Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theater
Become a versatile and well-rounded theater professional with expertise in acting, singing, and dancing through the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theater in Temple’s School of Theater, Film and Media Arts. This rigorous 124-credit undergraduate degree prepares you for a career in musical productions. Graduates go on to work in professional theaters around the world.
Through intensive hands-on coursework and performance opportunities, you’ll gain strong technical skills and knowledge in the genre and history of musical theater. This program is interdisciplinary: along with studies in the Theater Department, you’ll refine your musicianship through courses in the Boyer College of Music and Dance. Put the skills and concepts you learn into practice by participating in one of the numerous productions in the Center for Performing and Cinematic Arts, which include musicals, student-directed productions, dramas and showcases. Students can also exercise their artistic abilities in singing ensembles, dance performances and workshops conducted by visiting artists. Recent on-campus productions include Chicago, Guys and Dolls, Our Town, and Romeo and Juliet.
The close-knit quality of the degree program encourages personal and artistic growth. Faculty mentor students artistically and academically on an individual basis. Undergraduate students also have the opportunity to collaborate with MFA students in the Musical Theater Collaboration graduate program.
After graduation, Musical Theater BFA alumni have appeared in productions on Broadway, on national tours, and at major theaters in and around Philadelphia including the Arden Theater Company, Paper Mill Playhouse and Walnut Street Theatre.
Classes & Curriculum
General theater courses will give you a broad foundation in theater education, while more specialized offerings will teach you technical skills in singing, acting and dancing. Students take a core group of courses in both theater and music divisions. Some of the courses you may take include
- Ballet I, II and III for Musical Theater;
- Musical Theater Voice Acting;
- Senior Cabaret Workshop; and
- Theater as a Profession.