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B.F.A. & Minor

Performing Arts: Musical Theatre | B.F.A. & Minor


If musical theatre performance is your passion, consider the B.F.A. in Performing Arts: Musical Theatre, combining training in acting, singing, and dancing.  Because of the multidisciplinary nature of the training, this degree, in particular, requires students to be motivated and organized.

You will typically have the opportunity to be in an acting class, a voice lesson, and a dance class every semester, if you wish. We believe a combination of classroom and production experiences contribute to the development of a well-rounded performer.  We produce at least one mainstage musical each year, as well as smaller musical reviews  productions such as musical revues, staged readings of new musicals, and even new musicals written by our students.  If you’re a musical theatre student we encourage you to audition for dance concerts, plays, theatre for youth productions, and student-created works.

Take a look at our Scholarships for First Time Theatre Students.

Musical Performance

 


B.F.A. - Performing Arts Majors: Students may audition and interview for admission into the B.F.A. - Performing Arts in their third semester.  Before acceptance into the program, students interested in pursuing this degree are classified as "seeking admission."  Visit the B.F.A. Audition Policy page for a full explanation of the process.

For more information contact Dr. Tiffany Bostic-Brown, tiffany.brown@wku.edu or Jennifer Wolcott, jennifer.wolcott@wku.edu. 

 

Minor: No audition for admission is required.  If you’re a WKU student, you can minor in Musical Theatre.


The BFA in Musical Theatre is 74 credit hours in total. The degree has two components, the core and the concentration. The core comprises 24 credit hours and is taken by all BFA–Performing Arts students. The Musical Theatre concentration is comprised of 50 credit hours. No minor or second major is required.
 
This is the old BFA in Musical Theatre curriculum for students who added the major prior to fall 2020. Students wishing to take the new BFA curriculum should speak with their advisor about the possibility changing their catalog year. This BFA in Musical Theatre is 74 credit hours in total. The BFA-Performing Arts core comprises 37 credit hours. Another 42 credit hours are taken in the Musical Theatre concentration.
 
 
Need some Musical Theatre in your life?  The Musical Theatre minor allows you to augment your studies with coursework in voice, acting, and dance.  There’s also classes specific to musical theatre like Musical Theatre Ensemble, Musical Theatre Workshop, and Musical Theatre History.  No audition for admission is required.  If you’re a WKU student, you can minor in Musical Theatre.
 
If you are interested in minoring in Musical Theatre, please contact Dr. Tiffany Bostic-Brown, D.M.A., for more details. 
 
Are you also curious about auditioning for our productions?  Check out our Department of Theatre & Dance Auditions  page.  
 

 


 

From our faculty directed mainstages, to our student directed studio and TYA seasons, to our New Works Festival, you’ll have all kinds of opportunities to learn by doing. Our department is your laboratory. At Western Kentucky University, we believe that what you learn in the shops, the studios, and onstage is every bit as important as what happens in the classroom.  Our intensive production season provides plenty of hands on experience. 

 
On average, we offer 15 to 20 different productions every year, including:
  • 4 Mainstage Theatre productions, including at least one musical

  • A Theatre for Young Audience Series of 2 or 3 productions

  • A Next Stage Series of student created works

  • A Rising Artist Series of showcases and works in progress
  • 2 Mainstage dance concerts

  • 3 Student-choreographed dance concerts

Shringara: An Indian Music-Theatre Retelling of Love by Shyama Iyer ‘20

 


 

BFA Musical Theatre and BS in Communication Sciences and Disorders student Hayley Doerr's research poster image.

Students collaborate closely with department faculty in all kinds of ways:

Production
Students are collaborators on our faculty directed mainstage shows not only as actors and crew but as designers, stage managers, dramaturgs, and assistant directors.

FUSE (Faculty-Undergraduate Student Engagement) Grant Projects:
FUSE grants support undergraduate students' intellectual development by fostering active engagement in the areas of research, creative and scholarly activities, and/or artistic performances.

Teacher Assistants
Students learn about teaching and enrich their own knowledge by serving as Teaching Assistants for Theatre classes including University Experience, Musical Theatre History, Fundamentals of Theatre, and multiple courses in our Acting sequence.

 


See more on our alumni page!

 5 Alumni Theatre Logos: Williamstown Theatre Festival, Eugene ONeill Theater Center, Cirque du Soleil Charleston Stage Company, Actors Theatre of Louisville

 


 

From Louisville to London to New York, we offer a range of options for experiencing professional theatre! Whether attending College Days weekend at the nationally renowned Humana Festival of New Plays at Actor’s Theatre of Louisville or spending a week in London or New York City, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to experience professional theatre!

 

 

NYC Trip

 


 

Woman standing on stage with pianist.

Our capstone course allows students to demonstrate their expertise in their area of study. Check out these recent examples:

 

 


 

We want to help you find your passion and make that passion a reality.

Schedule a Tour

 


 


 

 


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 Last Modified 6/25/25