Southeast Missouri State University 1873

BFA in Musical Theatre

BFA in musical theatre students are captured in a closing shot of newsboys at semo's production
BFA On-Campus Main Campus

DEGREE TYPE

Bachelor's Degree

PROGRAM TYPE

Undergraduate

APPLY NOW

Hone your craft. Prepare for a lifetime in the arts at one of the best BFA musical theatre programs.

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

  • Training . Study with experienced faculty and staff in the areas of acting, singing, and dancing for live theatre, film, and television.   
  • 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.  
  • Learn Across Disciplines. Opportunity to take courses in directing, playwriting, and design.
  • 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.  
  • Career Development . Prepare to launch a career in the industry through auditioning classes, as well as entrepreneurship classes and Senior Portfolio.   
  • Housing . Live and train in the beautiful River Campus on the banks of the Mississippi.
  • Guest Artists . Benefit from an established program of master classes and residencies with professional guest actors, directors, and industry professionals.   
  • 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.   
  • Professional Auditions . Participate in numerous combined and individual professional theatre auditions across the country.   
  • Intensives and Professional Employment . Complete a required internship through various summer intensive acting programs and professional employment.   
  • Student Organizations. Join Alpha Psi Omega Honorary Theatre Fraternity, as well as any of our student production companies and improv troupes.  
  • BFA Reviews . Learn from faculty committees dedicated to providing individual feedback on training, academics, and career development for every student.   
  • BFA Project . Perform in a faculty or guest-artist directed mainstage or second stage production, followed by a project review with a faculty committee.   
  • 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 education is just one piece to launching an extraordinary career. Once you’ve mastered the material, you still have to find the job you want, make the right connections, sell your knowledge and experience—and if all this is giving you anxiety, don’t panic. SEMO’s Career Services office is here to help you with the next step. They’ll 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
  • D isney Internships
  • Olney Theatre, Washington DC
  • Discovery Channel

Request Info

We'd love to help you learn more about SEMO! Tell us how we can get in touch.

Loading...

Musical Theatre (BFA) Degree Map

Explore the courses you'll need to complete your degree

View the Degree Map

Theatre Rankings

  • #1

    Ranked Undergraduate Theatre Program in the State of Missouri

    Theatre website OnStage Blog has recognized Southeast Missouri State University in its “Best College Theatre Programs in Every State” list for 2021.

  • Top 30

    Musical Theatre Programs in the U.S.A.

    Theatre website OnStage Blog has recognized Southeast Missouri State University in its Top 30 College Musical Theatre Programs for 2019-2020.

The Knowledge to Fuel Fearless Futures

The BFA Theatre: Musical Theatre option is for students who are pursuing a career in the entertainment industry. Complete a minimum of 120 credit hours to complete this degree, including the general education requirements and at least 39 senior division hours. 

