Theatre Audition Requirements

Select two monologues from published sources. The monologues should be memorized contrasting contemporary pieces and should not be longer than one minute each. Select material that is gender and age appropriate and be familiar with the play from which the monologue is selected. Majors will interview with the faculty during the audition time frame. Theatre applicants who audition by video must submit a DVD or VHS format videocassette with the stated requirements. NO VIDEOS FROM STAGED PLAY PRODUCTIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED. Please contact Hartt Theatre Coordinator Joan Coates at (860) 768-5691 or coates@hartford.edu with questions or for additional information.

Music Theatre Majors

Select two contrasting songs - one upbeat and one ballad - from music theatre shows. Applicants need to prepare each song in its entirety from memory but should be prepared to sing only 16 or 32 bars if so requested. Please have music well marked at the appropriate cut-off points. Accompaniment is provided for on-campus auditions. The music should be laid out so that the accompanist does not experience difficulty in handling the material (i.e. put music in plastic sheets held in a loose-leaf notebook). Applicants auditioning at any of the regional music theatre auditions sites will need to bring recorded accompaniment and a boom-box. In addition, prepare a one-minute monologue from a published contemporary play or musical. The monologue should be gender and age appropriate. The student should be familiar with the play from which the monologue is selected. Majors will interview with the faculty during the audition time frame. Music theatre applicants who audition by video must submit a DVD or VHS format videocassette with the above requirements. NO VIDEOS FROM STAGED PLAY PRODUCTIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED. All music theatre applicants will be required to take part in a group dance audition. The purpose of the dance audition is not only to see the candidates’ dance experience, but to assess facility, i.e., body and physical ability.

All music theatre applicants who audition on-campus will also take the Music Theory Placement Test on their audition day. All music theatre applicants who audition off-campus will take the Music Theory Placement Test during orientation sessions, if accepted.

Please contact Hartt Theatre Coordinator Joan Coates at (860) 768-5691 or coates@hartford.edu with questions or for additional information.

Unified Theatre Audition

Theatre Audition Tips

The actor’s career is a lifelong challenge that is always changing. The answers of today provoke the questions of tomorrow.

To prepare for a collegiate program in theatre, read plays and criticisms of productions. See as much theatre as you can. View the production with questions in mind: What is being done? How is it being done? How well was it done? Was it worth doing?

At a theatre/music theatre audition, the faculty is determining where the student is at this early stage of development as a performing artist. Consideration is given to the voice, speech, movement, and sensitivity toward the material being performed.

For the required two selections, choose contemporary material that is contrasting in nature. The contrast should be in the behavior of the characters.

The successful applicant, possessing an inquiring mind and a real affection for the theatre, will show talent, humor, energy and dedication.

For more information on Auditions, please review our commonly asked questions section.