Advanced Acting Track

Program Overview

In the final two years of the BFA musical theater program, students in the Advanced Acting track will develop into dynamic actors who move and sing exceptionally well, think like creators, and perform with strong versatility. This track is designed to produce fully embodied performers who are equally prepared to lead from the center of a story and step seamlessly into the demands of professional theatrical work. Students will deepen advanced acting technique for both the stage and the camera, strengthening their ability to analyze text and make strong, specific emotional choices. They will learn and embody the ways that character, structure, and storytelling work together.

Students also will refine the physical and vocal versatility required of today’s musical theater performer. Through advanced training in movement, physical comedy, stage combat, dialects, and voice-over, they will learn to build nuanced characters through verse, voice, and movement.

By senior showcase, students who have successfully progressed through the track’s rigorous acting training will emerge as highly skilled, adaptable performers with strong vocal artistry, creative agency, and the versatility to thrive in live performance, camera work, ensemble demands, and the evolving professional musical theater landscape.

Course Requirements

Students who have been admitted to the Advanced Acting track are required to complete the following set of courses, beginning in their final two years of the BFA musical theater program. View the Sample Curriculum by Semester for details.

21 credits total:

T-EN 4109 Virtual Showcase (2 credits)
T-LT 3907 Global Theater History (3 credits)
T-ST 3101 Acting 5 (2 credits)
T-ST 3102 Acting 6 (2 credits)
T-ST 3103 Introduction to Directing (1 credit)
T-ST 3106 Building Physical Comedy and Connection (1 credit)
T-ST 3203 Voice and Speech 5 (1 credit)
T-ST 3204 Voice and Speech 6 (1 credit)
T-ST 4101 Acting 7 (2 credits)
T-ST 4102 Acting 8 (2 credits)
T-ST 71413 Stage Combat Unarmed (1 credit)
T-ST 714xx Movement Elective (1 credit, in addition to the Core Requirements)
T-ST 72910 Voice-Over Lab (1 credit)
T-ST 72913 Advanced Dialects (1 credit)

What You Will Learn

Upon successful completion of the Advanced Acting track, students will:

demonstrate advanced acting technique across the stage and for the camera, including text analysis, emotional specificity, and stylistic versatility
apply actor-director methodologies to shape performance, demonstrating the ability to analyze, structure, and guide storytelling
integrate physical and vocal choices into nuanced character development, including work in physical comedy and stage combat
perform effectively across mediums, including live performance and on-camera work
create and develop original performance material informed by directing, acting, and collaborative processes
utilize advanced vocal and speech techniques, including dialects and voice-over performance

How to Apply