83 Hour Major – No minor required

Students must maintain a 3.0 gpa in the major.
  • TH105 Rehearsal & Production I (1+1)
  • TH107 Theory Skills & Analysis for Musical Theatre (3)
  • TH111 Introduction to Theatre Design & Technology (3)
  • TH118 Musical Theatre Movement (2)
  • TH122 Class Voice for Musical Theatre I (3)
  • TH123 Class Voice for Musical Theatre II (3)
  • TH150 Makeup for Actors (1)
  • TH181 Script Analysis (3)
  • TH201 Private Voice for Musical Theatre I (1+1)
  • TH218 Acting I (3)
  • TH219 Auditioning I (1)
  • TH228 Acting II (3)
  • TH301 Private Voice for Musical Theatre II (1+1)
  • TH305 Rehearsal & Production II (1+1+1+1)
  • TH307 Musical Theatre Score Study (3)
  • TH318 Musical Theatre Performance I (3)
  • TH327 Auditioning II (2)
  • TH328 Acting III (3)
  • TH329 Acting IV (3)
  • TH401 Private Voice for Musical Theatre III (1+1)
  • TH411 Musical Theatre Vocal Styles (3)
  • TH418 Musical Theatre Performance II (3)
  • TH488 Senior Portfolio for Acting & Musical Theatre (3)
  • TH490 Theatre History I (3)
  • TH491 Musical Theatre History (3)
  • TH498 BFA Project (2)
Choose 2 hours:
  • TH499 Internship (2)
  • TH800 Summer Theatre & Dance Workshop (2)
Choose 3 hours:
  • LI432 Shakespeare’s Comedies & Histories (3)
  • LI433 Shakespeare’s Tragedies (3)
Choose 6 hours:
  • DA241 Broadway Dance I (2)
  • DA341 Broadway Dance II (2)
  • DA431 Broadway Dance III (2)
  • TH119 Musical Theatre Movement II (2)
  • TH211 Musical Theatre Dance Fundamentals I (2)
  • TH226 Musical Theatre Dance Fundamentals II (2)
Choose 7 hours:
  • DA130 Ballroom Dance (2)
  • DA211 Ballet I (2)
  • DA226 Jazz Dance I (2)
  • DA228 Hip Hop & Street Styles I (2)
  • DA236 Tap Dance I (2)
  • DA241 Broadway Dance I (2)
  • DA311 Ballet II (2)
  • DA322 Contemporary Dance I (2)
  • DA328 Hip Hop & Street Styles II (2)
  • DA336 Tap Dance II (2)
  • DA341 Broadway Dance II (2)
  • DA371 Heels and Burlesque (1)
  • DA372 Jumps and Turns (1)
  • DA373 Partnering & Lifting (2)
  • DA411 Ballet III (2)
  • DA422 Contemporary Dance II (2)
  • DA426 Jazz Dance III (2)
  • DA428 Hip Hop & Street Styles III (2)
  • DA431 Broadway Dance III (2)
  • DA436 Tap Dance III (2)
  • DA441 Dance for TV and Film (2)
  • MM105 Aural Skills (1)
  • MU151 Functional Piano (1)
  • TH223 Movement for the Actor I (3)
  • TH317 Voice for the Actor (3)
  • TH319 Acting for Film & Television (3)
  • TH323 Movement for the Actor II (3)
  • TH385 Directing I (3)
  • TH387 Playwriting (3)
  • TH416 Acting Styles (3)
  • TH417 Voice for the Actor II (3)
  • TH419 Acting for Film & Television II (3)
  • TH429 Accents & Dialects for the Actor (3)
  • TH431 Stage Combat II (3)
  • TH487 Playwright-Director Collaboration (3)
General Education Requirements – some requirements may be fulfilled by coursework in major program
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences – 6 hours
  • Constitution Requirement – 3 hours
  • Written Communication – 6 hours
  • Oral Communication – 3 hours
  • Natural Sciences – 7 hours (from two disciplines, one to include a lab)
  • Mathematics – 3 hours
  • Humanities & Fine Arts – 9 hours (from at least two disciplines, with TH233 recommended*)
  • Additional requirements – 5 hours (to include UI100 for native students)
  • Civics examination

First Year 

Fall Semester (17 Hours)  
  • UI100 (1) 
  • TH105 (1) 
  • TH107 (3) 
  • TH111 (3)
  • TH122 (3)
  • TH218 (3) 
  • TH219 (1) 
  • Dance Elective (2) 
Spring Semester (18 Hours) 
  • EN100 (3) 
  • TH105 (1) 
  • TH123 (3) 
  • TH228 (3) 
  • TH307 (3) 
  • Dance Elective (2)
  • General Education (3) 

Second Year 

Fall Semester (17 hours)
  • TH105 (1)
  • TH201 (1) 
  • TH305 (1) 
  • TH328 (3) 
  • Dance Elective (2) 
  • General Education* (3)
  • General Education (3)
  • General Education (3)
Spring Semester (14 Hours) 
  • TH201 (1)
  • TH305 (1)
  • TH329 (3)
  • General Education (3) 
  • General Education (3) 
  • General Education (3)

Third Year 

Fall Semester (16-17 Hours) 
  • TH181 (3) 
  • TH301 (1) 
  • TH305 (1) 
  • TH318 (3) 
  • TH490 (3) 
  • Music Theatre Elective (2-3) 
  • General Education (3) 
Spring Semester (116-17 Hours)
  • TH150 (1)
  • TH301 (1) 
  • TH305 (1) 
  • TH327 (2) 
  • TH411 (3) 
  • TH418 (3)
  • Music Theatre Elective (2-3) 
  • General Education (3) 

