Musical Theatre Certificate

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Georgia’s Musical Theatre Performance Certificate is an exciting interdisciplinary certificate for students pursuing the bachelor’s degrees in Theatre, Music, or Dance. In addition to taking required courses for their major, students take 10-18 additional credits beyond major requirements. Acceptance into the program is competitive, based on auditions that are held each semester. Students must be accepted into UGA and majoring in theatre, music, or dance, to be eligible to audition.

This program is a collaboration between the Department of Theatre and Film Studies, Department of Dance, and School of Music. Professor George Contini of the Dept. of Theatre and Film Studies, is serving as program director. The program’s Musical Theatre Faculty include voice instructor, Michael Hadary and opera/musical director Daniel Ellis from Hugh Hodgson School of Music. If you have any questions regarding the Certificate Program please contact gcontini@uga.edu or mhadary@uga.edu.

Overview of Program

The Musical Theatre Certificate Program will be open only to students pursuing an undergraduate major (AB, BFA, or B.Mus) in Theatre, Music, or Dance, and is designed to supplement and build on the curricula of those majors. Certificate courses in the student’s major department will also count toward the students’ AB, BFA, or B.Mus degree, and consequently the Certificate program will require that a student take between 10 and 17 hours beyond the requirements of their major. 

Students will audition for the program for a panel comprised of at least one representative from each area of Dance, Music, and Theatre. The audition will consist of one short monologue, and two contrasting 32 cuts from songs (each cut should be about a minute) from the Broadway Musical repertoire. They will also prepare a short statement of purpose and submit a headshot and resume. 

Once accepted into the program, students will work with their academic advisor to make certain they are meeting all requirements. Classes require a passing grade of at least a B to successfully complete the program. 

The demand for the program is very high and the number of slots can be limited. To ensure that the program can accommodate the most dedicated and qualified students, students applying for the program must have at least a 3.0 GPA

Application Forms for Download

Application & Audition Guidelines
Audition Tips
Application (Print & Fill Out)
Musical Theatre Certificate Reference Form
Audition & Adjudication Form
Informational Flyer on Program

Application and Audition Process

Application & Auditions are to be submitted via the Musical Theatre Certificate Submission Portal. 

Once you have submitted your documents, pick a time slot for your individual audition here: Signup for Musical Theatre Certificate Audition Slot

All materials are due by midnight on Friday, October 18, 2024.

1. Your Completed Application, Headshot, and Performance Resume (1 file, .pdf)
   • Headshot and Performance Resume — While you are not required to have professional headshots, your photo should align to industry standards, be well lit, and sized 8 x 10. Resumes should be formatted as per professional acting resume templates.
2. Recommendation Form from Professor or Teacher (1 file, .pdf)
3. Copy of Unofficial Transcript (1 file, .pdf)
4. Statement of Purpose — In 100 words or less please express your rationale for gaining the certificate and how it aligns with your professional and academic goals. (1 file, .pdf)
5. Any additional materials (link to website, reel, song, dance, movement) that you feel would aid us in understanding your work.

Each file should be labeled as follows:
LASTNAME_FIRSTNAME_TYPE.pdf
(Ex. DOE_JOHN_APPLICATION.pdf or DOE_JANE_STATEMENT.pdf)

For a more thorough breakdown of application material expectations, visit the below link:

Application Materials

Audition Schedule and Requirements

The auditions will be split with a block of time for singing/acting auditions and a block for a dance call . 
 
The dance call for ALL auditioning will be conducted within the first hour. Bring clothes that you can move in (and dance shoes if you have them) for a group dance call. Loose clothing is not the best; form fitting is better as it allows the auditors to make better assessments. You will be taught a short combination to be presented in various groups/pairings. Following the dance call will be individually scheduled 10-minute slots beginning at 11:00AM.  

For your audition slot, you are asked to prepare one contemporary monologue of no more than 1 minute in length. Also, as previously stated, prepare two 32 bar (each about 1 minute in length) cuts of contrasting songs from the standard Broadway musical repertoire...not to be longer than 3 minutes total. The total running time of your slate, monologue and two songs must not exceed 5 minutes.
 
Please have music in the proper key with all cuts clearly marked. No chords, no lead sheets, or accompaniment tracks, SHEET MUSIC only. (Feel free to reach out to Professor Hadary for help in marking your sheet music - mhadary@uga.edu.)

Auditioners will be judged on the following:

Acting: Memorization and presentation, ability to live in the given circumstances of the play, pursuing a clear objective in the monologue, focusing on the imaginary other to whom you are speaking.
Singing: Tone, intonation (pitch accuracy), musicality (phrasing, dynamics, style)
Dancing: Coordination and rhythm, ability to take direction, focus

Program of Study

*In addition to requirements for degrees in Theatre, Music, or Dance

* Theatre majors may count THEA courses towards theatre requirements where applicable, and DANC/MUSI courses in area 6 fine arts/humanities.

Department of Theatre and Film Studies  (10 hours total)

THEA 3500: Acting 1 (3 hours)

THEA 5550: Performance Styles: Musical Theatre (3 hours)

THEA 4500: The Broadway Musical and American Culture (3 hours)

THEA 5950: Musical Theatre Showcase (1 hour)

Hugh Hodgson School of Music  (8-9 credit hours total)

1. Complete either Group A or Group B (6 hours):

Group A

MUSI 2460: Voice 1  (Group Voice – Dedicated Section) (1 hour)

MUSI 3900: Applied Instruction for the Musical Theatre Certificate (2-4 semesters, 4 hours total, variable credit)

Group B

MUSI 1810-1810L: Freshman Applied Instruction (2 hours)

MUSI 1820: Applied Music Instruction (2 hours)

MUSI 2810-2810L: Sophomore Applied Instruction (2 hours)

2. Complete either Group C or Group D (2-3 hours):

Group C

MUSI 3550: Music Theory for Non-Majors (3 hours)

Group D

MUSI 1100: Music Theory I (for music majors only) (2 hours)

MUSI 1110: Aural Skills (for music majors only) (2 hours)

Department of Dance (4 credit hours)

Any four hours from the following courses:

DANC 1601: Tap Dance Foundations I (1 hour)

DANC 1604: Jazz Dance Foundations (1 hour)

DANC 1605: Contemporary Modern Dance Foundations I (2 hours)

DANC 1606:  Ballet Foundations I (2 hours)

DANC 1607/1608: Ballroom Foundations I (1 hour)

DANC 1615: Contemporary Modern Dance Foundations II (2 hours)

DANC 1616: Ballet Foundations II (2 hours)

DANC 1617/1618: Ballroom Foundations II (1 hour)

DANC 2300: Dance Improvisation (2 hours)

DANC 2610: Tap Dance II (1 hour)

DANC 2642: Jazz Dance II (2 hours)

DANC 2652: Contemporary Dance II (2 hours)

DANC 2662: Ballet II (2 hours)

*Note that DANC courses at the 2000-level require a permission of dance department clearance and a placement audition.