Auditioning for the Musical Theater BFA Arno Selco, Professor Emeritus, Department of Theatre Arts Following a successful career as a performer in theatre, films, and on TV, Arno Selco taught acting, directing, and musical theater courses and directed theater productions in colleges and universities for forty years. From 1983 until 2008, he taught and directed in the Department of Theatre Arts at Ithaca College. In 2010, Arno was designated Professor Emeritus. While at Ithaca College, Arno received a Dana Fellowship for Excellence in Teaching and a President's Faculty Opportunity Award for Achievement and Service. From the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, he received the Gold Medallion for Excellence in Service to the American College Theater Festival. Thursday, March 24, 2016, 12 pm - 1:00 pm

Who’s Here? ☐ I’m a parent of a high school student interested in BFA theatre programs. ☐ I’m a parent of a child who is required to audition for community performances. ☐ I’m a high school student preparing my auditions. ☐ I have experience auditioning, but I’d love to perform better ☐ I’m preparing for my first audition ever.

Differences Between BFA and BA

Types of BFA Programs Ithaca College offers BFA programs in Acting and Musical Theatre. Both BFA programs require an audition.

What career opportunities await a BFA grad?

IC grads who’ve gone on… Jeremy Jordan Aaron Tveit

Any Questions? Use the chat box at the bottom right to ask a question or to share your experience.

Auditions Make Opportunities Musicals are produced not only on college campuses and professionally. Even if not attending a BFA program or pursuing a career in theatre, people have the opportunity to perform; but only if they audition well.

What do Judges Look For? Musicianship, pitch, breath support. Understanding of musical phrasing, dramatic structure, emphasis. Confidence and poise (how you walk in matters). Physical expression. Song choice. Characterization–Distinct? Consistent with libretto? Believable? Compelling?

Audition Process Approximately 1,000 students each year audition at IC for a freshman class of around 35. That’s a 3.5% acceptance rate. IC’s Acting and Musical Theatre programs are among the top 10 in the country, so the acceptance rates at some other colleges and universities may be higher.

What Should You Wear? An audition is a job interview. Clothes in light colors rather than black. Clothes that are complementary, comfortable, and that enable free movement. Clothes appropriate to your characters. A dress or skirt and shoes with a heel, if you’re a woman. Nothing distracting.

Select the right pieces Sing songs from musicals (not pop, not jazz, not even songs from musical films). Songs that are not overly used at auditions. At Ithaca College: 16 bars of a ballad and 32 bars of an up-tempo song with clear. beginnings and endings and that contain your best notes. Ask your vocal coach to help. Songs sung by characters appropriate to your age, vocal, and emotional range.

Any Questions? Use the chat box at the bottom right to ask a question or to share your experience.

Prepare the Piece Read the libretto several times to understand context. Rehearse with a vocal coach. Clearly mark music for the accompanist.

Enlist the Accompanist The top 10 programs provide an accompanist, who will participate in the admission decision. Greet the accompanist. Introduce yourself (first and last name). Don’t snap fingers to convey tempo. Go over your markings. Only sing the number of bars allowed / Show you can follow directions. Prepare music so it will sit securely on the piano and not require pages to be turned.

Benefit of Summer College course Summer College for High School Students Introduction to Musical Theater Performance (3 credits, transferable to accredited colleges) July 4-22, week, residential

Benefit of Summer College course Chance to experience what a BFA program is like. Close interaction with peers with same interests. Lets students see how competitive they are. Residential college experience. Audition and performance experience. Transferable credits. Make lifelong friends.

Q&A Contact Information: Arno Selco: Summer College for High School Students lege/