Summer Semester (2 Hours)

  • TH499 or TH800 (2) 

Fourth Year 

Fall Semester (15-16 Hours) 
  • LI432 or LI433 (3)  
  • TH401 (1) 
  • TH488 (3) 
  • Musical Theatre Elective (2-3) 
  • General Education (3) 
  • General Education (3) 
Spring Semester (14-15 Hours) 
  • TH401 (1) 
  • TH491 (3) 
  • TH498 (2) 
  • Musical Theatre Elective (2-3)
  • General Education (3) 
  • General Education (3) 

A minimum 3.0 GPA in the major and overall 2.0 are required to graduate with a BFA-Musical Theatre degree. 

 

 

Red theme background

What will it cost?

 Theatre Program

  • Thespians take the stage of the Bedell Performance Hall for a production of “An American Hero” as a part of their journey in pursuing their musical theatre degree.

    Facilities

    Students in the Theatre program have access to many different types of facilities for a special learning experience. We have multiple performance theatres that provide a unique performance experience for our students and community!

  • Students in the musical theatre program participate in a classroom exercise to prepare them for real world experience in an theatre auditioning class.

    Auditions

    At SEMO, we continue to work to better ourselves and our program. To do that, we need performers like you! Find out about our audition and interview requirements and the application process.

  • Two students pursuing their bfa in musical theatre act on stage in a production of “Our Town."

    Experiential Learning

    Our students get hands on learning the moment they start classes! From live shows, master classes, summer festivals, and more, Theatre students have many opportunities to grow in their craft. Learn more about what the B.A in Theatre program offers (9.1.4.6)!  

  • During a production of “Sister Act” students in the musical theatre program sing and dance joyfully in a closing number.

    Onstage Blog

    OnStage Blog recently moved Southeast Missouri State to the “Best College Theatre Program in Every State” list! Read the article to learn why our program is special and could be the right fit for you! 

Experiential Learning

Practice and hone skills for your theatre and dance career through on-stage productions, playwriting showcases like the Lanford Wilson Festival, and the Fault Line Film Festival. You can also earn certifications, attend conferences, and potentially perform in NYC.
Learn More

Become a Redhawk.

Do more than dream about the future. Take the first steps to make it all happen.

Request Info Apply Now

Happening at the theatre

A bfa in musical theatre student, with pink hat and fan, sings during a production of “Newsies.”
bfa in musical Theatre students portray Shrek and Donkey in a production of “Shrek: The Musical.”
Southeast Missouri State University fine arts performance featuring musical theater. Soldiers are being taken prisoner on stage during a performance of An American Hero.
bfa in musical theater cast of Shrek The Musical at Southeast Missouri State University on stage performing.

Accreditations

NAST Accreditation: National Association of Schools of Theatre logo
Yamaha Institution of Excellence logo

Additional Resources

Office of Admissions
Cost
Scholarships
Student Organizations & Teams
Dobbins Conservatory of Theatre and Dance
Holland College of Arts & Media

Related Programs

SEMO's BA in Theatre program provides broad-based education and training in theatre and provides students the flexibility to explore any and all aspects of the performing arts. 

Program Details Degree Map

DEGREE TYPE

Bachelor's Degree

PROGRAM TYPE

Undergraduate

LOCATION

Main Campus - Cape

COLLEGE

Arts & Media

DEPARTMENT

Theatre & Dance
The BFA in Acting is a professional training program that prepares students for a non-musical acting career in theatre, television, and film. Students participate in trainings, live performances, professional auditions, and more.  
Program Details Degree Map

DEGREE TYPE

Bachelor's Degree

PROGRAM TYPE

Undergraduate

LOCATION

Main Campus - Cape

COLLEGE

Arts & Media

DEPARTMENT

Theatre & Dance

Dobbins Conservatory of Theatre & Dance

Contact Us

Location

Office Location

River Campus Seminary, 454

Mailing Address

One University Plaza, MS 7850
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701
Red theme background

Take the Next Step