is a professional-quality production which usually is staged in the fall and features some of the most jaw-dropping technical elements of the year, including stunning costumes and breathtaking scenery. Due to high demand for tickets from both Baylor students and the Waco community (not to mention proud parents!), we offer more performances of the musical than any other show. Musicals from recent years include Gypsy, the university world premiere of The Drowsy Chaperone, Schoolhouse Rock Live!, Bye Bye Birdie, one of the first university productions of Urinetown: The Musical, Into The Woods, Fiddler on the Roof, and Crazy for You!

CaBEARet

is an intensive course taught by Melissa Johnson and Guilherme Almeida. Students in this advanced course prepare, perform, and perfect a variety of selections from musicals of various time periods and genres. In addition to preparing students for professional work in musical theatre, members of Musical Theatre Workshop perform their favorite solos, duets, and group numbers for the entire department at the end of each semester in CaBEARet.

Musical theatre scenes and one-act projects

are offered throughout the semester and directed both by undergraduates in the Advanced Directing class and graduate students pursing the MFA in Directing.

Individual voice classes

also taught by Melissa Johnson, Guilherme Almeida, and Lauren Weber. These 30-minute one-on-one sessions occur weekly to help students select pieces to prepare and hone their skills. All three instructors have experience working with students of all skill levels, allowing them to assist their students to improve their singing ability.