BFA in Musical Theatre

Find Your Place on Stage. Find Your Fearless.

At SEMO, we have one of the nation’s only campuses dedicated to the arts. The Southeast River Campus is home to the Jeanine Larson Dobbins Conservatory of Theatre & Dance and provides unique opportunities to students pursuing a career in the performing arts. From main stage theatre productions, master classes, summer intensive programs, a showcase in NYC or Los Angeles, and so much more, come see why we are ranked the #1 undergraduate theatre program in the state of Missouri and ranked in the top 30 programs in the nation! 

Learn by Leading in One of the Best BFA in Musical Theatre Programs

Train Across Every Discipline 

• Training. Study with experienced faculty and staff in the areas of acting, singing, and dancing for live theatre, film, and television.   
• Learn Across Disciplines. Opportunity to take courses in directing, playwriting, and design.

Perform Early and Often 

• Performance. Opportunities to perform in world-class venues in four mainstage theatre productions, one mainstage dance concert, two second stage theatre productions, and one second stage dance concert, as well as a host of one-acts, readings, cabarets, improv shows, and so on.  
• Collaborate on New Plays and Musicals. Every production season includes at least one world premiere, including collaborations with Tony, Oscar, and Emmy-winners.
• Lanford Wilson New American Play Festival. Perform in the annual new play festival with guest artists and playwrights from across the country.  
• Fault Line Film Festival. Act in one of dozens of student films produced as part of the annual nationwide festival held on the Southeast campus.  

Learn from Working Professionals

• Guest Artists. Benefit from an established program of master classes and residencies with professional guest actors, directors, and industry professionals.   
• Intensives and Professional Employment. Complete a required internship through various summer intensive acting programs and professional employment.    
• Study Abroad. Train at the prestigious NSKI University College in Oslo, Norway, the only institution in Scandinavia to teach Method Acting at degree level, as well as musical theatre.   
• BFA Project. Perform in a faculty or guest-artist directed mainstage or second stage production, followed by a project review with a faculty committee.

Live the Conservatory Experience

• Housing. Live and train in the beautiful River Campus on the banks of the Mississippi.
• Student Organizations. Join Alpha Psi Omega Honorary Theatre Fraternity, as well as any of our student production companies and improv troupes.  

Prepare for a CareeR

• Career Development . Prepare to launch a career in the industry through auditioning classes, as well as entrepreneurship classes and Senior Portfolio.   
• Professional Auditions. Participate in numerous combined and individual professional theatre auditions across the country.   
• BFA Reviews. Learn from faculty committees dedicated to providing individual feedback on training, academics, and career development for every student.   
• NYC or Los Angeles Showcase. Participate in one of two showcases: New York City with The CRY HAVOC Company or Los Angeles with Actors Connection.   

What Can You Do with a BFA in Musical Theatre?

Your stage may be Broadway, a national tour, regional theatre, television, film, cruise entertainment, or work behind the scenes in the performing arts. Wherever your path leads, you'll graduate with professional experience, a portfolio, audition preparation, and industry connections that help you take the next step. SEMO’s Career Services office is here to provide the expertise and support you need, so you’re landing your dream job in no time.  

Internship and Employment Opportunities of Recent BFA in Musical Theatre Graduates

• Broadway, NYC
• Off Broadway, NYC
• National & International Tours
• International Cruises
• NBC Universal
• The MUNY, St. Louis
• Second City, Chicago
• Lucille Lortell Theatre, NYC
• Upright Citizens Brigade, NYC
• Actor’s Theatre of Louisville
• Neighborhood Playhouse, NYC
• Stella Adler School of Acting, NYC
• Steppenwolf Theatre, Chicago
• Disney Internships
• Olney Theatre, Washington DC
• Discovery Channel